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View Full Version : Ice Cream and Dwarf Brazilian both flower under 6 months


cheson74
08-08-2012, 01:18 AM
The first picture is an Ice Cream that was planted 5 months ago. It was a pup with about a 2-2.5 pstem height. I guess we'll see if it's a true Ice Cream or a tall Namwah soon!

The 2nd picture is a Dwarf Brazilian that was planted 6 months ago. Its pstem was about 4 ft.

Both were given lots of water, tons of compost, biweekly application of fish emulsion and 10-20-20 fert. Having Hawaiian sunshine and temps didn't hurt either :ha::ha::ha: More pics later. Thanks for looking!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50004&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=50004)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50005&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=50005)

Yug
08-08-2012, 01:57 AM
:woohoonaner:

Congrats!

LilRaverBoi
08-08-2012, 01:27 PM
Not gonna lie....kinda jealous that you can do that in your area. I only really have 6 months of growing season before things have to get dug up and moved inside. Keep up the good work!

Julian
08-08-2012, 09:16 PM
The first picture is an Ice Cream that was planted 5 months ago. It was a pup with about a 2-2.5 pstem height. I guess we'll see if it's a true Ice Cream or a tall Namwah soon!


Looks exactly like my "ice cream" from Ko'olau Farmers. Did you get your plant from them also?

cheson74
08-08-2012, 11:40 PM
Yes I did. If it turns out to be a tall Namwah, I have a buddy who has a bunch of ice cream keiki. I know his aren't Nawahs due to the plant fruiting multiple times.

Julian
08-09-2012, 02:03 AM
Cool. It's the exact same plant that I have. Not sure if IC should have red midribs, but I don't think Namwah has either. We will see soon. Best wishes

venturabananas
08-09-2012, 11:19 AM
Not sure if IC should have red midribs, but I don't think Namwah has either.

Red midribs: Blue Java (IC) no; Namwah, sometimes yes, sometimes no, depending on climate, fert, whether it is the leaf before the flag leaf, etc.

Definitely jealous of how quickly you got your plants to bloom. Good work. In my marginal climate for bananas, it takes 1.5 - 2 years for those varieties from newly planted pups.

cheson74
08-09-2012, 12:56 PM
Well it appears I'll have to dig up one of my buddy's Ice Cream pups. I'm curious if this is a Namwah. I guess we'll see once the flowers show.

Julian
08-09-2012, 11:09 PM
I went to visit this mat of what people here said is probably Ice cream,

http://www.bananas.org/f12/mystery-banana-school-15830.html

and the fully grown plants that were about 12-14 feet had no red on the midribs, but the plants that were about 7-8 feet had red midribs, so our plant could still be IC.

cheson74
10-07-2012, 10:44 PM
Here is an updated picture of the Ice Cream 2 months after flag leaf emerging. Sorry I couldn't post a picture when it had it's flowers showing. I was in Korea for 40+ days.

I'm not sure if you can tell if it's indeed an ice cream from the fruit or not. Thanks.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50877&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=50877)

caliboy1994
10-08-2012, 12:32 AM
That looks like the real thing to me.

venturabananas
10-08-2012, 12:56 AM
Cheson, yours is the real deal. The fruit are the right color and they have long pedicels.

robguz24
10-08-2012, 02:26 AM
Most definitely an ice cream. Harvest a small bunch myself this week. Wish I could get them that size!

cheson74
10-08-2012, 03:17 AM
Thanks! This plant pups like crazy. I have to thin some out pretty soon. So if anybody lives on Oahu want some, I'll be glad to dig up a few. Free if course.

Julian
10-08-2012, 02:47 PM
Right on. They are Ice Cream. My plant is pupping like mad also. Time to buy a digging bar.

GreenFin
10-08-2012, 03:26 PM
Looks great!

How tall are the p-stems?

Julian
10-08-2012, 04:08 PM
When is the best time to eat these bananas. I just bought a bunch at Foodland Super market. It's the first time that I ever seen them at the super market.

cheson74
10-08-2012, 05:24 PM
I find the taste to be best when they are overly ripe. They turn yellow then black. When it's a mix of black. If they are completely black, then they get too mushy.

PStem on the ice cream is about 11-12 feet.

robguz24
10-08-2012, 10:32 PM
I tend to eat them when they are completely yellow. Beyond that when you peel them, some of the inner peel sticks to the nanner and I gotta pick it off. They are kinda too mushy for me even when yellow, but bad tasting before that. I usually let some get some black and get mushy to be frozen and later blended as ice cream banana ice cream. So ono! I've had mine fruit at 7-8 feet, but subsequent generations seem to be getting taller. Usually have to prop all of them up even before flowering or they flop over.

cheson74
10-09-2012, 02:01 PM
I was at my garden earlier today and noticed another mystery banana pop a flower. I have a feeling it's a tall Brazilian but will post pictures when the flowers show. It was planted 5 months ago.

Julian
10-14-2012, 06:01 PM
I tried some Ice Cream today. It's a good banana but < than Dwarf Apple. The texture is a little too airy, but it does taste pretty good. I don't like putting up props, and the taste may not be worth the hassle. I think I have found which banana trees I will be using for my imu.

venturabananas
10-14-2012, 06:19 PM
I tried some Ice Cream today. It's a good banana but < than Dwarf Apple. The texture is a little to airy, but it does taste pretty good. I don't like putting up props, and the taste may not be worth the hassle. I think I have found which banana trees I will be using for my imu.

I'm with you on that. I've only tried real Ice Cream bananas once and they were good, but I would choose Dwarf Brazilian over them every time.

Julian
10-14-2012, 06:56 PM
I only want so many varieties so I think this one is gone after the first harvest.

robguz24
10-14-2012, 10:33 PM
They also seem to get more damaged by corm weevils than other types. I'll probably get mine down to just a few plants after this next harvest.

Julian
11-04-2012, 06:19 PM
I just had some Saba Dippig and it is better tasting than the Ice Cream that I had.

robguz24
11-04-2012, 07:16 PM
I think I've had one of the Sabas before but not sure which and I think I only had it cooked.

Julian
11-04-2012, 07:37 PM
Dippig tastes pretty good ripe.

robguz24
11-04-2012, 10:38 PM
I'll look out for it. Something has to replace the Ice Creams after all!

Julian
11-05-2012, 02:00 AM
I'll look out for it. Something has to replace the Ice Creams after all!

Yeah, my wife does not care for it. IC is actually okay, but just not great. Replaceable:08:

I had low expectations for a ripened Dippig, but I peeled it back and I was pleasantly surprised.