Growing Bananas in Australia

[Ben1]

Hey everybody,

when I read the following article I was wondering if you can grow bananas in Australia (except of Nothern Territory) as you want to or are there any restrictions?

http://m.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/northern-territory-angry-overnbsporder-to-kill-every-banana-tree/story-e6frgczx-1227090553532

Can you grow bananas for consumption and ornamental puposes (like musa Siam Ruby, ensete ventricosum...)

I'm just curious... =)

[Kennybenjamin]

The movement of banana plants in Australia is heavily restricted. They are grown in some private gardens but I think the authorities would prefer if this wasn't the case.

Australia has a a fairly large commercial banana growing industry and the spread of diseases could threaten that industry, hence the restriction on movement of banana plants.

[Pip]

In South Australia well away from any commercial plantations you can grow what ever bananas you like it is just a matter of available propagation material. They are really just grown for ornamental value although it isn't unusual to see bunches of fruit maturing on plants. The weather usually hot and dry destroys the developing flower.

[tropicbreeze]

Last year the authorities went from property to property and GPSed every banana plant in the Top End saying they were only looking for Banana Freckle. Most places were cleared and told their bananas were okay. But with what's happening now it looks like they were out to document the plants to later eradicate them all and not just the ones with Banana Freckle. Devishly cunning those damned bureaucrats!

Edited October 22, 2014 by tropicbreeze

[The Silent Seed]

Even those kept in a pot inside ? Did they toss each room too?

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

I grow and fruit bananas here in central Ca without protection.

So its fairly safe to say that everywhere near sea level in Australia you can grow some sort of edible banana.

Jeff

[Ben1]

Thank you for your answers that I really appeciate.

Ok, so you're still allowed to grow bananas in other parts of Australia like Queensland. (I guess North Queensland's lovely climate is great to grow bananas)

I was asking because I was wondering that I've not seen musas on your pictures yet.

Regards

Ben

[Pip]

I wouldn't share a picture of my Banana clump because wind has damaged the tallest leaves. The dry spring weather hasn't helped either.

Bananas can grow very vigorously making them high maintenance. Due to the way they sucker/regenerate themselves they gradually over time march across the garden moving to locations the gardener might not want nesaserally want the Banana.

[tropicbreeze]

I'd doubt anyone here would keep bananas in a pot indoors. They're not a practical plant for indoors and are far easier outside. I have one in a pot, just haven't worked out where to plant it. Although honestly, I just tend to forget and only when walking past think maybe I should do something about it. It's actually fruiting now.

This is a copy of a media release in September 2014:

Banana Freckle Milestone Reached - 30 000 visits conducted

A milestone was reached this week in the fight to rid the NT of banana freckle with inspectors conducting their 30,000th visit. Dr Andrew Tomkins, the Director of Biosecurity and Product Integrity for the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries says it’s been a big effort to reach that number.

“Since banana freckle was first discovered, our surveillance teams have visited properties throughout the Territory’s Top End. This has been done in a methodical, careful manner to create a database of where banana plants are located and to check whether any of them are infected with the fungal disease.

“It is also a time for us to thank the community who have supported our efforts to eradicate banana freckle.

“The end result is that we have accurate maps showing where banana plants are growing and where the infected premises are located. This accurate data is vital to our being able to eradicate the disease and eventually have the Territory declared freckle free.

“I remind people of the reason that we are doing this in the first place, namely to ensure the future viability of the commercial banana industry of the Territory and the rest of Australia.

“Reaching 30,000 properties is an impressive achievement, but we are by no means finished.I ask that people continue to assist us by reporting banana plants on their properties. If you have not been visited by our inspectors yet and you have banana plants growing, please call the hotline on 1800 771 163 to book an appointment,” he said.

#ENDS

[Bennz]

My father-in-law was a commercial grower for 40+ years around the Lismore NSW area. I recall him telling me the DPI guys did not want bananas spread around, but it could be done with permits.

Commercial banana production on the East Coast stops around the subtropical/warm temperate transition zone, but backyard growers can get them to fruit as far south as Hobart. That far south it is probably like my plants here in NZ, they really only taste good if ripened entirely during summer.

Some of my bananas at 39.5S in mid winter, probably similar to cool-summer coastal Southern Australian areas fruit. Not pretty; can't expect much fruit quality from anything ripening at this stage!

They can produce though. This bunch I harvested some years back was grown during the worst drought in living memory, and came from a plant totally covered in Dipogon and Kennedia vines and that had had no water or fert for 2 years. Persistant plants. Ok the bunch is nothing like a tropical size, but pretty good given the cool climate and appaling growing conditions. The fruit ripened up and tasted fine. Pacha Naadan ('ladyfinger' type).

[Jonathan]

Thats impressive Ben.

I dont know of any fruiting outside in Hobart but they will over winter ok in the right micro climate (i.e. not mine!), so should theoretically be able to fruit here.

I've got one lady finger type growing in my poly tunnel but have not tried them outside yet...frost would be a major problem at my place.

I remember hearing a story about someone who set up a lady finger plantation up the NE coast of Tas many years ago, wishful thinking I suppose.

cheers,

Jonathan

[Bennz]

This is closer to impressive Jonathan, a typical bunch grown in a small scale commercial plantation on Great Barrier Island about 20 years ago. Same latitude as Narooma NSW.

[Jonathan]

I'd be happy with even one banana!

Too cool, too dry, too windy I think.

I take it that plantation no longer exists?

[tropicbreeze]

As I suspected, the agricultural people turned up today at my place today. They gave me a document headed "Notice of Seizure and Receipt". It declared that Banana Freckle, Phyllosticta cavendishii, was a pest, and that any Musa spp were host plants of that pest. It went on, amongst other things, "Pursuant to section 22(3)( of the Plant Health Act, the Chief Inspector has taken control of all host plants on your property ......." They cut down all the banana plants and injected all the stumps and suckers with glyphosate.

Another interesting item on the documents was this sentence, "Plant Health Inspectors may use all reasonable means to gain access to your property which may include reasonable force to gain entry (section 57 of Plant Health Act)."

It also goes on about penalties, but doesn't specify what they are, other than "prosecution and significant penalties."

Nice to see your tax dollars at work.

[Pip]

Oh no so sorry that has happened. How long does the quarantine period last?

[tropicbreeze]

It's not a big issue for me, I'm just a back yard grower. But as the situaton evolves it becomes more apparent that it's more about poliitics than practicality,

Quarantine is supposed to go to 2017 but you can bet it'll be much longer.

Edited November 23, 2014 by tropicbreeze

[Bennz]

What's happened with commercial growers Zig?

[tropicbreeze]

Registered commercial growers are to be compensated. There's a big organic grower not registered, can't be registered as he's not using approved (chemical) practices. He won't get any compensation. There's going to be a fight over this one. But can't see it ending good for him. The Feds have our government by the proverbials. We're a territory, not a state. Canberra has complete control over us.

[Ben1]

As I suspected, the agricultural people turned up today at my place today. They gave me a document headed "Notice of Seizure and Receipt". It declared that Banana Freckle, Phyllosticta cavendishii, was a pest, and that any Musa spp were host plants of that pest. It went on, amongst other things, "Pursuant to section 22(3)( of the Plant Health Act, the Chief Inspector has taken control of all host plants on your property ......." They cut down all the banana plants and injected all the stumps and suckers with glyphosate.

Another interesting item on the documents was this sentence, "Plant Health Inspectors may use all reasonable means to gain access to your property which may include reasonable force to gain entry (section 57 of Plant Health Act)."

It also goes on about penalties, but doesn't specify what they are, other than "prosecution and significant penalties."

Nice to see your tax dollars at work.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Did I get you right that every banana plant in the Northern Territory must be removed due to the Plant Healh Act?

What about people of your neighbouring State Queensland. Do they also have to purge all the bananaplants because the pest could remain there?

[Pando]

Although I know nothing about this, is this truly a legitimate pest issue there? Reading it make it seem like this is heavily lobbied by the banana industry to eliminate competition, even from private gardens...

[Moose]

This sounds exactly like our Florida citrus canker fiasco several years ago.

30,000 properties inspected. The government is pumping big $ into that agency. Amazing how if they find the offending malady, more money comes their way. If they find nothing, the money stops. Hmmmm, of course there will be no bias. Just like the situation we had here ...

[tropicbreeze]

Ben, it's only in the Top End, they don't have any issues with any of the states.

Pando, you hit the nail on the head. They tried to have banana growing banned here in perpetuity some years back. It never went ahead. But with the politics in it it's a matter of where the votes are. Because we're a small population our votes aren't significant on a national scale. So the banana lobbyists in Queensland are weilding the big stick. And being a territory and not a state the federal government controls us. So we don't really get a say in any of it.

Moose, they don't seem to have any problems creating fiascos, plenty of money for that. When it comes to the real thngs, "sorry but there are budget cuts, we don't have the money".

[Walter John]

There are several different pest quarantine areas along Queensland´s coast and only certain banana varieties can be grown on residential plantations within these areas.

Location Permitted banana plants

Far northern, northern buffer, northern and southern buffer pest quarantine areas

• Blue Java
• Bluggoe
• Ducasse
• Goldfinger (FHIA 01)
• FHIA 02
• Goly goly pot pot
• Kluai namwa khom (dwarf ducasse)
• Pisang ceylan (mysore type)
• Sh 3436
• Simoi
• Tu-8
• War war
• Yangambi Km5

Special and southern pest quarantine areas

• Blue Java
• Bluggoe
• Ducasse
• Goldfinger (FHIA 01)
• Kluai namwa khom (dwarf ducasse)
• Lady finger
• Pisang ceylan (mysore type)

[Ben1]

Once again: thank you for your information guys