Bananas are one of the most popular fruits eaten today.
Part of the reason that bananas are so popular is that they are very versatile and can be used for a variety of things.
When you head to the grocery store to purchase bananas, you will very likely see that the bananas are sold in small groups.
Have you ever wondered if this is how bananas grow or if they are actually part of a larger bunch of bananas?
We have all the answers you need about how bananas grow and what you can use this wonderful fruit for.
How Many Bananas Are There In A Bunch?
When bananas grow on trees, there are actually close to 100 bananas in a bunch.
Each of these bunches is made up of hands.
The hands can have anywhere from four to 15 bananas apiece.
When you purchase bananas in a store, you are buying a hand, not a bunch.
The entire bunch is how you will see the bananas growing on the tree, and these bunches can weigh well over 100 pounds.
Those who have to climb bananas trees and cut down the large bunches have quite a bit of strenuous work in front of them.
Bananas tend to be one of the more affordable fruits in our grocery stores, and that is partly because of how they can produce so many in a short period.
Some bananas plants can make close to 300 bananas in a period of about four to six months.
The overall time it takes to grow a banana is quite fast, and when they produce this many at once, it helps to lower the pricing of the bananas.
Where Are Bananas Grown?
Like many other fruits, bananas need warm tropical weather to be able to grow.
The only areas where you will see bananas growing are the tropical regions around the world.
It is very popular to see bananas growing in south and central America.
In addition, there are parts of India, China, and Africa that will grow bananas.
Some people in the warmer climates in the United States will also grow their own bananas.
As you can see, the widespread production of bananas is quite helpful to make them a food that is accessible to a wide range of people.
Although a banana tree is often called a tree, it is not a tree.
The banana grows on a plant that is related to an orchid.
When planting a banana plant, you will notice that it is more like a bulb that starts under the ground and eventually breaks through the soil.
Can I Grow Bananas?
If you live in an area where there are high temperatures and tropical climates, the process of growing a banana plant should not be very difficult.
Growing bananas is not all that hard, but there are some steps that you will have to be sure you take to be successful with your banana plants.
Banana plants need dark and fertile soils.
The area where you plant the banana plant is going to have to have been well prepared to accommodate it.
In addition, you will need to make sure you have lots of mulch and organic matter around the plant.
This is what the banana plants really like, and if you want them to produce, they will need to have these things in place.
It’s essential to keep a banana plant well-watered and ensure that it is never drying out.
The fruit is not easily produced if the plant is dried out.
When you plant a banana plant, you must ensure that you plant a few at the same time.
One plant does not do well all on its own.
They grow best in a cluster of three or four plants.
The best way to do this would be to put at least three plants next to each other, and then they will all rely on each other for shade and support as they grow.
This is how banana plants would grow in the wild, and you will want to try and recreate these situations for growing your banana plant at home.
Overall, growing banana plants is a unique and fun experience.
You are going to have to look up some recipes to use all the bananas that you will get.
Once you get a good batch going, you could find yourself with hundreds of bananas.
Benefits Of Banana Plants
Aside from the fact that you can get great fruit from a banana plant, there are actually several other reasons that you may want to plant a banana plant.
For those who have large properties and are considering putting in a few banana plants, here are some of the things you can expect to get along with your plant.
Screens
If you need a privacy screen in your yard, you can put up a row of banana plants.
The plants grow to the perfect height and will give your yard a very tropical look while still providing you with privacy.
In addition, you will reap the benefits of owning this many banana plants and all of the fruit that they can produce.
Since banana plants tend to grow relatively thick, they can also work as a screen to keep wind out.
Although you may be able to block some noise as well, the overall low height may not help as much from a noise perspective.
Feed For Animals
The banana plant produces a large amount of fruit that will work for human or animal consumption.
However, the leaves of the plant can also be fed to horses and cows.
This helps the plant to be an all-around producer and money-saver for you and your animals.
The overall maintenance of banana plants is not that difficult, and the amount of fruit they produce for the work that it takes will be well worth the price that you pay.
Weaving
If you are a very crafty person, your banana plant will provide even more benefits.
You can take the dried remains of the trunks and use them for weaving baskets and even making mats.
If you are serious about making sure that nothing on your land goes to waste, the banana plant is a great solution.
What Can Bananas Be Used For?
Now that you understand a little more about how bananas grow and what the plants can be used for, let’s take a look at how to use the fruit itself.
After all, if you end up growing bananas and you have 100 of them, you will need to figure out some great ways to use them.
Since bananas can be quite healthy, many people will want to ensure that they use them in their diet.
Here are some of our favorite ways to use bananas, especially when you have a large crop.
Cereal Or Oatmeal
Sometimes cereal and oatmeal can be a bit bland.
One way to make things taste a little better is to add a banana.
Since bananas are not nearly as bad for you as adding sugar, this is a great way to ensure that your meal tastes great but remains relatively healthy.
Adding the banana to your morning meal can help ensure that you are getting some extra potassium in your diet as well.
Replacement For Butter Or Oil
Did you know that banana has a wide range of uses when it comes to baking?
You can mash a banana and use it as a replacement for oil or even for butter when you are cooking.
Mashing a banana is quite easy, and many recipes will include this or give you the exact substitution to use the banana in your cooking.
Keep in mind that the flavor of the dessert that you are making is also going to be somewhat altered by adding in the banana.
This is what makes it best for certain meals like bread and muffins.
Muffins/Cookies/Cakes
The great thing about adding bananas to muffins, cookies, and cakes is that you will not have to worry about how ripe the banana is.
Sometimes when a banana gets too ripe, and it is a little brown, you will not want to just peel it and eat it.
The texture is not always the best, and the overall taste can sometimes be too sweet.
However, you can always mash the banana up and then make muffins like banana oat muffins or something similar.
When the banana is used in baking, you will never be able to tell that it was too ripe.
The fruit blends in perfectly to the meal that you are making, and you will quickly notice that it makes a great ingredient in general.
Smoothies
A smoothie is another great way to use a banana.
You can mix the smoothie with a variety of other fruits, milk, almond milk, even peanut butter to make it a great flavor.
The smoothies that you make can be packed with vitamins and minerals as well to make them even more healthy.
People who worry about smoothies not having enough flavor or tasting a little bland will have no worries when a banana is added to the recipe.
Bananas are high in sugar, but the sugar is healthier for you than processed ingredients.
Many people will add half a banana to a spoonful of peanut butter, some flaxseed, and almond milk to make a healthy and smart lunch choice.
The possibilities for using bananas are almost endless.
In addition, you can easily just take one with you to work.
How great is it to have the ability to grab a fresh piece of fruit and make your way through the day without even having to put it in a container or a wrapper?
With bananas coming with their own cover, this delicious fruit is a clean, healthy, and easy snack to take on the road.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now feel as though you have an idea of the difference between a banana bunch and a banana hand.
For those who are interested in grabbing a few bananas from the store, expect to get about four to 10 bananas with your purchase.
If you are growing bananas in your yard, and you have a true bunch of bananas that have grown, there could be up to 100.
Be prepared to have some help carrying this as the overall weight of the bananas is going to be extremely heavy.
Don’t let the fact that a few bananas are light in weight fool you about the entire bunch, but be prepared to carry close to 70 pounds or more when you take down an entire bunch of bananas.
This is one of the most popular fruits on the market, so it pays to understand just a bit more about the banana.
