What did you harvest today (bananas)

[servatusprime]

The bunches are fairly large, the plant is fairly tall. I used a bungee cord to tie it to another pseudostem for support

How high up do you go and do you just use one cord? This would definitely be more aesthetically pleasing than pvc/timber supports.

[Nicolas Naranja]

If I can I tie to the peducle, sometimes I will use trailer straps especially when I have plants fruiting on opposite sides of the same mat.
How high up do you go and do you just use one cord? This would definitely be more aesthetically pleasing than pvc/timber supports.

[PR-Giants]

I have been to my share of international produce meetings and have had the Hawaiian and Brazillian version, and of course the semi-commercial Florida versions

The semi-commercial Florida version is semi-funny and the Brazilian version must have been from way back. According to the records, in 1980 the Pacovan & Prata Ana were the commercial Pome cultivars in Brazil and by the early 1990's those two were quickly being replaced by the new synthetic hybrids.

[PR-Giants]

Those fruit are so similar to me that if I was blindfolded and fed each, I don't think I could tell them apart.


I think you'll be able to tell them apart, but maybe not know which cultivar. A side by side taste comparison is the only way to do it. Recently I harvested a Verdin and thought it tasted like a Morado, I wanted to be sure so I harvested a Morado for a taste comparison and they were not as similar as I had originally thought. Even two Williams grown side by side can taste distinctively different depending on irrigation/rain, in my case terrain slope.


I'd be interested to hear what differences in taste or texture you or your friends notice between the different Pome cultivars, and the hybrids.


I'd have to find my notes but recall all of the descriptions being inline with the research. I was mainly interested in one of the hybrids and some mutants, although they did have good opinions of the hybrids with the Jamaican diploid M53.



I've read good things about Pacovan, but I haven't been able to track it down in the hobby trade.

Do you know when the Pacovan became widespread?

Is it possible the ones in your yard are Pacovans?

The synthetic hybrids in TARS are from Phase II in 1992, but you should be able to order the current hybrids directly from Brazil. I saw a classified section online that had them for sale.

[crazy banana]

The bunches are fairly large, the plant is fairly tall. I used a bungee cord to tie it to another pseudostem for support

Very interesting,. Never thought of that. Can you please post a photo for reference?

[I_GROWER]

Wild manzano

http://i.imgur.com/dJYwlAx.jpg

[venturabananas]

Wild manzano

Sure about that? They look more like Namwah to me.

[Lau]

Hi everyone should I cut this bunch of unknown down or should I wait until they start to turn yellow? I think the bunch was too heavy.

[JCA433]

Hi everyone should I cut this bunch of unknown down or should I wait until they start to turn yellow? I think the bunch was too heavy.


I would harvest now. The bananas may split if allowed to ripen on the plant.

[venturabananas]

Hi everyone should I cut this bunch of unknown down or should I wait until they start to turn yellow? I think the bunch was too heavy.

Looks to me like they could fill more, and p-stem isn't severed through, so I'd wait. What's the worst that can happen? They start to ripen prematurely. If they start ripening and splitting the peels, harvest them.

[robguz24]

Hi everyone should I cut this bunch of unknown down or should I wait until they start to turn yellow? I think the bunch was too heavy.
How long since they flowered? I'd leave them on as long as you can. Had a mysore bunch blow over during a hurricane 2 months ago. Left them in place. They never totally filled and should have had 6 more weeks to go but they ripened last week. Though small, they're very tasty. If I'd harvested when the plant collapsed I wouldn't have been able to eat any.

[Lau]

The banana flowered June 27. I'm going to leave them alone until they turn yellow. Thanks for all the help.

[Richard]

The banana flowered June 27. I'm going to leave them alone until they turn yellow. Thanks for all the help.

Given the flowering date and your SoCal location, I would wait until at least one turns yellow or night time temperatures are consistently below 50F - whichever comes first, then cut the bunch and hang it in your closet and harvest fingers individually as they ripen.

[from the sea]

Namwa! small bunch was 75 fingers on 5 hands the bigger one is 104 fingers in 7 hands
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s93/Ssullivan_02/IMG_0180_zps403eecbe.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/Ssullivan_02/media/IMG_0180_zps403eecbe.jpg.html)

[Dplaza]

Given the flowering date and your SoCal location, I would wait until at least one turns yellow or night time temperatures are consistently below 50F - whichever comes first, then cut the bunch and hang it in your closet and harvest fingers individually as they ripen.

How does the bunch handle below 50F? Just curious as I am preparing a flower with cooler temps on the way soon.

[crazy banana]

How does the bunch handle below 50F? Just curious as I am preparing a flower with cooler temps on the way soon.

I agree with Richard but would not let them ripen in a closet as the sap will stain everything after cutting. And I mean EVERYTHING (fabric, clothing, walls, floors - you name it).
Last winter I left 3 bunches to ripen on the plant. It just took longer (10 month for the Blue Java). We had a couple mornings with early frost hours and the bunches were protected with solar bags. The garage is my preferred place to let a bunch ripen that was harvested too early for whatever the reason is.

[venturabananas]

How does the bunch handle below 50F? Just curious as I am preparing a flower with cooler temps on the way soon.

It's not really a problem unless the temperatures get down near freezing. Cool temperatures slow down maturation, in the same way they slow down plant growth, but provided the temperatures aren't so low that there is frost or freezing, the bunch probably won't be seriously affected. Even on very temperature-sensitive varieties, like Dwarf Red, the bunch will still ripen OK, though probably not as well (e.g., as filled out) as in the tropics.

[Richard]

I agree with Richard but would not let them ripen in a closet as the sap will stain everything after cutting. And I mean EVERYTHING (fabric, clothing, walls, floors - you name it).

Why is that a problem ?? What could be more important than ripe bananas ??

[crazy banana]

Why is that a problem ?? What could be more important than ripe bananas ??

:ha:
I am just renting and the banana police has been around....

[servatusprime]

Found a fruit stand on Pine Island and "harvested" praying hands, hoa moa, and some type of "lady finger". Not sure exactly what it is, but its very good. Never had a banana with such small fingers. Does it look like a mysore? (never had one) They are much smaller than the manzanos I can pick up at the grocery store. I also like there flavor quite a bit more. It doesn't seem as intense as some people describe mysore, but its my best guess.

<a href="http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/servatusprime/media/11BE7772-E889-472B-AD6D-1AD15C3DC0F7_zpserlgnxjn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a600/servatusprime/11BE7772-E889-472B-AD6D-1AD15C3DC0F7_zpserlgnxjn.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 11BE7772-E889-472B-AD6D-1AD15C3DC0F7_zpserlgnxjn.jpg"/></a>

[bananimal]

What about those anonas?

[servatusprime]

What about those anonas?

Haven't tried them yet. I think they need to get a little softer.

[Nicolas Naranja]

They do look like mysore

[servatusprime]

They do look like mysore

Thanks. I like them quite a bit. I wasn't sure. I really like them. I probably could have eaten a whole hand In one sitting by myself. Thankfully I started growing pisang Ceylon so I'll have my own to try at some point. I hope they they have a stronger flavor in my yard.

I've eaten a few fingers of the praying hands and so far I'm not really impressed. Flavored temporpedic foam. I don't think the prayer was answered. 😉

[servatusprime]

What about those anonas?

Ok I tried one........WORST THING I EVER PUT INTO MY MOUTH!!!!!!!!!

I know these are supposed to be great but I think it must have been picked premature or something. It was almost all seeds too, not that I wanted an abundance of what I tasted.

[from the sea]

Ok I tried one........WORST THING I EVER PUT INTO MY MOUTH!!!!!!!!!

I know these are supposed to be great but I think it must have been picked premature or something. It was almost all seeds too, not that I wanted an abundance of what I tasted.

i have had the same experience with sugar apples from stands in homestead

[eddiemunozep]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=26096&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=26096&ppuser=2868)

One hand of Goldfinger

So how they taste?

[I_GROWER]

Wild unknown

http://i.imgur.com/ONZwamH.jpg

[I_GROWER]

Just enough for some tostones

http://i.imgur.com/LxxVvYD.jpg

[JCA433]

I harvested another Namwah bunch today.



http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56988&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56988&ppuser=7368)

[Richard]

I harvested another Namwah bunch today.

They look rather blueish. Is it a feature of your camera?

[bananimal]

If it's not the camera they look very blue java-ish!

[Richard]

If it's not the camera they look very blue java-ish!

Yes. But on my AT&T phone, a bunch of Namwah would have that hue.

[JCA433]

That blueish color is from my camera. The bananas are green and have no blue color at all. Here is another picture.


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56991&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56991&ppuser=7368)

[bananimal]

The fingers would be a lot bigger on a real BJ.

Here is my bunch.................

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56992&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56992&ppuser=820)

[merce3]

cut my first hand off of the praying hands and made plantains last night... they were delish!

[robguz24]

cut my first hand off of the praying hands and made plantains last night... they were delish!
How did you prepare them?

[merce3]

How did you prepare them?

i butchered a lot of them at first. separating them by hand when they are green is impossible without damaging the flesh. i ended up cutting/peeling each individual finger with a knife. i used the smallest hand so there were only 2-3 servings, but the effort was well worth the reward.

[robguz24]

i butchered a lot of them at first. separating them by hand when they are green is impossible without damaging the flesh. i ended up cutting/peeling each individual finger with a knife. i used the smallest hand so there were only 2-3 servings, but the effort was well worth the reward.
I guess what I really meant was what dish did you make with them?

[merce3]

I guess what I really meant was what dish did you make with them?

oh, my bad. i made tostones

[I_GROWER]

Cavendish banana?


11 hands / roughly 113 fingers
http://i.imgur.com/FNRkHyy.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ee5wGA4.jpg




here is when she first flowered


http://www.bananas.org/249860-post986.html

flowered last week of july
harvested of 2nd week of November

best cardboard I've ever tasted

[lmswayne]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=26096&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=26096&ppuser=2868)

One hand of Goldfinger

not a thing every thing has been frozen.

[venturabananas]

Dwarf Brazilian, harvested fingers off the bunch rather than cut the whole thing down. Had at least a couple bananas every day for a month.
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b572/markasteele/dwarfBrazilian_2014_10_19_zps2d471af9.jpg (http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/markasteele/media/dwarfBrazilian_2014_10_19_zps2d471af9.jpg.html)

[venturabananas]

FHIA-18

Sunny side of the bunch:
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b572/markasteele/FHIA-18bunch_2014_11_12_zps1bb8dafb.jpg (http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/markasteele/media/FHIA-18bunch_2014_11_12_zps1bb8dafb.jpg.html)

Shady side of the bunch:
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b572/markasteele/FHIA-18bunch_backside_2014_11_12_zpsde7f6608.jpg (http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/markasteele/media/FHIA-18bunch_backside_2014_11_12_zpsde7f6608.jpg.html)

[servatusprime]

Dwarf Brazilian, harvested fingers off the bunch rather than cut the whole thing down. Had at least a couple bananas every day for a month.
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b572/markasteele/dwarfBrazilian_2014_10_19_zps2d471af9.jpg (http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/markasteele/media/dwarfBrazilian_2014_10_19_zps2d471af9.jpg.html)

I need to start harvesting one hand at a time. Eating 30-50 lbs in a week or two can be a challenge. Do you just "eye-ball" when to start cutting off hands?

[robguz24]

Dwarf Brazilian, harvested fingers off the bunch rather than cut the whole thing down. Had at least a couple bananas every day for a month.
http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b572/markasteele/dwarfBrazilian_2014_10_19_zps2d471af9.jpg (http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/markasteele/media/dwarfBrazilian_2014_10_19_zps2d471af9.jpg.html)

Funny how different these look than ones in Hawaii, particularly the more rounded ends.

[venturabananas]

Funny how different these look than ones in Hawaii, particularly the more rounded ends.

I agree. And their appearance changes somewhat based on what season the ripen during. I think it's all about climate differences.

[venturabananas]

I need to start harvesting one hand at a time. Eating 30-50 lbs in a week or two can be a challenge. Do you just "eye-ball" when to start cutting off hands?

I either start cutting them off when the fingers look completely filled or they start turning yellow. I normally cut off a few fingers at a time, not even a whole hand, just so I have enough every day for me and my wife. It works better on some varieties that others. They need to be short (so you can reach them easily) and ripen unevenly on the bunch. The cooler the weather, the longer you can stretch the harvest out. I doubt you could stretch it out as long in the tropics, or FL during summer for that matter. Even in my cooler climate, I often have to harvest 20-30 fingers at a time if they all ripen at once. And for some varieties, pretty much the whole bunch goes at once.

[servatusprime]

One of the issues I've observed Is that the first finger to go yellow seems to be within the third or forth hand. The hands are usually so tight that I really can't cut off one in the middle without getting the previous hands out of the way.

[venturabananas]

One of the issues I've observed Is that the first finger to go yellow seems to be within the third or forth hand. The hands are usually so tight that I really can't cut off one in the middle without getting the previous hands out of the way.

Yep, that usually happens to me, too. I generally "cut a path" to the ripe fruit by cutting off green fingers that are in the way. Those green ones I cut off in making the path ripen fine a couple of days after the yellow ones. I use a small hooked knife that doesn't need a lot of room to work.

[servatusprime]

Yep, that usually happens to me, too. I generally "cut a path" to the ripe fruit by cutting off green fingers that are in the way. Those green ones I cut off in making the path ripen fine a couple of days after the yellow ones. I use a small hooked knife that doesn't need a lot of room to work.

I need to buy one if those and give it a shot. I see a lot of ripening bunches in my yard and with my luck they will all ripen at the same time which won't work since I don't live on a monkey farm.

[venturabananas]

That always happens. You go through a period with no ripe bananas and then 3 bunches ripen at the same time. Then you share with friends, family, strangers on the street… :ha:

[JCA433]

That always happens. You go through a period with no ripe bananas and then 3 bunches ripen at the same time. Then you share with friends, family, strangers on the street… :ha:



This has happened to me several times already. Two bunches will ripen at almost the same time and you end up with more bananas than you and your family can eat. Delaying harvest is risky because bananas left attached to the stem too long will split. Growing bananas is like feast or famine but it is so fun!

[Nicolas Naranja]

FHIA-17
http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x455/NicolasNaranja/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141129_142622_zpsr3uqo1aj.jpg (http://s1182.photobucket.com/user/NicolasNaranja/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141129_142622_zpsr3uqo1aj.jpg.html)

[servatusprime]

I cut done some Pisang raja. Maybe this variety will redeem its self with this bunch. I have my doubts though.

[servatusprime]

Much bigger fingers this time around.
<a href="http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/servatusprime/media/5625E25F-4FB2-4073-A238-E38010F12387_zpsenkpdvdd.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a600/servatusprime/5625E25F-4FB2-4073-A238-E38010F12387_zpsenkpdvdd.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5625E25F-4FB2-4073-A238-E38010F12387_zpsenkpdvdd.jpg"/></a>

[Lau]

The bananas from that broken tree started turning yellow. Maybe Williams. Definitely some kind of Cavendish. I'm just glad they started to ripen. I think I will just harvest the fingers when they turn yellow. :woohoonaner:

[servatusprime]

I think I officially have a problem......

<a href="http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/servatusprime/media/3F00F780-3B3D-4997-87F8-D9CFF103A2EE_zpsyw08yziq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a600/servatusprime/3F00F780-3B3D-4997-87F8-D9CFF103A2EE_zpsyw08yziq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 3F00F780-3B3D-4997-87F8-D9CFF103A2EE_zpsyw08yziq.jpg"/></a>


18 hands of creamwah from the same mat!!!!

Really didn't think they would be ready at the exact same time.

I think I need help. :nanadrink::nanadrink:

[bananimal]

Take them on the road and stuff mailboxes. Stick on a xmas bow. lol

[servatusprime]

Take them on the road and stuff mailboxes. Stick on a xmas bow. lol
:ha:

It's funny that you say that......we were thinking just about the same thing. :2722:

Last time this mat had two flowers at about the same time, the bunches were ready 3-4 weeks apart for whatever reason. I thought it would be the case again. Boy was I wrong. This time the mat had a total of four ripening bunches prior to this harvest. The other two definitely need more time to fill in, but we shall see.

This is easily the most productive variety in my yard. I would be curious to know if that's the case for most other folks.

[Cikas33]

I think I officially have a problem......

<a href="http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/servatusprime/media/3F00F780-3B3D-4997-87F8-D9CFF103A2EE_zpsyw08yziq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a600/servatusprime/3F00F780-3B3D-4997-87F8-D9CFF103A2EE_zpsyw08yziq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 3F00F780-3B3D-4997-87F8-D9CFF103A2EE_zpsyw08yziq.jpg"/></a>


18 hands of creamwah from the same mat!!!!

Really didn't think they would be ready at the exact same time.

I think I need help. :nanadrink::nanadrink:

Wow that is alot.:08:

[from the sea]

my namwa (bought as an ice cream also) does the same thing I had almost 200 fingers that ripened with in 4 days of each other. My mat had 6 bunches hanging at one time, down to my last 2.

[PR-Giants]

A disappointingly small Manini bunch, 12 hands 30.6 kg.

[lmswayne]

Once again I have weather envy. I have a big mail box [lol] Ahhhh sun how I miss it.

[crazy banana]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57318&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57318&ppuser=13376)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57319&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57319&ppuser=13376)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57320&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57320&ppuser=13376)

The last big rain storm broke our Pisang Klotek in half, but we were able to safe the bunch which was about #36 after only 4.5 month hanging (photo 1)

Concerned about the first nights below 32F, we harvested the beautiful bunch of Dwarf Namwah last weekend at #35 (at 5 month)

While other people were partying on New Years Eve, we were watching the thermometer dropping to 30F at 10.30PM, so with a flashlight, ladder and knife we decided to also harvest the Blue Java bunch (can you call us "crazy for bananas"? ;) ). It came in at #29, also after only 5 month.

So we do have #100 of bananas ripening in the garage now. Have already tasted the PK and they are super delicious.
Dwarf Brazilian and another BJ bunch are bundled up and protected with solar bags, hopefully no more cold nights.

[venturabananas]

50 lb. of "Misi Luki Namwah". Biggest fingers for a Namwah bunch that I've grown, averaging nearly 8 oz. and over 50 mm diameter.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57342&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57342)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57341&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57341)

[servatusprime]

Wow.....namwahzilla

[from the sea]

seriously ventura, that's awesome! the fingers on my namwa are 1/2 that size

[venturabananas]

seriously ventura, that's awesome! the fingers on my namwa are 1/2 that size

Thanks. The ones on my Dwarf Namwah are usually half that size, too. But even on these taller namwahs, this bunch was exceptional. I'm not sure why. They ripened faster than normal, too. Maybe having the bunch hanging over the driveway while it was maturing kept it warm and happy.

[servatusprime]

I harvested some namwah a bit prematurely so family could taste it while down in Florida. Very interesting differences from letting it fully ripen on the stem. The fruit is noticeably less dense and the intensity of flavor is reduced however, the flavor that is present is much more reminiscent of raspberries. Not necessarily bad things, but very different from fully ripened. Makes me wonder about other fruit I've harvested a bit early.....

[I_GROWER]

Wild Unknown bunch from banana-land
I thinks its namwah

http://i.imgur.com/faXPDbF.jpg

[I_GROWER]

/\Early forager gets the bunch /\

Harvest what I think could be a rajapuri

Dwarf fruited at around 6ft, didn't drop any leaf brackets

http://i.imgur.com/XzKg93z.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/38z7nSc.jpg

Took forever to ripe.. 5+ months

[venturabananas]

It has the right look for Rajapuri.

You think 5 months is forever, ha! I have a Rajapuri bunch that has been hanging for 12 months now without ripening. It's not in a good spot, being in heavy shade and competing with other plants too close to it.

[I_GROWER]

Also harvested this cavendish

http://i.imgur.com/Ri8F0Nd.jpg

She's on the far right
http://i.imgur.com/0l0vnSf.jpg

The 1st and 2nd hand can be seen on the grass in the middle

I gave away the 3rd hand to the Inlaws back around Xmas time

[venturabananas]

This one will compete with PR-Giant's harvest.

Rose banana. Pathetic. But one of the biggest Rose bananas I've grown so far. They don't like me.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57376&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57376&ppuser=7760)

[venturabananas]

A little better. Dwarf Namwah, 50 lb.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57374&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57374&ppuser=7760)

[servatusprime]

This one will compete with PR-Giant's harvest.

Rose banana. Pathetic. But one of the biggest Rose bananas I've grown so far. They don't like me.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57376&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57376&ppuser=7760)

What will you do with all the leftovers?? ;)

I would throw in the towel on that variety.

[venturabananas]

What will you do with all the leftovers?? ;)

I would throw in the towel on that variety.

Yes, it is on the chopping block. What has saved it so far is that the plants are attractive and make a good screen between my yard and my neighbor's yard. They are very vertical ("erect"), so don't hang over into her yard, like most varieties do. Essentially, Rose is an ornamental variety for me.

[venturabananas]

That is impressive vb, but if you ever decide to grow a more productive bunch and still wanna stay with an AA genome you'll have plenty of options. It's definitely worth doing some research first, I'm growing some that are plant to bloom in 4 months and the large bunches are just a bonus.

There are lots of AA varieties, but not many available in the hobby trade for someone in California. I've tried the few I could lay hands on, Rose, Veinte Cohol, and Pisang Mas (Kluai Khai). In my cool climate, their performance has ranged from poor to pathetic. In fact, Veinte Cohol and Pisang Mas have never produced because during winter, the main stem dies back, and it seems that my summer is too cool for them grow fast. I think the East African Highland AA varieties could be cool tolerant, but there seems to be no way for a hobby grower to obtain those in California. Yangambi KM5 sure looks like an AA variety, but apparently it is an AAA. It does better than the three AA varieties I have, but it has been painfully slow to produce for me.

If there are some AA varieties that are productive in cool climates, I'd love to hear about them.

[servatusprime]

Harvested a hand of kandrian a bit prematurely and do not note a significant difference than allowing it to ripen on the stem. Maybe a little less fluffy if anything. Still love this variety. I suspected a bit more of a difference like my early harvest of Namwah. Every variety is different.

[JCA433]

Harvested Goldfinger bunch yesterday. Unfortunately the bananas had fungal spots and some fingers were splitting so the bunch was harvested a bit earlier than normal.


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57464&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57464&ppuser=7368)

[bananimal]

Harvested Goldfinger bunch yesterday. Unfortunately the bananas had fungal spots and some fingers were splitting so the bunch was harvested a bit earlier than normal.


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57464&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57464&ppuser=7368)

What's your location? Pleaswe edit your profile to show location.

[JCA433]

Very disappointed with Goldfinger bunch. I may up root it and plant Namwah or Cavendish bananas in its place. The bananas split before filling in and ripened way too early.

They split before they complete filling in. I was forced to harvest the bunch way too early because of the splitting problem.

[servatusprime]

Harvested a big bunch of goldfingers. I love these bananas. Glad they made it through the cold.

By the way, since there was no last minute frost cloth to be found around here, I improvised and used 2mm foam flooring underlayment from HD to wrap bunches. Worked well, some exposed leaves got "burned" but the bunches were fine.

[servatusprime]

Six hands of tall Brazilian. I haven't finished the nine hands of gold finger yet or the few hands of namwah still lingering. I think I'll be making a lot of banana bread.

i think I need to start pruning back the number of hands on future bunches. There is only so many I can eat in a day.

[keybrdkid09]

recently I harvested the below:

Sh3640, blue java, grand nain (1st harvest,) and fhia 17 (1st harvest.)

Had some problems with what I think was cigar end rot on the grand nains, so I chopped a number of bananas off. managed to save about half give-or-take.

hopefully I'll get larger fhia 17 harvests in the future. wasn't quite I might have expected. I was thinking the plant would be bigger. maybe it will be one day. :)

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd412/keybrdkid09/bananas1_zpsnus6zotl.jpg (http://s1218.photobucket.com/user/keybrdkid09/media/bananas1_zpsnus6zotl.jpg.html)

[I_GROWER]

About to harvest this burro bunch
http://i.imgur.com/Ayvlm7D.jpg

[venturabananas]

First ever bunch of Mona Lisa (FHIA-02), Ventura-Midgets style. A whopping 6 pounds. In its defense, the plant was in a bad spot. Nice flavor and texture.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57511&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57511)

[bananimal]

I like them too but later pulled the mat for something better.

[crazy banana]

I like them too but later pulled the mat for something better.

..... which is ..... :drum:

Venturabananas: was this a first time crop from a TC?

[venturabananas]

Venturabananas: was this a first time crop from a TC?

Yes, from a TC it took 4 years from planting to harvest. Like I said, it was in a bad spot, planted in the same hole as a fast-growing, vigorous Pisang Awak variety that was thought to be Mona Lisa (and wasn't). So it was shaded and competing for water and nutrients with it. And, as you know, this ain't the tropics here in CA! But I need to find a better spot for it and then see how it performs.

[sunfish]

Did it knock the blocks off the wall ?

[venturabananas]

Did it knock the blocks off the wall ?

Small but fierce? Not so much. That's just the results of 50 years of wear and tear on that wall.

[sunfish]

Small but fierce? Not so much. That's just the results of 50 years of wear and tear on that wall.

:)

[servatusprime]

Harvested SH 3640 last night, we'll see how this batch turned out. Hopefully better.

[sunfish]

One hand of Musa Cavendish

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/P1010055.jpg (http://s950.photobucket.com/user/musanamwah/media/P1010055.jpg.html)

[I_GROWER]

A Divine looking Burro

http://i.imgur.com/kTey5rG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/l7gy3gZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eIqQMkL.jpg

[I_GROWER]

http://i.imgur.com/bHLw5KJ.jpg

[servatusprime]

This harvest of 3640 is way better than the last one. I think I'm going to have to update my taste report. This plant gets to stay in the yard. I very happy to keep it since its a great plant.

[crazy banana]

This harvest of 3640 is way better than the last one. I think I'm going to have to update my taste report. This plant gets to stay in the yard. I very happy to keep it since its a great plant.

That is good to hear, especially when you take into consideration that the bunch was maturing over the colder winter month.
Please DO update your taste report. Looking forward to it.

[venturabananas]

Biggest bunch of bananas produced in my yard so far, 67 lb. of "Ice Cream Namwah".

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57539&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57539)

[servatusprime]

I declare you :drum::drum::drum: "King of Namwah"

[JCA433]

Harvested another Namwa bunch today.


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57542&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57542&ppuser=7368)

[JP]

One hand of Musa Cavendish

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/P1010055.jpg (http://s950.photobucket.com/user/musanamwah/media/P1010055.jpg.html)

I did too! but the ones from the Dole company... I find them less good.

[cincinnana]

Harvested another Namwa bunch today.


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57542&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57542&ppuser=7368)

WTFFFFFFF:08:
Pipe dream where I live......cool:08:

[cincinnana]

You girls/guys ....Over ,down ,across, far away, betterplace ,neater , cooler, warmer,better, sooner ,bigger, ........:woohoonaner:


Have it smooth....

[PR-Giants]

Patupi 42 days to fill

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=54211 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=54211)

Tigua fruit - 10.5" - 11.7 oz - 45 days to fill

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51939 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51939)

[crazy banana]

Dwarf Brazilian - 12 fingers straight from the plant and many more to come....

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57546&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57546)

[Nicolas Naranja]

African Rhino Horn and a Dwarf Namwah
http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x455/NicolasNaranja/20150402_222316_zpsmirxus68.jpg (http://s1182.photobucket.com/user/NicolasNaranja/media/20150402_222316_zpsmirxus68.jpg.html)

[PR-Giants]

Due to the severe drought this bunch was much smaller than expected.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51748 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51748)

Hopefully when I harvest these Rhino Horns they'll average at least 3 lb. each. They're already 21"-22" in length.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51747 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51747)

[Nicolas Naranja]

Do you ever have problems with sunburn on the ARH?

[servatusprime]

Gros Michel!!!!

And namwah

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a600/servatusprime/D2A29362-388E-4F7D-8E0B-E403D6B9C7B3_zpsdd6cczil.jpg

[PR-Giants]

A while back I read a paper that stated the lumps in Manzano fruit were caused by inadequate supply of water during the fruit filling stage.

The fruit of this bunch have been perfectly smooth, so I doubt that's true.


Due to the severe drought this bunch was much smaller than expected.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51748 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51748)

Hopefully when I harvest these Rhino Horns they'll average at least 3 lb. each. They're already 21"-22" in length.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51747 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51747)

Do you ever have problems with sunburn on the ARH?

Sometimes but it's minor.

[Lau]

A bunch of RP that have been hanging all winter.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57674&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57674)

[I_GROWER]

Namwah
http://i58.tinypic.com/2cr0l5y.jpg

[lmswayne]

Rain and hail is all I have had. It is so much fun living in such an unpredictable weather pattern.

[crazy banana]

Namwah
http://i58.tinypic.com/2cr0l5y.jpg

Very interesting way of hanging up the harvested bunch in the garage.

[PR-Giants]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51849 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51849)

[crazy banana]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57702&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57702&limit=recent)

35 pounds of Dwarf Namwah :woohoonaner:

[PR-Giants]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51346 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51346)

[I_GROWER]

Mysore
http://s17.postimg.org/x6zum55xb/mysore.jpg

[venturabananas]

Rose

The biggest bunch I've got from this variety, a whopping 10 pounds. The fingers averaged 30-40 grams. I'll still keep growing this variety because it makes a good screen between my house and my neighbor's, with its nice vertical growth habit, but I wouldn't grow it for the fruit production!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57939&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57939)

[PR-Giants]

55 lb. isn't too shabby for a plantain.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57210 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57210)

[Nicolas Naranja]

55 lb. isn't too shabby for a plantain.


FHIA-21?

[servatusprime]

9 hands of goldfinger. I don't know what I did different, but these fingers a super fat compared to my previous bunches. Peel is a lot thicker too.

<a href="http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/servatusprime/media/71751D3D-6DFE-4B4B-9FCC-B8C298742962_zpsx9afzdqp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a600/servatusprime/71751D3D-6DFE-4B4B-9FCC-B8C298742962_zpsx9afzdqp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 71751D3D-6DFE-4B4B-9FCC-B8C298742962_zpsx9afzdqp.jpg"/></a>

[PR-Giants]

Harvested the bottom few hands of a SH-3640, some fruit were over 12 oz., and they always have fused pedicels like in your photo. I've never seen a Goldfinger with fused pedicels, are all the hands fused?



9 hands of goldfinger. I don't know what I did different, but these fingers a super fat compared to my previous bunches. Peel is a lot thicker too.

<a href="http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/servatusprime/media/71751D3D-6DFE-4B4B-9FCC-B8C298742962_zpsx9afzdqp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a600/servatusprime/71751D3D-6DFE-4B4B-9FCC-B8C298742962_zpsx9afzdqp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 71751D3D-6DFE-4B4B-9FCC-B8C298742962_zpsx9afzdqp.jpg"/></a>

[servatusprime]

Yep

A random sample of fruit....

<a href="http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/servatusprime/media/4EC9E440-DBC8-44FC-A589-AA2F1BDFD322_zps4maqxcvw.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a600/servatusprime/4EC9E440-DBC8-44FC-A589-AA2F1BDFD322_zps4maqxcvw.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 4EC9E440-DBC8-44FC-A589-AA2F1BDFD322_zps4maqxcvw.jpg"/></a>

[Lau]

Wow!!! They look great. Huge. Congratulations what do they taste like? :nanadrink:

[servatusprime]

Out of the varieties I've grown, they are my all around favorite. I posted a taste report awhile back for this variety. The more I eat them the more I like them. I need to wait a little bit to see if the larger size changes the taste experience.

[Lau]

Harvested the bottom few hands of a SH-3640, some fruit were over 12 oz., and they always have fused pedicels like in your photo. I've never seen a Goldfinger with fused pedicels, are all the hands fused?

If you have some time can you post some pictures of the Goldfinger bananas and SH-3640 bananas so a comparison can be done. A lot of the pictures that are posted show single bananas. It would be nice to have that information as a reference.

[caliboy1994]

Misi Luki. 10 hands, 142 fingers. Not too bad for my first harvest, I'd say.

http://i.imgur.com/2wzq9QQ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/G1WfrP1.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/uC8dqtD.jpg?1

[Richard]

Misi Luki. 10 hands, 142 fingers. Not too bad for my first harvest, I'd say.
Very Nice!!!
:woohoonaner:

[PR-Giants]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=52902 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=52902)

[Lau]

That FHIA -42? kind of looks like two bananas fingers fused together. What does it taste like:nanadrink:

[PR-Giants]

That FHIA -42? kind of looks like two bananas fingers fused together. What does it taste like:nanadrink:

Tastes twice as good as the FHIA-21 :ha:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51579 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51579)

[ifnull]

Finally harvested today. Here are the results...

Height: 36in
Weight: 72lb

... will someone please tell me what other important measurements I should take?

This was supposed to be a Musa Dwarf Namwah but either wasn't, or mutated back to Musa Namwah.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/488/18296661586_bf9c1df7f2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tSPb3w)
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/395/17702460983_177610dbd7_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sYiJUx)
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/318/18135292878_dd6413ca38_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tCy7Kq)

Here is a video of me trying to harvest by myself. It didn't go so well.
https://instagram.com/p/3XUwiSS6O-/

[Richard]

... This was supposed to be a Musa Dwarf Namwah but either wasn't, or mutated back to Musa Namwah. ...
What was the pstem height at fruiting?

Nice harvest!!
:woohoonaner:

[ifnull]

What was the pstem height at fruiting?

Nice harvest!!
:woohoonaner:

About 15ft. I have another thread chronically the growth of this mat.
http://www.bananas.org/f310/dwarf-namwah-oddly-tall-year-21098.html

[JCA433]

Harvested my first SH3640 Bunch!



http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58037&size=1

[Richard]

Harvested my first SH3640 Bunch!
A fine looking bunch too!!

[Nicolas Naranja]

Paggi
http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x455/NicolasNaranja/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/20150611_174559_zpspfykgpw8.jpg (http://s1182.photobucket.com/user/NicolasNaranja/media/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/20150611_174559_zpspfykgpw8.jpg.html)

[venturabananas]

Nick, how tall is Paggi for you when it blooms? I have a couple, but they are a long way off from blooming.

[Nicolas Naranja]

Nick, how tall is Paggi for you when it blooms? I have a couple, but they are a long way off from blooming.

About 10'. TARS reports a little over 11' The picture is a little deceptive as the plant is bending over quite a bit.

[servatusprime]

Had another bunch of GM fall down. About half filled. Salvaging it might be a possibility. Is harvesting at this stage safe to eat? I really don't have time to jack with trying to fix it nor do I want to support it a few feet off the ground either. Thanks.

[Richard]

Had another bunch of GM fall down. About half filled. Salvaging it might be a possibility. Is harvesting at this stage safe to eat? I really don't have time to jack with trying to fix it nor do I want to support it a few feet off the ground either. Thanks.

I've tried hanging half-filled banana bunches in the garage during temperate weather. About 3 months later they turned color and a few days later began to rot. Nothing worth eating.

[servatusprime]

Well....maybe I need to think some more then. The plant wasn't even really leaning. One minute it looked beautiful then one minute later after a brief gust....WHAMO....not sure I wanna keep it at this rate

[Richard]

One minute it looked beautiful then one minute later after a brief gust....WHAMO ...
:0493:

Yup. Definitely something to avoid. The weather here can be unpredictable like that. Having been through those circumstances before, I give mine strap support at four foot intervals to avoid those kind of disasters.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Nh11A41klL4/hqdefault.jpg

[servatusprime]

Just harvested another nice bunch of Kandrian. This bunch developed a bit differently, there are a lot of fused or partially fused fingers. You would think it had been fraternizing with mat of Praying Hands. (but those fingers you can still somewhat separate)

I hung the partially filled GM bunch in the garage. We will see if turns out to be edible.

Just planted a Mona Lisa I picked up at a local nursery. I hope it turns out. :)

[Lau]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58131&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58131)

Unknown Bunch:woohoonaner:

[Nicolas Naranja]

Paggi
http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x455/NicolasNaranja/Mobile%20Uploads/20150620_203830_zpsobfjxjvb.jpg (http://s1182.photobucket.com/user/NicolasNaranja/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150620_203830_zpsobfjxjvb.jpg.html)

Old Reliable Nam Wah
http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x455/NicolasNaranja/Mobile%20Uploads/20150620_203747_zpswwtsdmmc.jpg (http://s1182.photobucket.com/user/NicolasNaranja/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150620_203747_zpswwtsdmmc.jpg.html)

[PR-Giants]

FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plant crop pseudostem was a little over 8 feet.

Peduncle/rachis/bud was a little under 9 feet.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=52924 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=52924)
:08:

[Going Bananas]

Just harvested another nice bunch of Kandrian. This bunch developed a bit differently, there are a lot of fused or partially fused fingers. You would think it had been fraternizing with mat of Praying Hands. (but those fingers you can still somewhat separate)

I hung the partially filled GM bunch in the garage. We will see if turns out to be edible.

Just planted a Mona Lisa I picked up at a local nursery. I hope it turns out. :)

Seems like you and me are the only ones
that seems to have a MommaLisa.
I ordered my tc from FakeyHill and sure would like
a definite ID on a real one.
Too much to ask for a pic of yours...please?

:bananas_b
Thanx!

[robguz24]

My first Tu'u Ghia bunch. Flowered after a year. Almost 5.5 months to harvest. They come off the bunch too easily, while still quite green. Had to try the ones that came off despite the greenness. These are going to be pretty amazing I think. They were still astringent but very sweet like a Sucrier but with a better texture and not quite as sweet. The plant produces a ridiculous amount of pups and the 2nd stem started fruiting a month after the first. Was taller with a bigger bunch, but lost it in a wind storm.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/Tuu%20Ghia_zpsicbs8vme.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/Tuu%20Ghia_zpsicbs8vme.jpg.html)

[PR-Giants]

:waving: Small bunch.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51194 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51194)

[servatusprime]

Just harvested another nice bunch of Kandrian. This bunch developed a bit differently, there are a lot of fused or partially fused fingers. You would think it had been fraternizing with mat of Praying Hands. (but those fingers you can still somewhat separate)

I hung the partially filled GM bunch in the garage. We will see if turns out to be edible.

Just planted a Mona Lisa I picked up at a local nursery. I hope it turns out. :)

So the GM ripened in the garage and I just had my first finger. It tasted quite good actually. In fact I'm not discerning much of a difference from the fully ripened bunch I harvested a several months ago. Very impressive.

[servatusprime]

Well the wind huffed and puffed and blew another bunch down last night! I had a heavy bunch of nearly ripe FHIA-3. They were supported with a "fork" i made out of 1" pvc pipe. The wind snapped the P-stem almost clean into two pieces. The pipe was bent in half.

These wind gusts have been really bad lately. Oh well, I'll be eating FHIA-3 soon.

[crazy banana]

Well the wind huffed and puffed and blew another bunch down last night! I had a heavy bunch of nearly ripe FHIA-3. They were supported with a "fork" i made out of 1" pvc pipe. The wind snapped the P-stem almost clean into two pieces. The pipe was bent in half.

These wind gusts have been really bad lately. Oh well, I'll be eating FHIA-3 soon.

Sorry to hear. Hope they will still ripen for you.
The 1" PVC support system has never worked for me. I have used the 1.5" one and anything that needs to be replaced will be replaced with the 2" PVC pipe from now on.

[PR-Giants]

Sorry to hear. Hope they will still ripen for you.
The 1" PVC support system has never worked for me. I have used the 1.5" one and anything that needs to be replaced will be replaced with the 2" PVC pipe from now on.

You can also use steel fence pipes, I bought some 30 footers for the tall naners. :08:

[crazy banana]

You can also use steel fence pipes, I bought some 30 footers for the tall naners. :08:

That is a good idea, too. I use T- shape and 45 degree elbow PVC pieces for the peduncle to rest in. Are you still using these PVC parts, because otherwise the metal would get too hot in the sun and probably damage (burn) the plant at point of support?
So far I had to connect a 10' PVC pipe with whatever length was missing to support my tall plants like Pisang Klotek or Tall Namwah. Their bunches can get quite big and heavy.

[Nicolas Naranja]

Pisang Klotek...a type of mysore. Ovee 50 lbs. I never have mysore types that heavy.
http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x455/NicolasNaranja/20150713_195951_zpsft42j58h.jpg (http://s1182.photobucket.com/user/NicolasNaranja/media/20150713_195951_zpsft42j58h.jpg.html)

[PR-Giants]

That's not a concern here the leaves block most of the sunlight, but even if there were no leaves the shape of the pipe essentially limits the sunlight to a surface area of less than 16%.

I use a Y shaped stick because it's easy and works fine.

A nice option with the pipe is that many times only one is needed, but if two are necessary it's easier to position them independently.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51237 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51237)




That is a good idea, too. I use T- shape and 45 degree elbow PVC pieces for the peduncle to rest in. Are you still using these PVC parts, because otherwise the metal would get too hot in the sun and probably damage (burn) the plant at point of support?
So far I had to connect a 10' PVC pipe with whatever length was missing to support my tall plants like Pisang Klotek or Tall Namwah. Their bunches can get quite big and heavy.

[Going Bananas]

Congrats Nicolas!
I cant wait for mine to do the same.
Thanks to momoese Mitchel I have 3 pups.
Although, these are not the fastest growers are they?
Whats the rate of growth from plant to flower for this
bunch you just harvested? These are also tall
and really has to be propped up when maturing.
I noticed from the previous threads.
I didnt see a formal taste report on this one.
Although one post said it tasted like starburst candy?
No foolin?!?!

Thanx!

In adendum I also have a tall namwah from Mitch.
Looks like Ill be needing that Y&T sticks hopefully by next year.

Cheers!

[Nicolas Naranja]

They do seem to be rather slow, this is my 3rd bunch from this planting. They do taste really good, kinda like starburst. They are tall and the suckers seem to originate low on the corm so they are always really difficult to dig suckers from. Do prop, I have lost more bunches from this variety than any other I have.


...these are not the fastest growers are they?
Whats the rate of growth from plant to flower for this
bunch you just harvested? These are also tall
and really has to be propped up when maturing.
I didnt see a formal taste report on this one.
Although one post said it tasted like starburst candy?

[Bananaman2456]

One of today's harvest

[Going Bananas]

WOW!
Im jealous.
You joined a month after me
and you already have harvest.
Well done!

Well, this explains it...>>>
Hi I'm a grower we keep one sword pup and remove all other ones this won't shock the mother will make it grower better and bigger fruit. If u remove a pup make sure u remove properly and cut the head off the pup before u plant will throw new leaves out within weeks if warm weather only plant in spring or warm weather

[robguz24]

Supposed to be Dwarf Gros Michel of some type. 60lbs, 9 hands, 124 fruit. 1 year to flower, 4 months to harvest. Gabe looked at the same plant also fruiting that was the source of mine. He thought it might actually be a Williams. I had the fruit from the mother plant last year, and it was very good. It was almost like a cross between a Williams and a Gros Michel. If it ultimately is a Williams it is the best Williams I've had.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7158_zpstiodbenz.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7158_zpstiodbenz.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7159_zpscszfcmif.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7159_zpscszfcmif.jpg.html)

[PR-Giants]

I'm only growing one Dwarf Gros Michel type but many Cavendish types and have found it incredibly easy to distinguish between them. The two subgroups are closely related and they both share the same diploid parent that donated two of their A genes. That parent is in the same subgroup and very closely related to the 2n donor of the Pome subgroup.

Supposed to be Dwarf Gros Michel of some type. 60lbs, 9 hands, 124 fruit. 1 year to flower, 4 months to harvest. Gabe looked at the same plant also fruiting that was the source of mine. He thought it might actually be a Williams. I had the fruit from the mother plant last year, and it was very good. It was almost like a cross between a Williams and a Gros Michel. If it ultimately is a Williams it is the best Williams I've had.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7158_zpstiodbenz.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7158_zpstiodbenz.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7159_zpscszfcmif.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7159_zpscszfcmif.jpg.html)

[edzone9]

Those fingers are huge !

[cincinnana]

Wow great !!!!!!:woohoonaner:
Huge bananas that you grow in the tropics:08:

WOW!!!!!

[Going Bananas]

Wow great !!!!!!:woohoonaner:
Huge bananas that you grow in the tropics:08:

WOW!!!!!

Am I sensing a bit of
:rollerbananadone::2718:Sarcasm
or is it just me?

[robguz24]

I'm only growing one Dwarf Gros Michel type but many Cavendish types and have found it incredibly easy to distinguish between them. The two subgroups are closely related and they both share the same diploid parent that donated two of their A genes. That parent is in the same subgroup and very closely related to the 2n donor of the Pome subgroup.

Fascinating! I didn't know any of that.

Your thoughts on the photos? I'm more convinced now that they are a GM variety. Rich golden flesh, not like any cavs I've grown. More creamy texture, and tastes very close to the other GM I grow. Male flowers matched GM.

The fruit are surprisingly good sized (for me). My friend in an area with deep soil and at least double the rain tends to get huge versions of the same fruit I grow.

[PR-Giants]

Fascinating! I didn't know any of that.

Your thoughts on the photos? I'm more convinced now that they are a GM variety. Rich golden flesh, not like any cavs I've grown. More creamy texture, and tastes very close to the other GM I grow. Male flowers matched GM.

The fruit are surprisingly good sized (for me). My friend in an area with deep soil and at least double the rain tends to get huge versions of the same fruit I grow.

Could you post some pics of the pups.

If you want to read more about it do a search for Mlali subgroup, the paper I read was done a few years ago.

[robguz24]

Could you post some pics of the pups.

If you want to read more about it do a search for Mlali subgroup, the paper I read was done a few years ago.

Will do and thanks! After reading this, I'm more convinced mine is a GM.

"Cultivars in the Gros Michel subgroup can be easily confused with Cavendish cultivars. One of the distinguishing characters is the green or pale pink colour of their underlying pseudostem sheath, compared to the bright red one of Cavendish cultivars."

One of the underlying sheaths is shown here. Produces few pups, so really just a hint of a sword for now.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7174_zpsxpbjdhxe.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7174_zpsxpbjdhxe.jpg.html)

The following fruit are left to right: My Dwarf Bluefields, a GM from Gabe, a local grocery store Williams from Hamakua Springs.

Taste and texture from the first 2 are much more creamy and flavorful, and color more golden.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7182_zpsbv5n3gox.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7182_zpsbv5n3gox.jpg.html)
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7183_zpsyvuc3ggz.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7183_zpsyvuc3ggz.jpg.html)
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7184_zps32jyrnsz.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7184_zps32jyrnsz.jpg.html)

[PR-Giants]

Will do and thanks! After reading this, I'm more convinced mine is a GM.

"Cultivars in the Gros Michel subgroup can be easily confused with Cavendish cultivars. One of the distinguishing characters is the green or pale pink colour of their underlying pseudostem sheath, compared to the bright red one of Cavendish cultivars."

One of the underlying sheaths is shown here. Produces few pups, so really just a hint of a sword for now.

The following fruit are left to right: My Dwarf Bluefields, a GM from Gabe, a local grocery store Williams from Hamakua Springs.


Without knowing how different environments effect colors, I can confirm my pups resemble the TARS photos. The Bluefields are a blue purple and not the red of the Cavendish.

EDIT

I haven't harvested anything yet this morning. But I did let a 72 year old Chicagoan, who was cleaning the road, harvest a 90+ lb bunch of Williams. Conditions... if you can carry it... you can have it.

[crazy banana]

//http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58573&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58573)

Tall Namwah harvest.
The plant did not have ANY leaves to support this bunch filling in. The first hand showed February 1, but all the leaves of the plant got hit by some cold winter morning hours in January. However, this banana mat has at least 10 pups of various sizes, so I assume this bunch filled in with the help of the surrounding pups. I thought that maybe the taste would be sub-quality, but the bananas are absolutely delicious. The bunch probably would have come in heavier with the support of some leaves on the plant, but it is more important that I have some delicious bananas.
There is a second bunch filling in without any leaves on the plant which looks even better and bigger. Hope to post a photo of that harvest soon.

[crazy banana]

//http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58573&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58573)

Tall Namwah harvest.
The plant did not have ANY leaves to support this bunch filling in. The first hand showed February 1, but all the leaves of the plant got hit by some cold winter morning hours in January. However, this banana mat has at least 10 pups of various sizes, so I assume this bunch filled in with the help of the surrounding pups. I thought that maybe the taste would be sub-quality, but the bananas are absolutely delicious. The bunch probably would have come in heavier with the support of some leaves on the plant, but it is more important that I have some delicious bananas.
There is a second bunch filling in without any leaves on the plant which looks even better and bigger. Hope to post a photo of that harvest soon.
:woohoonaner:
The entire bunch turned yellow in two days. Devided it into individual hands and fingers and the total edible finger count was 203.
And this bunch looked smaller than the second one still filling in. I did have a bagel for breakfast, but nothing else than bananas for the rest of the day.

[kubali]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58588&size=1
I mean to tell you once you grow your own, never will you buy another store pineapple this thing was super sweet.

[crazy banana]

//http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58611&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58611&ppuser=13376)

Second tall Namwah bunch in less than a week. Have not counted the fruit yet, but it came in at 45 pounds.

This is another example that a bunch CAN fill in and ripen without any leaves on the plant (all leaves were destroyed by cold winter morning hours in January, inflorescence came out in February with only the flag leaf).
Works on all my Namwah (dwarf and tall), but has not worked on other varieties though.

[robguz24]

First rack harvested from the lot I bought a year ago. 70 days flower to harvest. 1 year and 2 weeks from planting to harvest. Hua Moa.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7405_zpshwtcyscb.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7405_zpshwtcyscb.jpg.html)

[robguz24]

My first 1000 Fingers in a while. 3 other bunches on the mat right now, most of them larger. This is the best thing to come out of my Aloha Tropicals purchase a few years ago. Very vigorous plant. Fruit is quite good. Reviewed it a while ago.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7563_zps3ustxs3t.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7563_zps3ustxs3t.jpg.html)

[venturabananas]

After about a month and half with almost no bananas, except for a bunch of small Rose bananas, we now have a banana glut.

Dwarf Red: this is only the second bunch I've grown of these, and I'm pretty surprised at how big the bunch is, given that reds don't love my climate (though this summer's tropical-esque weather has surely helped). This bunch was 31 lb, with only 6 hands, but the fruit were big, averaging about 6 ounces. This bunch developed in the shade and so the fruit never got the dark red color.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58867 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58867)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58866 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58866)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58869 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58869)

Reds and Pisang Ceylon: In the last week, two Pisang Ceylan p-stems folded because, foolishly, I didn't prop them. The fruit weren't completely filled, but close enough that the flavor and texture are good.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58868&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58868)

Pisang Klotek: 44 pounds.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58870&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58870)

These tall varieties (Pisang Klotek and Pisang Ceylon, which I think are the same plant) have some nice features, but in my small yard, with plants packed too tightly, harvesting them and managing them is a real pain. They might have to go, but that would be a major project.

[crazy banana]

//http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58858&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58858&ppuser=13376)

32 pounds of dwarf Namwah harvested after less than 4 month.

[venturabananas]

...Dwarf Namwah harvested after less than 4 month.

Wow, the tropics really have moved to California this summer! That's fast for here!

[PR-Giants]

Dwarf Red: this is only the second bunch I've grown of these, and I'm pretty surprised at how big the bunch is, given that reds don't love my climate (though this summer's tropical-esque weather has surely helped). This bunch was 31 lb, with only 6 hands, but the fruit were big, averaging about 6 ounces. This bunch developed in the shade and so the fruit never got the dark red color.



Congrats on the banana glut and it's nice to see a decent sized Red.

I've had a few bunches similar to yours that developed in the shade and also in the sun and I had attributed the fruit color to a partial reversion, but I think it's more complicated than that. :08:

[Nicolas Naranja]

Congrats on the banana glut and it's nice to see a decent sized Red.

I've had a few bunches similar to yours that developed in the shade and also in the sun and I had attributed the fruit color to a partial reversion, but I think it's more complicated than that. :08:

It's actually a pretty neat science experiment. A lot of plants known for having red leaves will have green leaves in shady conditions. The reason has to do with the primary wavelengths of light in sunny vs shaded conditions

[PR-Giants]

It's actually a pretty neat science experiment. A lot of plants known for having red leaves will have green leaves in shady conditions. The reason has to do with the primary wavelengths of light in sunny vs shaded conditions

That might actually be a pretty neat science experiment, but regardless the Red banana has green leaves not red leaves and anyway I was referring to the color of the fruit. All of my Red bunches that develop in the shade remain red and if bagging the bunch or shaded conditions changed the color of the fruit to green American supermarkets would probably stop calling them Red bananas.

I've read that there's a reversion that produces red and green striped fruit, if I see it I'll definitely take a pic.

[Nicolas Naranja]

That might actually be a pretty neat science experiment, but regardless the Red banana has green leaves not red leaves and anyway I was referring to the color of the fruit. All of my Red bunches that develop in the shade remain red and if bagging the bunch or shaded conditions changed the color of the fruit to green American supermarkets would probably stop calling them Red bananas.

I've read that there's a reversion that produces red and green striped fruit, if I see it I'll definitely take a pic.

The ovary is basically a modified leaf. It's photosynthetically active. Anyways, I have seen green stripes on red banana fruit. Not like Ae'Ae, usually one stripe on one or two fruits in a bunch They run longitudinally. Next time I see it, I will take a picture.

[PR-Giants]

The ovary is basically a modified leaf. :ha::03::ha:

[Nicolas Naranja]

:ha::03::ha:

I hope you are laughing and waving because you know I am correct.

[PR-Giants]

The ovary is basically a modified leaf.

I hope you are laughing and waving because you know I am correct.

I just know the basics, the ovary develops into the fruit/finger and the bracts of the inflorescence are modified leaves, but I wouldn't be surprised if many parts of this leafy plant were an evolutionarily modified leaf.

Based on observing thousands of Red bunches, I've been able to correctly predict fruit color 100% of the time many months before the plant even flowers. Shade has never affected the results.

This Red bunch was grown in shade and when the bract lifts the fingers are green but quickly change to a dark red.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51081 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51081)

[ifnull]

Namwah

https://www.evernote.com/l/Afoagxu18xFDYIxd9mbLoDQPl7OJU4zfr0kB/image.png (https://youtu.be/YihNy8usfaU)

https://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/11917803_179482685718580_409996930_n.jpg

[Nicolas Naranja]

This Red bunch was grown in shade and when the bract lifts the fingers are green but quickly change to a dark red.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51081 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51081)

They turn dark red in response to light. There is likely a threshold. I imagine that if you put a bunch in a black or reflective bag you might get the greener red coloration.

The last ones that I had looked like this
http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x455/NicolasNaranja/20150511_214224_zpskqm7nass.jpg (http://s1182.photobucket.com/user/NicolasNaranja/media/20150511_214224_zpskqm7nass.jpg.html)

[PR-Giants]

Banana plants do respond to light and that threshold can be quite low. The absence of light and shade are different, but it is easy to observe a banana bloom opening between dusk and dawn. The last photo was dawn on October 25, 2012 and I'll look for the October 24, 2012 dusk photo.


They turn dark red in response to light. There is likely a threshold. I imagine that if you put a bunch in a black or reflective bag you might get the greener red coloration.

[robguz24]

My first "not Goldfinger #2". This is what a local TCer sells as Goldfinger. Different than the Agristarts Goldfinger, which is a much less hardy plant that has problems with the fruit filling out properly (for me at least). Have had the fruit from elsewhere on island, and it's one of my favorites. No idea what it really is, but like DB, fingers come off the hand way too easily before ripe. Even more easily than DB. This is true for my Agristarts GF too. Bunch was only 30 lbs. 4 months exactly flower to harvest, while DB is 5.5-6 for me normally.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7762_zpswj1cxa0s.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7762_zpswj1cxa0s.jpg.html)

[robguz24]

Dwarf Namwah, 35 lbs, 9 hands. So-so sized bunch. 4 months flower to harvest, which is 2-4 weeks quicker than usual for my Namwahs. These didn't get as fat as others I've harvested.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7776_zps5ucr3ean.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7776_zps5ucr3ean.jpg.html)

[ifnull]

I had to harvest sooner than I wanted but they still look pretty good. This is the second harvest I have done by myself. This method seems to work pretty well as it allows me to control the bunch as it comes down. I also include some of the clean up and how I break down the plant so it can decompose quicker.

Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi749q-GzD8&feature=youtu.be)

[Rmplmnz]

Busy morning today, harvested Hua Moa, Ele Ele, Saba (last week) and Ae Ae.

Follow the progress on The Garden Thread
http://www.bananas.org/f2/rmplmnz-garden-tour-14729.html


Pics of today’s harvest:
Left to right, Hua Moa, Ae Ae, Ele Ele, Chiquita, Ele Ele, Ae Ae, Hua Moa
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30691721@N03/22435665427/in/dateposted-public/" title="2015 11 07 Banana Harvest (12)"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/606/22435665427_48d608f155_c.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="2015 11 07 Banana Harvest (12)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30691721@N03/22461858539/in/dateposted-public/" title="2015 11 07 Banana Harvest (9)"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5674/22461858539_c604d7ab53_c.jpg" width="800" height="615" alt="2015 11 07 Banana Harvest (9)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30691721@N03/22461854039/in/dateposted-public/" title="2015 11 07 Banana Harvest (13)"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5675/22461854039_2e383d3ff8_c.jpg" width="800" height="573" alt="2015 11 07 Banana Harvest (13)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30691721@N03/22865173081/in/dateposted-public/" title="2015 11 07 Ae Ae (2)"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5759/22865173081_0dcbdfc149_c.jpg" width="800" height="565" alt="2015 11 07 Ae Ae (2)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30691721@N03/22435671828/in/dateposted-public/" title="2015 11 07 Ae Ae (11)"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5742/22435671828_92c38972f4_c.jpg" width="800" height="777" alt="2015 11 07 Ae Ae (11)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30691721@N03/22435659437/in/dateposted-public/" title="2015 11 07 Ele Ele"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5737/22435659437_39d9514f7c_c.jpg" width="527" height="800" alt="2015 11 07 Ele Ele"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Videos:

[robguz24]

Thousand Fingers next to an 8 foot ladder. About 5.5 months flower to harvest over the summer. Biggest one so far with a good amount of them worth eating.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7952_zpsfpevs6jm.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7952_zpsfpevs6jm.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7953_zpslhx3gdxj.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7953_zpslhx3gdxj.jpg.html)

[Nicolas Naranja]

3 Piece Bunch
http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x455/NicolasNaranja/20151112_165425_zpsjt5jvdc7.jpg (http://s1182.photobucket.com/user/NicolasNaranja/media/20151112_165425_zpsjt5jvdc7.jpg.html)

[bananimal]

Nick --- what's the weight and length of the largest finger?

ARH right?

[robguz24]

My first Plantains. Dwarf Puerto Rican, started as a small, weevil eaten corm. Flowered at about 6 feet. Not quite 3.5 months flower to harvest. 9 hands, 30 lbs, 40 fingers.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7976_zpshlhrfmur.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7976_zpshlhrfmur.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7977_zpsgprajgsh.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7977_zpsgprajgsh.jpg.html)

[PR-Giants]

134 lb., not too bad for just adding some mulch & compost tea.

No fertilizer was used, didn't even remove the pups, plus the leaves were shredded before it bloomed. The next bunch is going to make this one seem small. :ha:

http://www.bananas.org/f2/fhia-03-sweetheart-20799-6.html#post248577

http://www.bananas.org/f2/fhia-03-first-ratoon-crop-22457.html#post263110

Plant Crop - 91 lb. - 146 Fruit 18+20+18+18+18+18+18+18

Ratoon Crop - 134 lb. - 238 Fruit 22+23+22+22+20+20+19+20+20+19+20+11

Average - 112.5 lb. - 192 Fruit - 10.0 Hands

USDA-TARS - 49.4 lb. - 132.4 Fruit - 7.7 Hands

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51775 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51775)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51814 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51814)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57172 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57172)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51750 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51750)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57195 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57195)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56807 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56807)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51746 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51746)

[Rmplmnz]

134 lb., not too bad for just adding some mulch & compost tea.

No fertilizer was used, didn't even remove the pups, plus the leaves were shredded before it bloomed.

Awesome...luv it! Another exemplary example of organic gardening and the forest floor!

Nice job!



"It's just a banana"
~ Unnamed

[epicyardfarm]

My very first time growing and harvesting banana. With the help of this forum, I came to realize that my banana plant is not a Blue Java. But I am not totally sure if it is a Namwah either. The fruit are still small, almost 5 months after flowering now. So I pulled a few that are showing yellow tint to see if I can ripen them indoors. Rest are still on the plant.

We are having 40-70 degree temps in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area right now, so ripening process is probably slowed greatly. But I have high hopes for the bananas to ripen on the plant and protect it from freeze damage when our temps dip down.

One thing I see and can't find information on is the light tan lines on my banana fruit, maybe caused by the dry air here in the low desert, but wanted to show them to you.

My very first banana bunch!
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2360288/garden/banana/2015-12-05%2012.22.17.jpg

Harvested a few individual ones to ripen indoors.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2360288/garden/banana/2015-12-06%2011.24.22.jpg

[venturabananas]

Congratulations on your first bunch!

Your plant isn't Namwah. That "stitching" (the tan cracks/lines on the fruit peel) is very typical of Orinoco and close relatives, but this bunch doesn't perfectly fit Orinoco to my eye. I'm not sure what you have.

[epicyardfarm]

Congratulations on your first bunch!

Your plant isn't Namwah. That "stitching" (the tan cracks/lines on the fruit peel) is very typical of Orinoco and close relatives, but this bunch doesn't perfectly fit Orinoco to my eye. I'm not sure what you have.

Thank you Mark! Any help identifying is greatly appreciated! I check the bananas today, both the ones indoors and the ones on the tree are yellowing fast!

The ones harvested green to ripen indoors turned yellow overnight!
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5786/23584062966_261924ab70_b.jpg

The bunch on the tree taken this morning!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/599/23242190579_5ee72c1fcb_b.jpg

[Rmplmnz]

Congratulations on your first bunch!

Your plant isn't Namwah. That "stitching" (the tan cracks/lines on the fruit peel) is very typical of Orinoco and close relatives, but this bunch doesn't perfectly fit Orinoco to my eye. I'm not sure what you have.

Ventura,

You are amazing, you nail it every time.

You should write a book!

Chris

[epicyardfarm]

Official taste test, compare homegrown banana that is tree ripen and indoor ripen. Both have excellent flavor! Creamy yet firmer than the store bought variety! Love it!!!!

Skin was very thin, flesh is dense, creamy, not super sweet but flavorful with a hint of tanginess at the finish. Could it be a Hawaiian Apple banana?

Still unsure of the actual variety, but I am happy with the fruit it has produced. A keeper in my garden for sure.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/602/23385645310_f7f945b47b_b.jpg

[robguz24]

12-13 hand, 50lb Mysore bunch. First Mysore bunch from my new lot. Some of them are quite fat after 17" of rain last month, but they aren't as tangy and flavorful as some I've had.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8135_zpsdwt6togn.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8135_zpsdwt6togn.jpg.html)

[robguz24]

My first Putalinga Kula, a Tongan cooking banana. A bit over 40 lbs, 14 weeks to ripen. First one started ripening a few weeks ago and I've been removing them one by one, but they were starting to split so time to come down. Surprisingly good out of hand. Though a popoulu type, tastes different than Hua Moa. The plant itself is beautiful with a red p-stem.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8150_zpsjvv34lq2.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8150_zpsjvv34lq2.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8134_zpsipka1xl6.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8134_zpsipka1xl6.jpg.html)

[Rmplmnz]

My first Putalinga Kula, a Tongan cooking banana. A bit over 40 lbs, 14 weeks to ripen. First one started ripening a few weeks ago and I've been removing them one by one, but they were starting to split so time to come down. Surprisingly good out of hand. Though a popoulu type, tastes different than Hua Moa. The plant itself is beautiful with a red p-stem./

Awesome..I love it (this coming from a guy who went to French Polynesia...and a few other places...Belize, Panama, St. Croix, Oahu, The Big Island, Maui, Kauai, etc., on banana expeditions)!!:nanadrink: I harvest Hua Moa over a cycle as well. Only question I have is, sometimes the Hua has a big fat seed stem in the middle....what causes this? Too long on the plant? I gave a Hua to a friend and he thought the seed stem was a worm.

[robguz24]

Awesome..I love it (this coming from a guy who went to French Polynesia...and a few other places...Belize, Panama, St. Croix, Oahu, The Big Island, Maui, Kauai, etc., on banana expeditions)!!:nanadrink: I harvest Hua Moa over a cycle as well. Only question I have is, sometimes the Hua has a big fat seed stem in the middle....what causes this? Too long on the plant? I gave a Hua to a friend and he thought the seed stem was a worm.

Do you mean that pithy center thing in Hua Moa? Not sure what that's about. My recent ones didn't seem to have it, nor do these Putalingas.

[Rmplmnz]

Do you mean that pithy center thing in Hua Moa? Not sure what that's about. My recent ones didn't seem to have it, nor do these Putalingas.

Yes, that little pithy thing has been very thick in some of the Hua Moas I have grown.

[momoese]

Smallish 18 pound Pisang Klotek bunch before any Los Angeles cold damage. It was probably another month from normal harvest time. I still have several others hanging but this was the closest to harvest and the most exposed.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m161/momoese/12376564_920287448006831_6464263209998432243_n_zpszpajhhmd.jpg

[geosulcata]

Cut 2 hands off of what GRIN has as 'Ubok Iba' last night. We tasted one that had turned yellow. Flesh is very white, great dense texture, but quite starchy. Plan to cook some and allow some to almost over ripen before eating more out of hand.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/candcwelch/23441237549/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0888"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/719/23441237549_077ce94b2d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0888"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

this was the fruit 6 weeks ago
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/candcwelch/23368326961/in/album-72157661320615260/" title="IMG_0087"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/604/23368326961_aa1d142944.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="IMG_0087"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[PR-Giants]

Ubok Iba is a Horn Plantain, similar to these photos. You probably have a Blue Java.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57173 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57173)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51747 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51747&ppuser=12081)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56431 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56431&ppuser=12081)


Cut 2 hands off of what GRIN has as 'Ubok Iba' last night. We tasted one that had turned yellow. Flesh is very white, great dense texture, but quite starchy. Plan to cook some and allow some to almost over ripen before eating more out of hand.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/candcwelch/23441237549/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0888"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/719/23441237549_077ce94b2d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0888"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

this was the fruit 6 weeks ago
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/candcwelch/23368326961/in/album-72157661320615260/" title="IMG_0087"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/604/23368326961_aa1d142944.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="IMG_0087"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[geosulcata]

Ubok Iba is a Horn Plantain, similar to these photos. You probably have a Blue Java.



Texture and starchiness are different than the Ice Cream/Blue Java I have tasted (which were best as they just turned yellow and had a very fluffy texture).

Looks like what TARS has labeled as Ubok Iba as well - which isn't Ubok Iba (which is why I was sure to specify where it came from and what it was labeled as because I knew you would be posting this :) .

01BEL084114, Ubok Iba | Musa Germplasm Information System (http://www.crop-diversity.org/mgis/content/01bel084114-ubok-iba-0)
Apparently has orange flesh as well. Looks like the repositories have been doing genetic testing on their acquisitions.

[PR-Giants]

TARS knows that the 'Ubok Iba Plantain' they received from Miami was incorrect, and if you had done a little research you :) would have known that they relabeled the accession as a Ubok Iba Ney Mannan and not a Horn Plantain.




Texture and starchiness are different than the Ice Cream/Blue Java I have tasted (which were best as they just turned yellow and had a very fluffy texture).

Looks like what TARS has labeled as Ubok Iba as well - which isn't Ubok Iba (which is why I was sure to specify where it came from and what it was labeled as because I knew you would be posting this :) .

01BEL084114, Ubok Iba | Musa Germplasm Information System (http://www.crop-diversity.org/mgis/content/01bel084114-ubok-iba-0)
Apparently has orange flesh as well. Looks like the repositories have been doing genetic testing on their acquisitions.

[PR-Giants]

Those bluish ones are 'Ice Cream' or another very similar member of the 'Ney Mannan' group, it likely goes under a completely different name in Thailand though.





Texture and starchiness are different than the Ice Cream/Blue Java I have tasted.



Looks like the repositories have been doing genetic testing on their acquisitions.

The curator at the Miami repository has it listed as

http://s19.postimg.org/nwd7ydfv7/ubok.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

[geosulcata]

I appreciate the information Keith. I was just going off of what I had read on the board and the links I had found online.


01PRI108135, Ubok Iba | Musa Germplasm Information System (http://www.crop-diversity.org/mgis/content/01pri108135-ubok-iba)

http://www.bananas.org/f2/how-many-different-blue-colored-bananas-16925.html#post207937

[PR-Giants]

01PRI108135, Ubok Iba | Musa Germplasm Information System (http://www.crop-diversity.org/mgis/content/01pri108135-ubok-iba)

Using old or outdated information is wonderful but don't be afraid to also use some newer or updated information as well. :)

http://s19.postimg.org/efnerqw0j/Ubok_900x322.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s19.postimg.org/qg8ush3f7/ubok2.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

[PR-Giants]

It's definitely a cute pup, but these winter winds have been rough on her.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57055 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57055)

[Mark Dragt]

Amazing how much that little Manini Pup grew in 2 days. Great picts Keith!
:nanadrink:

[floridagrower]

Made a quick video with a few random winter odds and ends.

Namwa and Praying Hands fruit:
https://youtu.be/F6EsqawHYoc

Other videos:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCENQaiFeTaEb-GfQV5pvJ4w/feed

[robguz24]

Boy this thread slows down in the winter!

First totally new to me cultivar in a while. Veinte Cohol. Small bunch that fell over a couple weeks ago but managed to hang on. Probably should have harvested a few days ago because several of them burst open. One of the slowest to produce cultivars I have. It better taste good! Biggest fruit are maybe 3" long.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8429_zpsk79xmhs6.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8429_zpsk79xmhs6.jpg.html)

[robguz24]

Mai'a Iholena. Estimated that there are fewer than 20 plants in the world. My first harvest of these. 7-8.5 months to flower, 60-75 days to harvest. Excellent cooking banana! Not as starchy as many, so must be careful not to overcook or they become unpleasantly mushy. These are the shortest Iholena, fruiting at about 6-8 feet.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8432_zpseng7ysip.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8432_zpseng7ysip.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8320_zpsmqoqql0x.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8320_zpsmqoqql0x.jpg.html)

[HMelendez]

Mai'a Iholena. Estimated that there are fewer than 20 plants in the world. My first harvest of these. 7-8.5 months to flower, 60-75 days to harvest. Excellent cooking banana! Not as starchy as many, so must be careful not to overcook or they become unpleasantly mushy. These are the shortest Iholena, fruiting at about 6-8 feet.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8432_zpseng7ysip.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8432_zpseng7ysip.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8320_zpsmqoqql0x.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8320_zpsmqoqql0x.jpg.html)


Congrats Rob! ....



For the harvest and for having this Iholena variety! (fewer in the world).....:08:

[robguz24]

My first Pisang Raja and one of my biggest non-Williams bunches ever. 65 pounds, 15 hands, and 254 fruit. Only had a couple once before and they are better than I remember. Very much like a Mysore, but not quite as tangy.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/Pisang%20Raja_zpseoodwt5l.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/Pisang%20Raja_zpseoodwt5l.jpg.html)

[robguz24]

Ok, I'm like the only person on this thread lately. Anyway, some Iholenas again. The one on the left we call "Nani" because it's quite beautiful, but it's probably an Iholena Lele Variant. The other is Iholena Kapua, very rare and estimated at about 500 plants of it left. Easy to tell the difference as they fruit is fatter. The Lele hands already removed are long and pointy. Unfortunately fruit flies have a way of laying eggs and infesting them even before they're ready to harvest. Am throwing out a lot of Iholenas.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8523_zpsoe8wmast.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8523_zpsoe8wmast.jpg.html)

[JP]

Too bad the flies are enjoying them more than you...
I would love to post here but it won't be for a while... It's snowing!!!
I really need a greenhouse...

[robguz24]

Another first today, Barraganete Plantain (most likely). This was sold to me as "Ecuador Plantain" and it sure looks like them. Foot long and over 1lb each. Gorgeous plant, seems more vigorous than the common Tall Plantain.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8530_zpsztetxwog.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8530_zpsztetxwog.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8529_zpsb1mpxrzf.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8529_zpsb1mpxrzf.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8526_zpsqodplro9.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8526_zpsqodplro9.jpg.html)

And the first Gros Michel from my newer lot.http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8527_zpskysnz9e6.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8527_zpskysnz9e6.jpg.html)

Both of these were just about 4 months from flowering. This has been the hottest, driest winter in years so things are ripening a bit earlier than usual. With rainfall 95% below normal I'm surprised I'm getting any fruit at all.

And another Tu'u Gia, 2nd bunch of these in a week. So tasty!
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8532_zpsqybf96kl.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8532_zpsqybf96kl.jpg.html)

[Juicy Bananas]

That's the plantain I was talking about at the market! How does it taste? I have few to none plantain. When can I get a keiki?

[HMelendez]

Congratulations Rob!



Nice size The Barraganete Plantain!



Definetely that is a Barraganete Plantain from Ecuador! I have see them in the markets there (Ecuador)......

[venturabananas]

Thanks to Rob for keeping this thread alive. Here are a couple bunches that I harvested last month -- nothing this month except a couple of blowdowns that weren't close to filled.

Dwarf Brazilian, 37 lb., 116 fingers:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59487&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59487)

"Brazilian" (tall Pome purchased as Manzano, might be Brazilian, or perhaps some other Pome variety): 19 lb., 75 fingers:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59486&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59486)

The difference in bunch size between the tall Pome varieties (I have three, none obtained as Pome varieties, all misidentified) and Dwarf Brazilian (a dwarfed Pome variety) is pretty consistent in my yard. Dwarf Brazilian makes bigger bunches for me, for whatever reason. The flavor is indistinguishable to me and everyone I've given them to. DB plants in my yard average about 9' of p-stem, whereas the tall varieties average about 16'. The tall ones sometimes get blown down, the DB p-stems never have.

[Richard]

The thread originator sunfish (http://www.bananas.org/member-sunfish.html) is still with us ... lurking :lurk:

[venturabananas]

The thread originator sunfish (http://www.bananas.org/member-sunfish.html) is still with us ... lurking :lurk:

Glad to hear it, even if he's only lurking these days!

[robguz24]

That's the plantain I was talking about at the market! How does it taste? I have few to none plantain. When can I get a keiki?
Message me Alva, I can probably bring one to market next weekend if you think you can make it. I just harvested so haven't tasted them yet. Much more impressive plant than the Tall Plantain that is easy to find here.

[Hamakua]

Nice bunches there Rob!

[Hamakua]

Do you have a taste report on the kapua? Did you happen to try it ripe out of hand?

[robguz24]

Do you have a taste report on the kapua? Did you happen to try it ripe out of hand?

I did try it but didn't do a taste report. I can't seem to get one totally ripe without it being infested with fruit fly larva. The skin must be very easy for them to penetrate because I can have other types out so ripe they're rotting and they won't have larva in them.

They have a tangy apple banana taste to them, but a starchy, pasty kind of texture to them which doesn't make them too appealing out of hand. I've had 4 types of Iholena recently from my yard and they all taste pretty much the same to me, though my friend can detect some differences. Cooked with a little salt on them they are really an excellent, flavorful cooking banana. They don't exactly hold up well to cooking though. Even slightly ripe they'll turn to mush when cooked, which does not happen with the other Mai'a types--maoli or popoulu.

[geosulcata]

Mysore bananas. <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/candcwelch/24748041664/" title="IMG_1709"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1690/24748041664_76e3d17567.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="IMG_1709"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[robguz24]

My biggest Gros Michel. This from one of my dwarf ones, rattoon crop, nearly 60 lbs, 12 hands, 186 fruit! Fruit would probably be larger if we weren't in a major drought for 2 months.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8577_zpsqitve2ta.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_8577_zpsqitve2ta.jpg.html)

[JP]

Nice bunch!

[Juicy Bananas]

And we are still fighting it. I hope it rains soon.

[merce3]

Pitogo... I can't wait to try one.
http://i.imgur.com/TbOqCFel.jpg

[PR-Giants]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=52607 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=52607&ppuser=12081)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=52550 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=52550)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51223 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51223)

[JP]

Pitogo... I can't wait to try one.
http://i.imgur.com/TbOqCFel.jpg

They are so cute!!!

[PR-Giants]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51174 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51174)

[HMelendez]

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51174 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51174)



What a massive SH-3640 banana bunch!....




Thank you Keith for sharing the picture!.....

[PR-Giants]

What a massive SH-3640 banana bunch!....


Thanks...

It was enough to make mangu for the mutts this morning.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50467 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=50467)