Lady Finger Banana (Musa ‘Lady Finger’) - LIVE PLANT

Plant Insights and Care

Lady Finger is a name used for small-fruited dessert bananas. The nursery name is preserved without assigning an unverified regional clone.

• Sun Exposure: Give strong light with a sheltered position. Acclimatise young plants gradually; protect tender leaves from harsh afternoon sun.
• Watering: Keep the root zone evenly moist during active growth, while allowing excess water to drain. Wind, heat and small pots increase water demand.
• Soil: Use fertile, well-drained soil with organic matter. Keep mulch clear of the pseudostem.
• Temperature and Humidity: Warm, humid conditions support growth. At 40–45°C, protect roots and foliage from drying winds; survival does not guarantee good fruit set.
• Fertilization: Feed in small, regular applications during active growth, including potassium and micronutrients. Avoid concentrated fertilizer against the stem.
• Pruning: Remove dead leaves and crowded suckers. After a stem finishes fruiting, cut that stem down and retain a healthy replacement sucker.
• Growth Rate and Size: A clumping herbaceous perennial, rather than a woody tree. Growth can be rapid with warmth and water; allow space for a mature clump.
• Pollination: Edible cultivated bananas generally develop fruit without pollination. Fruiting still depends on plant maturity and suitable growing conditions.

Key Points

• Small dessert fruit.
• Lady Finger names are used for different regional selections.

Fruit Profile

Lady Finger bananas are generally smaller than standard supermarket bananas, with sweet flesh when fully ripe. Let the peel develop its mature yellow colour and the fruit soften. Exact fruit dimensions and flavour vary between selections.