Musa 'Ever Red'

Planting advice for bananas:

• When growing outdoors, choose a site that is sheltered from the wind both for winter protection and also to prevent leaves being shredded.
• Plant in late spring, in a well-drained soil, that has been enriched with plenty of organic matter.
• Once plants are established, water and feed generously through the summer as they are greedy feeders.

When growing bananas in containers:

• Grow in a soil-based compost, such as John Innes No. 3 with extra grit added to improve drainage.
• Container-grown plants need ample watering during spring and summer months plus a weekly feed during the spring and summer with a general-purpose liquid feed, or a controlled-release fertiliser.
• In autumn, over winter plants in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory and reduce watering and feeding - watering only when on the dry side in winter.

Aftercare advice for your banana trees:

• Pot on in spring either once a year, or every other year. Increase pot size by 5-7.5cm initially then once established in 30cm pots, increase size by 10-15cm every two to three years.

Pruning advice for bananas:

• Little pruning is needed. Just cut away old leaves near their base and, when wrapping up plants outdoors for winter, some stems may need to be cut back.