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View Full Version : What type of plant is this?


cuda2000
11-04-2012, 03:13 PM
I have this banana plant growing in my backyard in Fort Myers, FL. Would like to know what kind of bananas these are?
Are they edible? Do I have to cook them before eating (like plantains)? What time of year should they be harvested (it is now november and they are still green but they haven't changed much in the last 30 days)?
Thanks!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51252&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51252&ppuser=14713)

sunfish
11-04-2012, 04:21 PM
You can cut some now and ripen in paper bag.Don't know the variety

verndoc50
11-04-2012, 04:50 PM
Most likely it is Bluggoe, aka Orinoco, burro, horse banana, donkey banana, etc. It has been said to be the most common banana grown in Florida. It can be a little starchy out of hand, but still edible. Many people (including me) treat them as plantains and use in any number of recipes including plantain chips.

caliboy1994
11-04-2012, 08:43 PM
It looks like a Saba type to me. Also edible, and great for cooking.

verndoc50
11-04-2012, 08:55 PM
Agree, I thought of Saba as well. Could be. Saba is usually a large p-stem, can't tell how large this is in the pic. A very good cooking banana.

venturabananas
11-05-2012, 11:04 AM
Yes, looks like a Saba subgroup banana, probably either Saba or Cardaba, based on the shape of the fruit, compact bunch, and male bracts that aren't rolling.

cuda2000
12-09-2012, 03:43 PM
I harvested the bananas today, because they've been on there for over 60 days and haven't gotten any bigger, and some are starting to turn black. I don't think they will get yellow.
I think I'll try frying one up today and see how it tastes.
See picture, do you still think its a saba?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51627&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51627&ppuser=14713)
Thanks everyone!

Nicolas Naranja
12-09-2012, 05:47 PM
Yeah, still looks like saba

Yug
12-11-2012, 01:22 AM
Saba - looks like mine. On mine, the first to fruit did not reach the lofty heights that I've read about, but I expect the next generation to be larger.