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sbl
01-01-2010, 08:39 AM
I just ate my first RP from my yard-- it was delicious! I had cut 1 hand and put it in a bag with an apple to get it to turn, but it was still very good! I will cut another hand today!

It bloomed in July, but has not gotten ripe in the stem yet.

Simply Bananas
01-01-2010, 09:21 AM
I will do the same today. Mine bloomed in July also and shows no signs of yellow. The freeze is coming in the next day and they wont survive.

Scott
01-01-2010, 09:21 AM
Great job!!
Is the plant indoors or on a protected patio? I know you get some serious winds and cold weather compared to us down South of you...

Dalmatiansoap
01-01-2010, 09:35 AM
Congrats guys!
I hope I ll be that lucky in 2010. Well, at least to see mine in bloom ;).
:woohoonaner:

jeffreyp
01-01-2010, 10:56 AM
Raja puri is one of my favorites. It's zone 8 hardy, very wind resistant, and produces fruit comparable or better than store bought bananas.

sbl
01-01-2010, 09:48 PM
This one is in a container, I will lay it down and cover it tonight--31 predicted. I have another one that is almost as big in a container and one even bigger in the ground--(planted in July at about 2 ft high)--I wrapped the stem of that one today with window screen and filled it with leaves.

Abnshrek
01-01-2010, 10:02 PM
I have three and look forward to how they grow in the coming year :^)

sbl
01-01-2010, 10:18 PM
Migael, are yours in the ground? If not, you should put at least one there--it is amazing how much faster and bigger it will grow!

Abnshrek
01-01-2010, 10:30 PM
I have 2 in the ground wrapped with heat-tapes and insulated and covered since it's going to freeze all week, and another in my grow room of sorts waiting out the cold :^) I am an in the ground banana guy. I have seen the growing difference in banana's in pots even on my back porch. It may be a necessary thing to get thru the winter but that's it.. :^) If I have one about to flower or in the process of fruiting you can bet I'm going to have a banana christmas tree (in the Living room)... propped up..lol If a have any other banana's in the process I guess I'll have grow lights in the bedroom... :^)

sbl
01-01-2010, 11:36 PM
I wanted to make sure I got this first one to bloom by protecting it thru the winter, but now that I have seen the difference in growth, I will definitely be planning my container planting to provide the biggest plants that I can get for inground planting in the spring.

LilRaverBoi
01-01-2010, 11:59 PM
Congrats! Great to hear! I've heard a lot of positive comments about RP on here...definitely sounds like something to try in the future!

Abnshrek
01-02-2010, 01:00 AM
I will definitely be planning my container planting to provide the biggest plants that I can get for inground planting in the spring.

I Hear that @ the worst you can cool them down to 50F so they don't out grow your area before you get them in the ground.. :^) I have a 10 yr. wait till I have a dedicated 12ft ceiling growing room during the winter.. Oh well I'll have a greenhouse by then..lol :^)

Simply Bananas
01-07-2010, 09:39 PM
My RP fruits are starting to ripen after a week in the house 70f(35 average outside). The fruits looked hard and angular last week, so I am surprised they are yellowing so fast. Hope they taste as good as they look!!

sbl
01-07-2010, 10:05 PM
We are eating the second hand--I cut the rest of the bunch with all this cold.

Simply Bananas
01-09-2010, 09:56 AM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=28722&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=28722&ppuser=226)

I had one last night and it was great! They are getting ripe so fast.
:woohoonaner:
This is going to be a challenge!

Simply Bananas
01-09-2010, 12:04 PM
Taste report. They are great. Not as dense as Namwahs, dry, sweet with a little acidiity. I am probably eating them a little bit early.

sbl
01-10-2010, 07:46 AM
I finally came up with a fruit flavor that I detect in the RP--the tartness taste like kiwi to me. I normally don't like store bought bananas until they have spots, but you do not have to wait that long on RP--they do not have that starchy/astringent taste when firm.

When you cut the raceme, they will all get ripe at the same time--one of the things I learned here, but if you did not have to cut it to avoid freezing, you can cut a hand at a time and spread out the ripening.

Dalmatiansoap
01-10-2010, 07:57 AM
So, separated hands ripe faster than others that are still on the bunch?

Simply Bananas
01-10-2010, 07:57 AM
I finally came up with a fruit flavor that I detect in the RP--the tartness taste like kiwi to me. I normally don't like store bought bananas until they have spots, but you do not have to wait that long on RP--they do not have that starchy/astringent taste when firm.
.

Good observations. Kiwi is a good description. You are also right about the starchy/astringent taste being absent. Another thing I have yet to run across is the pithiness in some Namwahs and orinocos.

MediaHound
01-10-2010, 10:00 AM
Congrats...
They are a beautiful plant and taste delicious.

hydroid
01-10-2010, 10:50 AM
Congragulations on the Raja Puri. I got one from Olive Road Nursery in Pensacola about 2 yrs. ago and it has'nt done much, so I winterized it this year in hopes of getting some fruit this season. So we'll see.
Thanks
Bo

sbl
01-10-2010, 11:04 AM
Congragulations on the Raja Puri. I got one from Olive Road Nursery in Pensacola about 2 yrs. ago and it has'nt done much, so I winterized it this year in hopes of getting some fruit this season. So we'll see.
Thanks
Bo

The one I just harvested was grown in a container--only about 10-15 gal--it is about as much as I can move into my shop or garage--I just added a small handful of fertilizer every few weeks. I planted one in the ground back in July and it grew huge, but you can guess what it looks like now. It may still come back from the stem and produce next summer, but I think I will keep growing one in a container. I have one large one that has been in my shop, so I hope it produces.

hydroid
01-10-2010, 12:49 PM
Yeah, my yard has been blistered from the frigid weather, looks like a bomb went off in our yard, he he. I'm ready for some warmer weather, or at least no freezes.
Thanks
Bo

Bananaman88
01-10-2010, 02:30 PM
I have a Raja Puri with several pups in my landscape. I wrapped it with a few layers of frost cloth. It had about 5' or pstem at the end of this past growing season so it had to be getting close to blooming. It will be interesting to see how much damage it gets from all of this cold weather and whether or not the main pstem will bloom this season or if one of the pups will have to take over. I'm looking forward to tasting them after all I've read.