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Bermy nana
11-18-2011, 05:51 PM
What is the usual amount of time banana fruit take to mature on the plant. I have a bunch of Manzanos that are just over 3 months but still look green and fairly plump. My Dwarf Cavendish are about 2 months old but have not filled out yet. Any suggestions? Daily temps here are about 72-75F for this time of year. We do not get frost so I can leave them all winter if I have to.

momoese
11-18-2011, 06:13 PM
In my area 6-7 months to ripen on the plant, but they can be cut down sooner and will still ripen just fine.

asacomm
11-18-2011, 06:21 PM
It depends on the climate where the banana is planted.
In my place of 9a, it takes almost 5 months till the fruits
begin to turn yellow on the tree.

momoese
11-18-2011, 06:28 PM
As for harvesting early or fruits that don't fill in even after 7 months, they do eventually ripen like this bunch of neglected Hawaiian Apple. Malnourished and bloomed at the wrong time. The bigger ones still tasted good though.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m161/momoese/applemalnurished.jpg

Gabe15
11-18-2011, 07:32 PM
In the tropics, typically the time is 3-4 months, but it is dependent on variety and conditions.

pitangadiego
11-18-2011, 10:06 PM
In San Diego, generally 6 months from the first hand showing. Each variety is a little different.

Bermy nana
11-19-2011, 12:01 AM
Thanks for the replies. I will leave my Manzano till about 3 1/2 to four months and cut it down. The last Manzano bunch I cut down before it turned yellow on the plant. It tasted better than the ones I had left to fully mature and the skins did not split as much.

bananimal
11-19-2011, 12:24 PM
When the fingers fill in and spots start to show on the skins I cut the bunch down. Ripening to yellow in-situ only leads to bugs, critters, early spoilage and skin split. Hang em in the house and cut oldest hands as they ripen.

Exception to above is when a frost is imminent and fill in not finished. Cut down - small naners better than no naners.

Darkman
11-19-2011, 07:07 PM
In Pensacola my Orinoco bloomed June 1st and while I have harvested about a dozen green bananas, let them ripen and eaten them none of the ones still hanging are turning yellow yet and those still hanging still seem to be swelling. I just ate my last ones I had picked so I guess it's time to pick a few more.

Exception to above is when a frost is imminent and fill in not finished. Cut down - small naners better than no naners.

Dan,

You're saying that the ones that have filled some but not all the way will be good just not have as much volume?

That will be good to know.

Iunepeace
06-25-2012, 02:42 AM
In the tropics, typically the time is 3-4 months, but it is dependent on variety and conditions.

Whew; thanks for posting! I was beginning to think from the other posts that my bunches would take forever to ripen! Glad to know it's only a quarter year instead of half :)

Darkman
06-25-2012, 08:52 PM
My Orinoco take four months from bloom in Pensacola Fl. I have four Orinoco mats, one Goldfinger mat and one Tall Namwah mat that have bloomed this year. Graet year it will be

IF

the Tropical storms and Hurricanes stay away.

Iunepeace
06-25-2012, 10:05 PM
My Orinoco take four months from bloom in Pensacola Fl. I have four Orinoco mats, one Goldfinger mat and one Tall Namwah mat that have bloomed this year. Graet year it will be

IF

the Tropical storms and Hurricanes stay away.


I'm hoping no hurricanes come this year as well, and awesome banana setup! How many plants do you keep in a mat and how cold do your winters get?

venturabananas
06-25-2012, 10:32 PM
My Orinoco take four months from bloom in Pensacola Fl. I have four Orinoco mats, one Goldfinger mat and one Tall Namwah mat that have bloomed this year. Graet year it will be IF the Tropical storms and Hurricanes stay away.

Well, you have to worry about tropical storms but you might get fruit in a reasonable amount of time. I have a bunch of Orinico that's been hanging for over 8 months now. Still hasn't finished filling out and no sign of yellowing. I guess that's what I get for living in a place where the temps seldom get above the low 70's! On the other hand, it hung all winter long, without freezing to death.

Iunepeace
06-26-2012, 07:23 AM
Well, you have to worry about tropical storms but you might get fruit in a reasonable amount of time. I have a bunch of Orinico that's been hanging for over 8 months now. Still hasn't finished filling out and no sign of yellowing. I guess that's what I get for living in a place where the temps seldom get above the low 70's! On the other hand, it hung all winter long, without freezing to death.

lol keep on truckin' ventura (wow that's a long time). I could get a sucker to fruit with that amount of time lol. On the plus side, you guys have Walmart :D

venturabananas
06-26-2012, 11:15 AM
On the plus side, you guys have Walmart :D

I used to do research on Lee Stocking Island, north of Great Exuma, for months at time. Yes, no Walmart there! But not enough bananas either!

robguz24
06-26-2012, 01:19 PM
Whew; thanks for posting! I was beginning to think from the other posts that my bunches would take forever to ripen! Glad to know it's only a quarter year instead of half :)

It also has to do with variety too. Here in Hawaii, while not quite as hot in summer or cool in winter as the Bahamas, nor as humid, my Williams and Dwarf Brazillians take 6 months. I don't have enough experience with other varieties here to know how long they take. Ice Creams are probably quicker than that.

trebor
06-26-2012, 02:53 PM
My Manzanos ripen in 120 days Right around that time they go from dark green to light green ! As soon as I see any color change That's when I cut them, then hang them...
I'm in South Florida.