What plants pair well with bananas?

Companion planting breathed new life into my struggling banana grove. Once I added beans between the rows, the nitrogen levels doubled, which I confirmed with soil test results. The beans' shallow roots did not compete for space with the rhizomes of the bananas. Meanwhile, the vines provided a canopy over the soil surface, which reduced the water loss to evaporation due to the tropical heat.

My undercover weapon against weeds has been sweet potatoes. Their sprawling vine created living mulch, keeping the soil moist through droughts. During harvest, their tubers broke up the hardcore earth, providing a natural tillage system. Just pulled them up before bananas fruiting to avoid competition for roots.

Steer clear of alliums, such as onions and garlic, as both their exudates contain antibacterial properties that inhibit banana root microbes. Garlic had sabotaged a past effort with borders, leading to stunted plant growth for months. Consider using herb species that repel pests such as basil, which enhances flavors without being detrimental to soil biology.

Read the full article: How to Grow Bananas: Expert Tips for Bountiful Harvests