When to Plant Banana in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Banana guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Oct to Jan
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 5.5–6.5
- Shop price
- $4.90/kg at one shop
Technically the world's largest herb, not a tree. The 'trunk' is a pseudostem made of tightly wrapped leaf bases. Propagated by suckers (pups) from the base of the mother plant.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan P
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Plant suckers or tissue-culture plants in full sun as the build-up turns to the wet, so the rain helps them settle in. Panama disease TR4 is present in the NT and Far North Queensland, so buy only certified clean plants and never swap suckers or move soil between properties.
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How to Grow Banana in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, rich, well-drained loam with high organic matter. Bananas are gross feeders and need fertile soil. Sandy soils need heavy composting.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 5.5-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun, sheltered from strong wind. Wind shreds leaves (cosmetic damage) and can topple plants.
- Good companions
- Sweet Potato (ground cover), Dwarf Beans, Basil, Comfrey, Ginger
- Keep away from
- Mint
Tropical Growing Tips for Banana
Recommended Varieties
- Cavendish (Williams, Grand Nain)
- Lady Finger (Sugar Banana)
- Ducasse (Pisang Awak)
- Red Dacca
Key Challenges
- Panama TR4 (biosecurity critical)
- Cyclone damage
- Banana weevil borer
- BBTV
Pro Tips
- This is banana heartland. FNQ produces most of Australia's commercial bananas.
- Plant in groups of 3-4 for wind protection (mats shelter each other).
- In cyclone zones, chop tall plants before storms. They'll reshoot from suckers.
Pests and problems for Banana in Tropical
- Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) Source plants from certified virus-free nurseries only. Control banana aphids. Inspect plants regularly. Do not accept banana suckers from... Watch
- Panama Disease (Fusarium Wilt) ONLY use certified disease-free planting material. Never move soil or plant material between properties. Clean tools with bleach between... Watch
- Banana weevil borer Banana weevil borer Watch
Harvesting Banana
When ready: Fingers (individual bananas) are plump and rounded (not angular/ridged). Flower petals at tip of each finger dry and rub off easily. Wait until fingers start to turn slightly yellow on the bunch, OR harvest when full-sized but green and ripen indoors.
How to harvest: Cut entire bunch with machete or heavy knife. Support bunch weight as you cut. They're heavier than you think (15-40kg). Hang in cool shady spot to ripen. Ripen faster in paper bag with ethylene-producing fruit (apple).
Storing and preserving banana
How to keep it
- Freezing. Peel ripe bananas, place on tray lined with baking paper, freeze solid, then transfer to zip-lock bags. Perfect for smoothies and banana bread. Keeps: 6 months.
- Dehydrating (banana chips). Slice 5mm thick. Dip in lemon water. Dehydrate at 55°C for 10-14 hours until crisp. Keeps: 6-12 months in airtight container.
- Banana jam/butter. Mash ripe bananas, cook with sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon until thick. Jar hot in sterilised jars. Keeps: 6 months.
- Green banana flour. Peel green bananas, slice thin, dehydrate at 55°C until bone dry, grind to flour. High resistant starch. Keeps: 6 months in airtight container.
What banana costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Banana
When do you plant banana in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Oct to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Dec
When should I plant Banana in Cairns?
Plant suckers or tissue-culture plants in full sun as the build-up turns to the wet, so the rain helps them settle in. Panama disease TR4 is present in the NT and Far North Queensland, so buy only certified clean plants and never swap suckers or move soil between properties.
How do I know when Banana are ready to harvest?
Fingers (individual bananas) are plump and rounded (not angular/ridged). Flower petals at tip of each finger dry and rub off easily. Wait until fingers start to turn slightly yellow on the bunch, OR harvest when full-sized but green and ripen indoors.
What are the best Banana varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Cavendish (Williams, Grand Nain), Lady Finger (Sugar Banana), Ducasse (Pisang Awak), Red Dacca.
What grows well with Banana?
Good companion plants for Banana include: Sweet Potato, Dwarf Beans, Basil, Comfrey, Ginger.
Are banana salt tolerant?
No. Banana are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.