Leslie Massey
Bananas are the world's favourite tropical fruit and Australia's number-one selling supermarket product. The banana industry in Australia is valued at more than $434 million. Chinese migrants brought banana plants to Australia in the 19th century, and the fruit was first grown in Carnarvon, Western Australia, and then in North Queensland. Today, almost 95% of bananas are grown in the Queensland area, with other commercial plantations in New South Wales, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Commercial plantation locations | Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory |
| Time to first harvest | 12 months |
| Time between subsequent harvests | 8-10 months |
| Average bunch size | 150-200 bananas |
| Average bunch weight | 35-50 kilograms |
| Nutritional value | Fibre, potassium, vitamins A, B6, and C |
| Annual production | 28 million cartons |
| Total area of banana plantations | 13,000 hectares |
| Percentage of total production from Queensland | 95% |
| Percentage of total production that is Cavendish bananas | 95% |
| Wholesale markets | Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth |
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What You'll Learn
Where bananas are grown in Australia
Bananas are grown in both tropical and subtropical regions of Australia. Queensland accounts for 94% of Australia's banana production, with almost all of that in North Queensland. The major growing regions are the Cassowary Coast (Tully, Innisfail and Kennedy), the Atherton Tablelands, and Lakeland, north of Cairns.
The tropical banana-growing regions of Queensland produce most of Australia's bananas. Other tropical production areas are in the Northern Territory and the northern parts of Western Australia, at Kununurra.
Subtropical bananas are grown in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland – from south of Coffs Harbour in New South Wales north to Bundaberg in Queensland – and in Carnarvon in Western Australia. NSW accounts for about 4% of national production. Carnarvon is Western Australia's largest banana-growing area, with some fruit also grown in Kununurra.
Bananas were first brought to Australia by Chinese migrants when they came to work in the goldfields. The first plants were mostly grown ornamentally, firstly in Carnarvon in Western Australia and then in North Queensland. Commercial banana plantations were soon created by Chinese goldfield workers in the coastal regions of Cooktown, Cairns, and Innisfail.
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How long it takes for bananas to grow
Bananas are grown on commercial plantations in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. The time it takes for bananas to grow depends on the variety of banana and the growing conditions. Dwarf varieties of bananas take about 11–14 months from planting to harvest, while taller varieties take about 14–16 months. The typical shoot-to-harvest period for a bunch of bananas is 3–4 months.
Commercial banana plantations in Australia were first created by Chinese goldfield workers in the 19th century. They brought banana plants to the coastal regions of Cooktown, Cairns, and Innisfail, where they also grew sugarcane and pineapples. The first bananas in Australia were grown ornamentally in Carnarvon, Western Australia, and then in north Queensland. Banana plants were also brought from Fiji by sugar cane cutters.
Today, most bananas in Australia are grown in the Queensland area, with almost 95% of the total production. The banana industry in Australia is valued at over $434 million, and the fruit is the second best-selling supermarket product in the country.
Growing bananas requires careful planning and maintenance. The spacing between banana plants typically ranges from 6.5 by 6.5 feet (2 by 2 meters) to 16.4 by 16.4 feet (5 by 5 meters). To ensure fruit development, pruning is necessary to cut back excess suckers, allowing the plant to focus its energy on producing bananas.
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How bananas are harvested
Bananas are harvested by hand using a two-person team. One person cuts the fruit, and the other carries the bunch away. When cutting, a shallow cross cut is made with a cane knife in the stem facing the bunch, and a saw is used to separate the bunch from the stem. The weight of the bunch causes the stem to bend, and the bunch is then lowered onto the shoulder of the second person, who cuts the stem further. Ladders and long-handled cutting knives are also used in the harvesting process.
Growers use coloured codes on banana bunches to indicate which fruit is ready to be picked. Picking crews of around 4-6 people tow a tractor and trailer between the rows of bananas, harvesting the bunches that are still green. The harvested bunches are sent to a packing shed, where the banana hands are removed from the bunch stem and cut into clusters of 3 to 9 individual bananas. These clusters are what consumers typically see at retailers.
The next step in the process is washing and sorting the bananas. Bananas are hung up in the packing shed, washed, and then placed on a packing wheel or into a water trough/conveyor system, where they are sorted and graded for size and quality. Bananas are packed as whole hands, part hands, or clusters in cardboard cartons with plastic liners. Plastic slip-sheets are used between full hands, and absorbent paper is placed in the carton's bottom. Cartons are stacked onto pallets for ease of pickup and delivery for transport. To ensure a net weight of 13 kg when a carton of bananas reaches the markets, they are usually packed to a weight of 13.5 to 13.7 kg.
After packing, bananas are stored at a cool temperature of 13°C. They are typically ripened at metropolitan markets before being sold, although some are ripened on the farm for local consumption. Bananas that are harvested for sale at wholesale markets or major retailers go through a quality assurance process and are then placed in a ripening room. This controlled environment replicates the climatic conditions where the bananas were grown, accelerating the natural ripening process. Once the bananas are ripe, they are sent to wholesale markets or retailers.
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The history of bananas in Australia
Bananas are believed to have been first introduced to Australia in the 1800s by Chinese migrants who came to work in the goldfields. The first plants were mostly grown ornamentally, first in Carnarvon in Western Australia, and then in North Queensland. The first banana fruits traded in Australia were imported from Fiji to Sydney.
It was not long before commercial banana plantations were established by banana growers in Australia. The earliest of these plantations were created by Chinese goldfield workers in the coastal regions of Cooktown, Cairns, and Innisfail, where they also grew sugarcane and pineapples. In 1891, Herman Reich created a commercial banana plantation in Coffs Harbour.
In the early 20th century, tariffs on imported bananas encouraged the production of the fruit in Australia, as domestic production represented the best financial opportunity. As a result, the growth of favourite varieties like the Cavendish banana increased in popularity. The Cavendish remains a popular variety when it comes to growing Australian bananas, and the industry has continued to flourish.
Today, there are around 13,000 hectares of bananas grown in Australia, with almost 95% of these bananas grown in the Queensland area. The tropical banana-growing regions of North Queensland, mainly around Tully and Innisfail, produce more than 90% of Australia's bananas. The banana industry is the biggest horticultural industry in the country, valued at more than $434 million between 2017 and 2018.
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How to grow bananas at home
Bananas are grown commercially in Australia, particularly in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. However, you can also grow bananas at home with the right care and conditions. Here is a guide on how to grow bananas in your own backyard:
Space and Soil Requirements:
Firstly, banana plants require a lot of space to grow, so allow for 2 to 4 square meters per plant. They thrive in rich, moist, and well-drained soil with a pH of 4.8 to 5.5. Prepare the soil by mixing loam-based compost with grit to provide around 30% drainage. If your soil is sandy or of poor quality, consider creating a raised bed with high-quality soil.
Watering and Sunlight:
Banana plants require ample water and sunlight to thrive. On average, mature plants grown in the ground need about 60L of water per week, depending on the climate. If your region is humid with ample rainfall, you may need to water them less. Banana plants love sunlight and prefer a temperature of 27°C. Ensure they receive at least 4 hours of sunlight daily, as plant development stops at 16°C, and temperatures of 0°C can be lethal.
Fertilization:
Fertilize your banana plants regularly with compost to provide the necessary nutrients. Additionally, you can apply dolomite lime for calcium and magnesium, and add iron phosphate to the soil to increase acidity. If you have mature plants, provide a gardening scoop of chicken manure per stem each month, reducing the amount by half for dwarf varieties or indoor plants.
Harvesting:
Banana plants grow from suckers shooting off the base of the mother plant, and it can take 18 months to a few years to produce fruit, so patience is key! Once the bananas have formed, cut off the flower (also known as a bell or blossom) to encourage the plant to focus on fruit development. You may also bag the fruit to protect it from insects and animals. When harvesting, it is recommended to cut off a "hand" of bananas at a time, allowing the rest to stay green and ripen slower.
By following these steps and providing the necessary care, you can successfully grow bananas at home and enjoy the fruits of your labor, literally!
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, bananas are grown in Australia. They are mostly grown in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.
Bananas are grown on commercial plantations. They are planted in good soil, with safe all-weather access, row designs to suit typographic conditions, and specialised erosion control and drainage structures. Bananas need a lot of water and sunshine to grow well.
Yes, bananas are Australia's number-one selling supermarket product and the second biggest national horticulture industry.
