Bananas are a plant that can be grown quite successfully here in Southern California if they are given proper soil conditions and are protected from temperatures that venture below freezing.   When looking for a location to plant your banana, choose one that has a rich, well-drained soil, receives full sun and is protected from strong winds.  Most importantly, this site will need to be safe from a frost, so make it close to a structure such as your house, or near another sizable object that can store heat during the day, and then radiate it out during the night. 

To prepare the ground for planting your banana, dig out a hole that is twice the width and depth of the container that your banana is currently living in.  Into the bottom of this hole add two heaping handfuls of compost, and one pound each of landscape mix, worm castings and a half-pound of greensand.   Mix these ingredients together with one shovelful of dirt and then place the un-potted banana with its dangling root ball into the hole and bury it with the dirt that you have taken from the pit.  As you are burying your banana, mix into the dirt, an additional four handfuls of compost, one pound each of landscape mix, worm castings and azomite and a half pound of green sand.  If you have gophers in your yard, it is advisable to plant your new banana in a cage.

Bananas are shallow rooted and need moist soil conditions in order to thrive and fruit.  So, water frequently and keep a 1-2” layer of mulch over the root zone.  Your plants will bloom15-24 months after being planted. The flower stalk takes 3-4 months to mature, and once the fruit bunches have developed, remove the red flower head, 6” past the last banana that has formed. Harvest the entire banana stalk from the main plant once the first fruit turns yellow.  Hang the harvested bunch in a well-ventilated, shady area and pick-off and eat the fruit as they ripen.  After a plant has fruited, it will produce 1-3 pups, and then die back.  If allowed to grow and prosper, these new pups will produce fruit in another 15-24 months.