Table of Contents
How long does it take for a plantain to bear fruit?
The farmer needs between 8 to 9 months for all precautions and care to get the first harvest. The new bunch ripens within a week. Be careful not to drop the bunch when the main plant is cut. Now you know how to grow plantains, the process is not so simple but it gives a good result.
What is the best time to plant plantain?
Plantains can be planted throughout the rainy season. However, they should grow vigorously and without water stress during the first 3 to 4 months after planting. Therefore they should not be planted during the last months of the rainy season.
How long does it take for a plantain to ripen?
It takes about 10 days for a green plantain to be fully ripe and ready for maduros. If you need to ripen a plantain quicker, you can either place them in a brown paper bag for a few days OR you can place them in the oven, unpeeled, at 300 degrees F for 20 minutes.
How many plantain can be planted on a plot of land?
Plant density: For plantains use 1,000 to 1,200 plants per acre with planted distances of 6´x 6´ or 6´x 7´ for the mountainous zone, and 10´x 4´ for the coastal plains.
What is the best fertilizer for plantain?
Fruit Tree Spray: This is 100 per cent organic, liquid and made up of chicken manure and/or sewage sludge. It contains a Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium ratio of 5-4-2 to enhance strong root development and more abundant fruit. It is probably the best fertilizer for plantain and relatively easy to use.
How profitable is plantain farming?
Is plantain cultivation really profitable? On one acre of land you can plant 750 plantain suckers and you sell them at an average of N1,000 per bunch then you will makeN750,000. When you deduct the cost of production of about N250,000 you have N500,000 after ten months in the first year of planting.
What crop can be planted with plantain?
Intercropping of plantains with food crops : maize, cassava and cocoyams.
How do you know when a plantain is ready to cook?
A ripe plantain is best when it’s mostly black with a little yellow, and still slightly firm to the touch, like when you squeeze a peach. Although completely black plantains are still good to eat, they are a little too soft, making them difficult to prepare. But they’re still delicious.
What color should a plantain be to fry?
Plantains can be cooked when they’re green or yellow but, for frying, they’re best when they’re mostly black with a little bit of yellow still left.
How do you apply fertilizer to a plantain farm?
Always use 1 cup of fertilizer for every inch of trunk diameter and then water thoroughly. Fruit Tree Spray: This is 100 per cent organic, liquid and made up of chicken manure and/or sewage sludge. It contains a Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium ratio of 5-4-2 to enhance strong root development and more abundant fruit.
How much does it cost to start a plantain farm?
Investment Returns
| INVESTMENT PACKAGE | INITIAL INVESTMENT | NET PROFIT (EVERY CYCLE) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 HECTARE PLANTAIN PLANTATION | 2,376,482.00 | 823, 590.00 |
| 1 ACRE PLANTAIN PLANTATION | 1,092,368.20 | 319,260.00 |
How long does it take a plantain tree to produce flowers?
Plantains are grown from a super long 12- to 15-foot underground rhizome. The resulting plant has giant leaves (up to 9 feet long and 2 feet across!) wrapping around a central trunk or pseudostem. Flowering takes 10-15 months of mild temperatures and yet another 4-8 months to fruit. Flowers are produced from…
How big does a plantain plant need to be?
If you choose to grow plantains from rhizomes (same idea as growing from seeds), you’ll need to dig a very large hole. We recommend purchasing a small plantain tree to ensure good, healthy growth and avoid any future growing problems. This in turn yield some very large and impressive leaves (about 9 feet in length and 2 feet across).
Is it easy to transplant wild plantain plants?
If you find some growing wild, you can dig them up and transplant elsewhere to encourage spreading wherever you like. This plant is easy to transplant since it has shallow, fibrous roots, plus a stronger taproot. You can encourage a patch to grow wherever you want it to by moving a few plants to the area.
Can a plantain tree be grown in a greenhouse?
Those living in USDA zones 8 through 11 should successfully be able to grow plantain trees in their gardens! Alternatively, you could also grow plantains in a greenhouse, provided that there is enough sunlight and heat! Before we get into the technicalities of growing plantains, let’s take a quick look at their history!