Harvesting Plantain Seed. Harvest when the tall seed stalks turn brown, late summer to fall, but before the seeds on the stalk look deteriorated. Cut the ripe spikes and allow to dry fully a week to a month. Then pull the seeds from the stalk through your hand and deposit husks and seed in a bucket.
Can you grow plantain from seed?
Plantain seeds are best grown directly outside by sowing in early to mid-spring after the last frost has passed. Seeds should be scattered directly over prepared soil. Germination normally takes seven to fourteen days. Leaves can be harvested for use 30 days after the first plants sprout from the soil.
How does plantain reproduce?
Suckers Plantains are vegetatively propagated, most often from suckers (shoots that grow from a bud at the base of the plant) or from corms (underground bulbs known as rhizomes). The use of whole corms is very laborious so it is more common to grow from small pieces of corm.
How do you harvest and dry plantains?
To harvest plantain, you will want to pick the leaves just before the flower stalks mature. Once the leaves are collected, dry them in the shade on screens. You can also dehydrate them at 95°F until they are dry and crumbly. Discard any that turn black.
How many times does plantain produce in a year?
Each grown up plant would produce a minimum of three suckers, and if he could harvest one sucker from each and could sell at N100, the farmer would make additional N150,000. The harvest cycles continue for a minimum of four to six years, or more, depending on land rejuvenation system and farm maintenance practices.
How many months does it take plantain to grow?
Flowering takes 10-15 months of mild temperatures and yet another 4-8 months to fruit. Flowers are produced from the pseudostem and develop into a cluster of hanging fruit.
Are plantain seeds edible?
Plantain is a highly nutritious wild edible, that is high in calcium and vitamins A, C, and K. The young, tender leaves can be eaten raw, and the older, stringier leaves can be boiled in stews and eaten. The seeds are also edible. However, ingesting large quantities can cause a drop in blood pressure.
What does plantain leaf cure?
Plantain has long been considered by herbalists to be a useful remedy for cough , wounds , inflamed skin or dermatitis, and insect bites. Bruised or crushed leaves have been applied topically to treat insect bites and stings, eczema , and small wounds or cuts.
What animal eats plantain?
Plantain is enjoyed by rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and other small animals.
How long are plantain seeds viable?
Each plant can produce up to 14,000 seeds that can remain viable in the soil for 50 to 60 years. Freshly produced seeds do not germinate until the following spring; light is a requirement for seed germination with an optimal temperature requirement around 25°C.
How many seeds does a plantain have?
P. lanceolata produces 2,500 to 10,000 seeds per plant and has a somewhat shorter seed viability. Plantain seeds can survive passage through the gut of birds and other animals, facilitating their distribution.
What’s left when you take an ant out of a plantain?
4. What’s left when you take an ant out of a plantain? Something plain. 5.
Does plantain draw out infection?
It can draw out and close up pus and infection from dirty wounds and soothes irritated membranes. Plantain is also helpful in bronchial infections and pneumonia. It cools and moistens the mucosa but also dries up mucus and water from the lungs.
Can I boil plantain leaves?
You can boil the leaves or crush it then add cool water. Adding additional ingredients such as apple cider vinegar, and essential oils will increase the potency. In addition, the leaf will reduce the pungent smell of the apple cider vinegar. This plant offers great medicinal benefits.
Do plantains have seeds?
Plantain is another banana that bears visible seeds. The Plantain is normally larger and has a thicker skin than the Cavendish banana.
How many plantain can be planted on a plot of land?
The recommended spacing for planting plantain is 3m between the plantain rows and 2 m within the row (in other words = 3 m x 2 m). An alternative is 2.5 m x 2.5 m. If spaced 3 m x 2 m, 1 hectare should contain 1667 plants, but with a spacing of 2.5 m x 2.5 m, it should contain 1600 plants.
How much do plantain farmers make?
Is plantain cultivation really profitable? In the open market, a bunch of plantain costs about N750 to N2,000 if you are selling to the final consumers directly without processing it. 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.
How do you prune a plantain tree?
The best time to prune is after harvesting the fruit. Prune the yellow and diseased leaves while starting from the outer side of the banana tree. Then move gradually towards the inner leaves. Only the main stalk should remain intact and all the suckers and lower leaves should be removed with a clean knife or blade.
How many years does it take plantain to produce?
Plantain takes about 8 months to start to yield and about 3 months to mature. That’s to say, it takes about a year to have the first harvest from the planting date.
What time of the year does plantain grow?
Plantains come from the tropics, where they can grow almost year-round and flower and fruit at any time.
How often do plantain trees produce fruit?
How Long Does it Take For a Plantain Tree to Make Fruit? Plantains are usually ready for harvest anywhere from 14 to 20 months depending on the climate and other factors. Flowering usually happens within 10-15 months, while an additional 4-8 months is needed for fruit it develop and ripen.