Banana can be cultivated all provinces in Sri Lanka. Planting banana under the coconut lands as an intercrop will give extra earning for the coconut growers. There are around 29 varieties of Banana in Sri Lanka. Land preparation for the banana cultivation is somewhat simple. However, farmers may consider topography and nature of the soil before planting the banana.

Banana can be cultivated as multiyear cultivation. In this cultivation, banana is maintained as branch of trees to remain them five years or more. Other is annual cultivation.Under the annual cultivation, trees are maintained only one year. Hence, only parent trees are keft by farmers.

If rain is available during the year or irrigation methods are applied, banana can be planted any month of during the year in Sri Lanka. The most suitable time to plant can be determined according to availability of irrigational water or rainfall.

Method 1:- clean the roots of selected seed plants. Then treat the roots by applying liquid prepared by mixing cow dung with Furadan (6 to 10 grams for Gallon).
Method 2:- first clean the root of selected plant and keep in the boiling water at about 30 second.

60 cm X 60 cm X 60 cm pits are suggested for banana plants. Gap in between plants in the multiyear cultivation is 3 m X 3 m while 3 m X 1 m is for annual cultivation. (in my practice I dig pits at the center of four new coconut plants)

There is a number of varieties of banana in Sri Lanka. Some of them are Ambul, Seeni bananas, Kolikuttu, Suwendel, Puwalu, Rathkehel, Anamalu, Embon, Bin kehel, Nethrapalam, Etamuru, Hambanpuwalu, Marathamana, Mondon, Alu Kesel and Sambel. At present, some farmers engage in exporting Seenikesel and hence it will have good market in future. Kolikuttu can be sold at a high price. Alu kesel is used as vegetable. Based on the prices and resistance to some diseases, banana farmers can decide suitable varieties of bananas to cultivate in their lands.

You can apply recommended initial fertilizer mixture with ground soil or compost at the planting. Put a plant at the center of a pit and cover the pit with surface soil to ground level.

Weeding is needed and do it as did for other crops.

For Wet Zone cultivation Fertilizer Stage of applied

Apply Dolomite 500 grms per plant before two weeks for planting

However, it is a good practice to apply organic fertilizers every time if possible.

Some diseases can be perceived in plants due to lack of fertility. Major impact of this is to reduce growth of tree. Due to lack of nitrogen, some leaves will turn to yellow. Growth of roots is hindered due to lack of phosphate. Similarly, end of the mature leaves will be dried due to lack of potassium. Lack of magnesium will also show some abnormal features in leaves. To avoid these diseases from banana you need to manure or add organic fertilizers to the cultivation.

Other activities

1. To remove new plants from the bush until 4 months after planting.
2. Then, once in four months allow to spring up new plant from the bush. Therefore, finally you can maintain a parent tree with two baby plants for a bush.
3. New plants are allowed to grow one direction or round way.
4. Provide water as required during the dry session.
5. Secure the plants from animals or pests.
6. Harvesting is needed to do carefully.