Banana 'Sweetheart' (Musa acuminata FHIA-3)
Regular price $19.95The Sweetheart hybrid is an outstanding dwarf banana for home gardens that grows 8 to 12 feet high. It is fast growing and produces large clusters of fruit that are 30 to 150 pounds. Sweetheart was bred to be a cooking banana when green but is also excellent eaten fresh out-of-hand when ripe, in fruit salads, ice cream, and desserts with a sweet apple flavor, rich in vitamins B6, C, and potassium.
Sweetheart, or ‘FHIA-03 Sweetheart’ was developed in Honduras in 1987 to be drought, wind, and disease-resistant. It can grow in a variety of moist soils as long as they are well-draining. In warm climates, it lends a tropical flair to the garden with its huge leaves and is also good in containers because of its size. It is somewhat cold-hardy, down to 20 degrees F, and can be brought inside during the cold weather or in northern areas. Sweetheart is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11.
Plant Type:
Fruit Tree / Evergreen Perennial Herb
Did you know? The banana plant is actually an evergreen perennial fruiting herb, not a tree! The large ‘trunk’ is actually a pseudostem, which is made of bulky, leafy layers that emerge and wither over time. Banana plants are fast-growing, and prone to reproducing new plants through mini clones known as suckers.
Harvest Season:
Year-round, but most predominantly in the warm summer months. With good care, bananas are capable of producing fruit within the first 15-18 months of planting. It will take 9-15 months before the tree starts flowering and an additional 2-6 months before the bananas are ready to be picked.
(Expect approximately 3-6 months less time from planting to fruit for Banana plants in our XL Pot Size)
Mature Size:
Really varies depending on variety. Some dwarf banana varieties grow only to 2-3 ft where other banana types reach up to 40 ft tall. Most banana plants can be grown easily in containers and overwintered indoors if needed. We recommend a minimum 7 gal. planter size.
Banana plants are fast-growing, and prone to reproducing new plants through mini clones known as suckers.
Soil & Moisture:
Thrives in ample humidity! Bananas like to be planted high on a mound in rich, moist well-drained soil, nitrogen-rich soil, and humid conditions similar to their native areas tropical and subtropical regions. In well-drained soil, bananas can almost never get too much water, sunlight, and nutrients. Water regularly to maintain leaves and promote fruit production.
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade
Self-Fertile:
Yes
Growth Rate:
Fast, Very Fast
Zone Hardiness:
Outdoors 9-11 with frost protection; Patio/Greenhouse 4+
Propagation:
Our bananas are grown from tissue cultures and are capable of fruiting within 1 year.
