Farming: Nurturing Banana and Plantain

Hello Hiveians, today I will talk about my favorite fruits and also share some secret, health-related benefits they possess.

Bananas and plantains are often reaped before they get ripe to avoid spoilage and contamination of the crops by pests or other parasites.

Both crops are perennial, and before focusing on the ones in my garden, I would love to identify a few health benefits that you may find surprising.

In case you don’t know, both banana and plantain spring from their flowers, also known as banana heart. I’ll make a wild guess that the name is derived from the shape of the flower itself.

The interesting part is that the flower is edible and rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and several minerals that can aid digestive health, prevent prostate enlargement, and provide a host of other health benefits.

You’ll agree with me that we sometimes underrate nature. I believe that with more research, a lot of mysteries about common crops and fruits will be brought to light. However, as always, I implore everyone to always take steps under expert guidance.

To prevent confusion I wouldn’t want to differentiate between the plantain and banana trees on our farm, I know we have about 8 plants in the compound. Aside from weeding, I really don’t do a lot to ensure the proper growth of the plants.

Although I intentionally wet them, they are doing fine even without wetting. The major requirement for bananas and plantains to thrive is a rich soil with essential nutrients, and sometimes farmers may need to arrange for manure, but in my own case, the soil is just good enough to cater to all the plants need for development.

Another thing I am grateful for is that several banana suckers are sprouting aside from the eight well-developed plants, and they are there as upcoming replacements for the existing plants.

The last plaintain we harvested from one of the trees was big and healthy—by healthy, I mean, it wasn’t affected by any disease.

It is noteworthy that you need to cut off the plant or tree from which you have harvested your plantains to give the upcoming suckers and plants in the vicinity the opportunity to grow and have access to more nutrients. If you don’t cut it, it will compete with the upcoming plants in terms of available nutrients.

Healthwise, plantains are more beneficial than bananas; if not for anything, the sugar content and herbal tendencies support my claim. That doesn’t rule out the fact that it supports bone health, among other health benefits it renders.