View Full Version : Manzano vs. Brazilian
caliboy1994
11-09-2012, 07:03 PM
I'm trying to debate which one I want to bring up to college to grow in the community garden next spring. I am in zone 9b, and temps in the winter can fall below 30 degrees F on multiple occasions. Summers here are generally pretty mild, with yearly extreme highs reaching into the 90s. Which one is:
More cold tolerant?
Produces bigger bunches?
Produces higher quality/better tasting fruit?
Has a shorter bunch hang time?
Produces more pups?
Is more vigorous?
Overall, for Northern California, which one would be the better choice? Thanks.
~Andreas
sunfish
11-09-2012, 07:07 PM
I'm trying to debate which one I want to bring up to college to grow in the community garden next spring. I am in zone 9b, and temps in the winter can fall below 30 degrees F on multiple occasions. Summers here are generally pretty mild, with yearly extreme highs reaching into the 90s. Which one is:
More cold tolerant?
Produces bigger bunches?
Produces higher quality/better tasting fruit?
Has a shorter bunch hang time?
Produces more pups?
Is more vigorous?
Overall, for Northern California, which one would be the better choice? Thanks.
~Andreas
California Gold or California Cold Hardy :)
venturabananas
11-09-2012, 09:32 PM
Brazilian for flavor and is probably more cold hardy, though none of the edibles ones are going to undamaged leaves if they freeze. I think Mitchel had both of those when there was a freeze in So Cal several years ago -- he could tell you more.
But, I agree with Tony, if you are only going with only one banana variety, something other than either of these would be better, though I'd choose Dwarf Namwah rather than the unproductive Bluggoes he mentioned.
caliboy1994
11-09-2012, 09:59 PM
I plan on bringing Ice Cream (Namwah) and Pisang Ceylon up here as well. I just want plants whose stem will be able to survive the winter so that they can fruit the following year. Ice Cream does fine here. Pisang Ceylon might need protection.
momoese
11-09-2012, 10:01 PM
Cold tolerance was the same. Flavor goes to Brazilian. Smaller size and wind resistance goes to Monzano. Both pup a lot. Bunch size goes to Brazilian. Both are nothing special to look at unless size impresses you, then Brazilian wins.
caliboy1994
11-10-2012, 04:21 PM
I don't think wind will be as much of an issue here than in SoCal. The main problem will be cold. I guess I'll bring up Brazilian then.
bananimal
11-10-2012, 06:37 PM
Because of the cold, and for no other reason, get some short cycle Viente Cohol. Short cycle will get you fruit in one season. U of Ga has been pushing this one for Georgia farmers for a while. I just got one and will report results thru next year.
caliboy1994
11-10-2012, 06:48 PM
I'm not sure if I'd be willing to try that yet given my amount of experience, and cold hardy varieties do just fine here. I've seen Orinoco bananas in fruit here, and Ice Cream has been successfully grown and fruited in my location. I mean, I could give it a shot sometime.
sunfish
11-10-2012, 06:54 PM
Grow plums.
Santa Clara was known as the Prune Capital of the World.
harveyc
11-10-2012, 07:01 PM
Grow Namwah. I think that's what several of my best plants are. You might want to join the CRFG. The Santa Clara Valley chapter is pretty active and meets at Prusch Park in San Jose. They get together about once a month to do maintenance on the orchard planted there at the park. There is one overgrown mat of some unknown banana. I've never noticed fruit on it when I've been there.
sunfish
11-10-2012, 07:20 PM
Grow Namwah. I think that's what several of my best plants are. You might want to join the CRFG. The Santa Clara Valley chapter is pretty active and meets at Prusch Park in San Jose. They get together about once a month to do maintenance on the orchard planted there at the park. There is one overgrown mat of some unknown banana. I've never noticed fruit on it when I've been there.
Maybe Musa San Jose Star
caliboy1994
11-10-2012, 07:26 PM
I'm definitely going to bring Namwah up here, that's a must. I'm also going to try Pisang Ceylon. Unfortunately, I don't have a car this year, so I won't be able to drive to the CFRG meetings, but next year I'll bring my car up. I think it would be a great idea for me to join the CFRG though. I also plan on trying Passiflora 'Fredericks,' and Hylocereus guatemalensis here.
harveyc
11-10-2012, 10:33 PM
If you joined the CRFG you might learn someone that lived close by school. You might be a favorite member next year by bringing plants up after visiting family. :)
pushak513
11-11-2012, 02:12 AM
only from the experience from college here a fruiting banana in a communty garden wouldnt last 5 mins with the wild college kids. as soon as it was seen it would have been taken and pics would be all over facebook the next day. good luck to you I hope no one steals your bunchs
chipboy44
11-11-2012, 02:47 AM
Hello there, this is only my own personal observation. But My D. brazilian although does give large bunches of many hands of bananas that are very sweet and of nice size I must admit that although I have had my D. Brazilian for about 10 years I have never had more than 2 plants at a time. Usually there is ony one tree at a time and only sends out a single pup at the onset of a cone.
My preference would definitly would have to be for the Manzano. The tree is on the large size, it is tall, but it also makes a nice mat of plants after a couple of years. There is a lot of fruit produced. These fruits are on the small size not much more than 3 inches long but have very thin skins that alomst start peeling for you and are just EXACTLY as their name says manzano (spanish for apple). There is no mistaking their distinct deliscious apple flavor. Good luck in your decision.
Salute'
rick
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