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View Full Version : Need help identifying two bananas please


dchapman
07-09-2013, 10:31 AM
Greetings friends!

About 20 months ago I ordered some tissue cultured bananas from a mail order nursery. I purchased Musa Apple Bananas and Zan Moreno Bananas. Now that the bananas are fruiting, I suspect I received neither and would love an ID if possible.

Mystery Banana 1.

This was supposedly the Musa Apple Banana. However, the high starch content of the fruit and the shape makes me think it's more of a cooking banana. The cubans around here purchase them from me as a cooking banana. It is about 6 feet tall not counting the leaves, survived 34 degree weather no problem, and the fruit are about 6 inches long with a high starch content.

http://www.foodforesters.com/images/david/foodforest/ban1.jpg

http://www.foodforesters.com/images/david/foodforest/ban2.jpg

http://www.foodforesters.com/images/david/foodforest/ban3.jpg

Mystery Banana 2.

This was supposedly a Zan Moreno Banana. I really can't tell the difference between it and the first Mystery Banana and for all I know, they're the same. All the other details are the same.

http://www.foodforesters.com/images/david/foodforest/ban4.jpg

http://www.foodforesters.com/images/david/foodforest/ban5.jpg

http://www.foodforesters.com/images/david/foodforest/ban6.jpg

Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

Dalmatiansoap
07-09-2013, 10:47 AM
Seem like Dwarf Orinoco
:nanadrink:

caliboy1994
07-09-2013, 12:16 PM
Yeah, Dwarf Orinoco.

mushtaq86
07-09-2013, 03:50 PM
dwarf orinoco

verndoc50
07-09-2013, 04:23 PM
Orinoco. Common around Dade County and a sturdy prolific variety, we use mainly for cooking.

S.

chong
07-09-2013, 07:53 PM
I vote Dwarf Orinoco, also.

chipboy44
07-09-2013, 08:43 PM
Im no expert, but from ALL of my years experience, I would put all my money on Orinoco. I have grown them for 20 years just to fry and eat. They are also very winter hardy and even take a light frost. They should be a requirement in everyones collection. Nothing like fried ripe hog bananas (Orinoco)

Salute'
rick

Darkman
07-10-2013, 09:32 AM
Just send me the pups. I'd like to try them here in Pensacola and see if I can get an earlier bloom (before June 1st) and take up less space! Less space equals more mats.

PR-Giants
07-10-2013, 10:14 AM
Kind of looks like a Cali Gold.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38059&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38059&ppuser=824)

Darkman
07-10-2013, 11:52 AM
I don't think I have ever seen the long striations "look" on my regular Orinocos. Is that a common look or environmental?

caliboy1994
07-10-2013, 01:36 PM
Kind of looks like a Cali Gold.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38059&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38059&ppuser=824)

Cali Gold seems to be a variant of Dwarf Orinoco.

chong
07-10-2013, 02:57 PM
Cali Gold seems to be a variant of Dwarf Orinoco.

It sure is!

robguz24
07-10-2013, 03:02 PM
I don't think I have ever seen the long striations "look" on my regular Orinocos. Is that a common look or environmental?

Isn't that just damage from thrips? I get them on Ice Creams but it's usually controlled by spraying soapy water.

Duke21
07-10-2013, 11:04 PM
Don't think it is thrips as they usually look like a pimple on the skin.

:0517:

chipboy44
07-10-2013, 11:51 PM
I must admit that the tree is very short.. My Orinoco's are all at least 10-15' tall but the fruit is the proof of variety. I have often gotten those striations on my fruits and never given it a though other than that is part of this species characteristics. They are just there. Looking at those ripe fruits make my mouth water just thinking of how good they will be after a couple more days of ripening almost to over ripe, just so I can fry them up. They are like candy.....

rick

Darkman
07-11-2013, 12:05 AM
I must admit that the tree is very short.. My Orinoco's are all at least 10-15' tall but the fruit is the proof of variety. I have often gotten those striations on my fruits and never given it a though other than that is part of this species characteristics. They are just there. Looking at those ripe fruits make my mouth water just thinking of how good they will be after a couple more days of ripening almost to over ripe, just so I can fry them up. They are like candy.....

rick

I'm making a promise to myself to fry some up this year. I have only eaten them fresh.

It is depressing knowing that we have so long to wait for ours to ripen. With the Dwarfs maybe one could have several more months of fruit growing them in a greenhouse. I certainly couldn't grow the regular ones in a green house. They get Big!