How to grow Banana in New Zealand
Bananas can fruit outdoors in New Zealand, but only in the warmest, frost-free gardens of Northland and Auckland, with Misi Luki the proven backyard variety. A plant grows to about 3 to 4 m, flowers in autumn and, in our climate, ripens its bunch the following spring. Even where they will not fruit, their big tropical leaves make a striking backdrop.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Banana in New Zealand
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | October to December | |
| Auckland | October to December | |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | Not suited | Too cold for bananas across most of this region. Only a warm, frost free coastal Bay of Plenty garden is worth a try. |
| Central North Island | Not suited | Too cold for bananas outdoors on the plateau. |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | Not suited | Too cold for bananas outdoors. |
| Nelson & Marlborough | Not suited | Too cold for bananas outdoors. |
| Canterbury | Not suited | Too cold for bananas outdoors. |
| Otago & Southland | Not suited | Too cold for bananas outdoors. |
| Central Otago | Not suited | Too cold for bananas outdoors. |
Where to plant
Plant bananas in a warm, sheltered, frost-free sun trap, out of strong wind. Incredible Edibles suggests planting against a house, around a pool or in a courtyard. Bananas are heavy feeders and like rich soil kept moist, though Incredible Edibles notes they tolerate drought and poor soil once established.
- Northland and warm Auckland microclimates: the only regions where bananas reliably fruit outdoors. Plant suckers from October to December.
- Waikato and Bay of Plenty: too cold across most of the region. Only a warm, frost-free coastal Bay of Plenty garden is worth a try.
- Central North Island, Wellington, Nelson and Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland, and Central Otago: too cold for bananas outdoors.
Choosing a variety
- Misi Luki: the most reliable backyard banana for New Zealand. It is highly disease resistant and self-fertile, with tight bunches of short, fat, sweet lady-finger type fruit.
- Lady Finger: a sweet, small-fruited banana for warm, sheltered northern gardens.
How to plant
- Buy a sucker or potted plant from a New Zealand nursery. Never bring banana plants or suckers in from overseas.
- Dig plenty of compost and organic fertiliser into a large planting hole in a sheltered, sunny spot.
- Plant the sucker at the depth it was growing, water it in and mulch thickly, keeping the mulch off the stem.
- Keep it watered through its first summer.
Watering and feeding
Bananas grow fast in summer and need plenty of water and food. Water deeply in dry weather and keep a thick layer of mulch over the root zone.
Feed with a citrus fertiliser in spring and again in summer. The chopped-up stems of plants that have fruited make good mulch around the clump.
Pruning and care through the year
- Keep each clump to a mother plant and two or three younger suckers, removing the rest so energy goes into fruit.
- Once the bunch has formed, cut off the bell of male flowers at the end of the stalk.
- Support heavy bunches with a prop if the stem starts to lean.
- After a stem has fruited, cut it down, chop it up and use it as mulch around the suckers that will fruit next.
Harvesting
In New Zealand, bananas flower in autumn and the bunch matures over winter for a spring harvest. Cut the whole bunch once the oldest bananas start to turn yellow and hang it in a shed or other sheltered spot to finish ripening. In cooler gardens you can instead pick individual fruit as they ripen on the plant in spring.
Ripe bananas keep on the bench for a few days. Peeled bananas freeze well for baking and smoothies.
Using it
Eat bananas fresh, or use them in smoothies, cakes, banana bread and on pancakes.
Propagation and saving seed
Bananas are grown from the suckers, or pups, that come up around the base of the plant. A well-rooted sucker can be separated from the clump and replanted. Bananas are not grown from seed.
Companion planting
Bananas like company that keeps the ground covered and moist in summer.
Good companions
- Sweet potato A spreading ground cover that shades and holds moisture in the soil under the clump, and likes the same warm conditions.
Pests and diseases
Misi Luki is highly disease resistant. Wind, cold and frost are the bigger problems in New Zealand.
Banana is rarely troubled by pests.
Diseases to watch for
- Bunchy top virus Leaves that are narrow, upright and bunched at the top of the stem, with dark green streaks along the veins. If you see this, call MPI's Pest and Disease Hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
- Panama disease Older leaves that yellow and collapse, and brown discolouration inside the stem. Report suspected cases to MPI on 0800 80 99 66.
Common questions
Can I grow bananas in New Zealand?
Yes, outdoors in the warmest frost-free gardens of Northland and Auckland, and in a few sheltered coastal Bay of Plenty spots. Elsewhere it is too cold for them to fruit outdoors.
What is the best banana for New Zealand?
Misi Luki. It is the proven backyard banana here: highly disease resistant, self-fertile, and it bears tight bunches of sweet lady-finger type fruit.
When do bananas fruit in New Zealand?
Plants flower in autumn and the bunch matures for a spring harvest. Expect the first bunch about 15 months after planting a sucker.
How do I ripen bananas from my plant?
Cut the bunch once the oldest fruit starts to yellow and hang it in a shed or sheltered spot to ripen. In cool gardens, you can pick single bananas as they ripen on the plant.
How many stems should a banana clump have?
A mother plant with two or three younger suckers. Remove extra suckers, and cut down each stem after it has fruited.
Sources we checked: Incredible Edibles (Tharfield Nursery): Bananas; Weedbusters: Banned and notifiable plants (MPI hotline).