10 Uses of Banana Trees. Bananas will eventually form a 'mat' with a grouping of plants of various sizes (if left to do so and pups are not separated/removed).....so it kinda depends on if you want a space between plantings or just a wall of banana trees. Dolores Monet. Grow this plant in a location where it will be sheltered from the wind as it is very susceptible to damaged leaves. “When planting a banana plant, find a warm, frost free and wind protected space, that preferably receives at least six hours of sunshine per day,” Yates Horticulture Consultant Angie Thomas says. A fully mature banana plant has roots reaching up to 18 feet, located just 8 inches under the soil when planted in clay loam. Related Articles. Gardening. That's wonderful. If you’re growing a banana tree in a cooler climate, plant it in a sheltered location near a northerly facing wall. Banana plants have a generally irregular shape. Food. Aspect. Easy Houseplant—Swiss Cheese Plant … May 7, 2019. Planting banana trees too far apart allows the soil to dry out faster and increases weed infestation, which reduces the nutrients available for the banana root system. It's a beautiful tree and the fruit is delicious. Re: How far apart to plant? Banana plant leaves are huge—depending on the variety, they can be up to 2 feet wide and 9 feet long. I did not know it was possible to grow a banana tree in cold winters. Dividing banana plants should be done only when the pup being divided has grown to at least a … Separating banana plants will give both the new pups and the parent plant a better chance at survival, as the new pups can take away water and nutrients from the parent plant causing it to die back. Choose a north-east to northerly aspect when growing a banana plant. How to Grow a Banana Tree . By. By VioletteRose.