Red Dacca Banana – Permaculture Factsheet

Red Dacca Banana (Musa acuminata 'Red Dacca') – Permaculture Factsheet

Dwarf-Banana-Red-Dacca source Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery

Overview

Red Dacca bananas are a striking, highly nutritious banana variety known for their reddish-purple skin and sweet, creamy flesh with hints of raspberry or mango. They thrive in tropical and subtropical climates, making them well-suited for permaculture systems in Queensland. Their tall, lush growth provides excellent windbreaks, shade, and soil-building benefits in food forests.

Key Characteristics

• Botanical Name: Musa acuminata'Red Dacca'
• Common Name: Red Banana, Red Dacca
• Family: Musaceae
• Type: Perennial fruiting plant
• Growth Habit: Large, fast-growing, clumping herbaceous plant (not a true tree)

Permaculture Benefits

✅ Soil Improvement: Adds organic matter through fallen leaves and pseudostem decomposition.
✅ Erosion Control: Dense root systems help stabilize slopes and prevent soil erosion.
✅ Microclimate Creation: Provides shade and wind protection for sensitive plants.
✅ Companion Planting: Grows well alongside legumes, comfrey, sweet potatoes, and taro.
✅ High-Yield Crop: Produces large bunches of sweet, energy-dense fruit.
✅ Low-Maintenance: Once established, requires minimal intervention beyond mulching and occasional pruning.

Growing Conditions for Permaculture

Planting & Care

Propagation

• Propagate by suckers (pups)from a mature mother plant. Choose strong, healthy pups at least 50 cm tall.
• Remove the sucker with a sharp spade and replant in a prepared hole.
• Mulch heavily and keep well-watered until established.

Mulching & Soil Management

• Apply thick mulch layers(banana leaves, wood chips, grass clippings, compost) to retain moisture and enrich the soil.
• Incorporate nitrogen-fixing plants (pigeon pea, cowpea) around the base to improve soil fertility.

Watering

• Requires consistent moisture, especially during fruiting.
• Use swales or deep mulch to retain water in a permaculture system.

Fertiliing (Organic Methods)

• Compost & Manure: Feed with decomposed animal manure, worm castings, or compost every 2 months.
• Dynamic Accumulators: Grow comfrey nearby and chop-and-drop leaves as a natural fertilizer.
• Liquid Fertiliser: Apply banana ‘tea’ made from fermented banana leaves for extra potassium.

Harvesting & Uses

• Red Dacca bananas take 12–18 monthsto fruit after planting.
• Harvest when the bananas start turning from green to redand let them ripen off the tree.
• Store at room temperature; do not refrigerate, as it affects ripening.

Uses in Permaculture:
✔ Fresh eating or drying for snacks
✔ Blended into smoothies, desserts, or baked goods
✔ Leaves used for natural food wrapping or mulching
✔ Chopped trunks can be composted or used for animal fodder

Common Pests & Solutions

Best Permaculture Companion Plants

Nitrogen Fixers: Pigeon pea, cowpea, beans
Ground Covers: Sweet potato, peanut grass, pumpkin
Shade Tolerant Crops: Taro, ginger, turmeric
Pollinator Attractors: Marigolds, basil, lemongrass

Fact

Red Dacca bananas contain higher levels of beta-carotene and vitamin C than regular yellow bananas, making them a powerhouse for immune health and eye function!

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About the Author

Doreen Jachmann from Nourished Landscapes has been providing permaculture services for over 10 years.

Doreen is passionate about helping people create sustainable and resilient landscapes.

Nourished Landscapes offer a variety of services, including:

* Permaculture design and installation

* Permaculture education, presentations and workshops

* Permaculture consulting

If you are interested in learning more about permaculture, please contact us today!