I thought this thread would be useful to newer members of the forum, so I'm reposting the original subject.
Here's some of my experiences with growing bananas in southern California - San Diego specifically zones 9b and 10b.
Other SoCal members please chime in!
The maturation times are from pup to harvest and only for buds emerging spring-summer. For buds emerging other times (and fruit maturing through winter) add about 6 months.
- Namwa -- tall, medium, and dwarf: 18 mo., large bunches, fruity flavor.
- Brazilian -- tall, medium, and dwarf: 18 mo., small bunches, mild subacid flavor.
- Orinoco -- dwarf: 18 mo., medium bunches, strong subacid flavor.
- African Rhinohorn -- 2 years, small bunch, good cooking in green stage but difficult to ripen to fresh eating stage.
- Cavendish -- dwarf & super dwarf: 18 mo. medium bunches, bland flavor. The SDC fruit size is tiny, hardly any flesh within peel.
- 1000 Fingers: 18 mo. 1000's of tiny fingers with negligible flesh between the peels.
- Pisang Ceylon: 18 mo., medium-large bunch, good to excellent flavor.
- "Temple Banana": 2.5 years, small bunch, bland flavor.