Banana is an herbaceous perennial, where fruit is produced in a series of vegetative sprouts before the plantation is renewed. Optimal mean temperature is between 25 and 28 °C, and the minimal temperature for growth is around 15 °C. Bananas grow successfully on many soil types, but it prefers free draining, well aerated, deep, fertile loams. Ideal soil pH is between 5.5–7.5. Good yields can be obtained in soils with pH as low as 4.0, when exchangeable Al is low. Soil pH as high as 8.5 can be acceptable as long as potential trace element deficiencies are well controlled. Bananas have a very high requirement of water (150mm/month), nitrogen and potassium.