View Full Version : Has anyone tasted fruit from Truly Tiny and 1000 Fingers?
As a newbie to Musas I'm doing what I always do when I find a new type of plant--seek out the unusual and grow them with a vengeance. (Worked when I did figs ages ago.)
I have space for 2 where I am and these sound interesting. I gave away my figs (can't stand them) and would probably gift bananas or most of them so I want something yummy.
Yeah or nay on either or both of these?
sunfish
08-28-2013, 11:14 PM
As a newbie to Musas I'm doing what I always do when I find a new type of plant--seek out the unusual and grow them with a vengeance. (Worked when I did figs ages ago.)
I have space for 2 where I am and these sound interesting. I gave away my figs (can't stand them) and would probably gift bananas or most of them so I want something yummy.
Yeah or nay on either or both of these?
nay
nayYou've grown/tasted both? If so, any other recommendations for something tasty that's "different"? BTW, I'm a plantain gal or very unripe banana eater; too ripe/sweet and I gag so any fruit produced would probably be gifts.
caliboy1994
08-29-2013, 12:18 AM
You've grown/tasted both? If so, any other recommendations for something tasty that's "different"? BTW, I'm a plantain gal or very unripe banana eater; too ripe/sweet and I gag so any fruit produced would probably be gifts.
I believe they would both be dessert bananas that are normally eaten ripe.
venturabananas
08-29-2013, 12:31 AM
No one has ever posted a photo of Truly Tiny fruit on the org. I'd venture to say they don't produce fruit with any regularity, if at all. If anyone knows differently, then step up and post a photo. Rob is the most recent person to fruit Thousand Fingers. You can find a review of it if you search for it. In short, don't count on 1,000 fingers, but I think he liked it.
If you don't like sweet, then grow plantains and harvest and eat them green. If what you don't like is sweet without tart to balance it, there are plenty of sweet-tart bananas.
sunfish
08-29-2013, 12:50 AM
I think most bananas are normally eaten ripe unless I missed something. Even plantains are normally eaten ripe unless they are cooked.Is there a banana usually eaten green ?
venturabananas
08-29-2013, 12:54 AM
I think much of the banana-eating world eats them green -- like potatoes. Take tostones for example.
sunfish
08-29-2013, 12:56 AM
I think much of the banana-eating world eats them green -- like potatoes. Take tostones for example.
Thats cooked not raw
venturabananas
08-29-2013, 12:58 AM
Right you are. I figured it was understood that you have to cook them to eat them green -- unless you want them to taste awful.
As I said I would be gifting fruits to people who only know what Publix offers. If there's a tart banana, sign me up! I was 1 of 6 kids. We weren't rich nor were we poor. My mother brought home fruit that was not quite ripe from the store once a week. If you waited for it to mellow, you lost out so not ripe/firm/tart is what I know and like.
As an adult I lived just outside of DC so enjoyed lots of ethnic markets/restaurants; got really turned onto plantains when visiting Costa Rica in 2008.
I hope to grow some of them but I also want to grow bananas for friends.
venturabananas
08-29-2013, 01:03 AM
The most sweet-tart that I've tried is Pisang Klotek/Pisang Ceylon/Mysore (they're all essentially the same in flavor and very closely related). Other good sweet-tart ones I've tried are Dwarf Brazilian, Rajapuri, FHIA-18, and Goldfinger. There are others, but I have no personal experience with them. When cooked ripe, Monthan and Bluggoe (Orinoco) both have nice tartness to offset their sweetness.
sunfish
08-29-2013, 01:15 AM
So do you cook your unripe bananas ?
I'm a plantain gal or very unripe banana eater;
No, I don't cook less than ripe bananas. I just like them firm and tart. Not too unripe or you get the persimmon effect Actually I don't think plantains have much flavor but I do cook them green.
robguz24
08-29-2013, 02:57 AM
1000 Fingers is surprisingly good out of hand, but I can't imagine going through the trouble of cooking with them.
This was my taste report:
http://www.bananas.org/f2/1000-fingers-taste-report-18212.html#post221325
GreenFin
08-29-2013, 09:41 AM
Kat2,
There is a longtime member here named jeffreyp (http://www.bananas.org/member-jeffreyp.html) who has seen and tasted Truly Tiny fruit. He runs a nursery in southern Florida and actually knows the person who developed Truly Tiny, which is a super dwarf form of Brazilian.
Here's the best thread to read on that topic -- http://www.bananas.org/f2/difference-between-truly-tiny-little-prince-14624.html -- and a key excerpt: I can confirm...it's definitely not a cavendish.
I'm from boynton beach, florida and I know the grower of the truly tiny banana plant personally ( she owns a nursery called truly tropicals in boynton beach and submitted the original corm for tissue culture with agristarts ). The corm was a mutation off of a Brazilian banana so the fruit is a dwarf form of Brazilian apple.
Jeffreyp has shared that a couple other times, too:
http://www.bananas.org/f311/truly-tiny-bananas-10054.html#post104120 (http://www.bananas.org/f311/truly-tiny-bananas-10054.html#post104120) -- truly tiny was a mutation of the brazilian banana. The original plant came from Truly Tropicals in Boynton Beach, FL.
http://www.bananas.org/f2/m-truly-tiny-truly-tough-10658.html#post114817 -- Truly tiny was named after a nursery here in Boynton Beach called Truly Tropicals. It's a mutation of the brazilian bananna.
And he has described the flavor: http://www.bananas.org/f2/best-tasting-dwarf-11981-2.html#post134050 -- Truly tiny is a super dwarf brazilian banana - more sub acid/apple aftertaste
If you're wanting to get a Truly Tiny, I strongly recommend you order it from Wellspring Gardens. Why? Because they sell tc's of the original plant (original plant went from Truly Tropicals to Agri-Starts, and Wellspring gets their tc TT's directly from Agri-Starts). If you get it from another source, I think you'll run an extremely high risk of not getting the right species due to rampant mixups and a general lumping together of the midgets (super dwarf cav, little prince, and truly tiny).
I'm growing Super Dwarf Cavendish, Little Prince (basically a super duper dwarf cav), and Truly Tiny. All are growing in identical conditions a few feet from one another. The SDC and LP look exactly like all the other cavendish varieties I have, just smaller. The TT (purchased from Wellspring) looks obviously different.
Yeah! I had read the thread you mentioned GreenFin but somehow missed the taste report. (2 months of reading about bananas trying to cram this old brain with new tricks has made my eyes gloss over.) I was planning to order from Wellspring but stopped and posted my query 1st; thanks for taking the time to answer/quote/research for this newbie.
robguz24 I am definitely not going to cook bananas; I don't even like banana bread. I searched here for a taste report and didn't find yours; I guess my key words were off because I didn't find anything about them. Thanks for the link and link with in it. One reason I was interested in 1000 Fingers was for the kids in my life; children are fascinated by little packages IME.
venturabananas I have added your list of varieties to my "when I have more Musa space" list. Thank you!
Worm_Farmer
08-29-2013, 02:25 PM
I have had 1000 fingers before. They taste good, did not stand out as OMG this is the best ever but better than a store bought. Only thing is the fruit was tiny and I had to eat about 6 of them and at that point I think I burned all the calories I was consuming trying to peal them.
I would not in anyway tell you to avoid the 1000 finger. They do taste good and they make for a great conversation plant. I would however say that if you only had space for 1 banana plant the 1000 finger might not be the best choice.
I actually have or will make space for more if they come to me but I have a perfect spot for 2 really different ones now. If I really have a Dwarf Cavendish (which I am seriously doubting unless it's normal for leaves to be 3'+ long and 1'+ wide and only 1 pup) then I'm expecting 6' to 8' height; it appears 1000 fingers will get a bit taller but if, as it appears, the fruit hangs down it wouldn't be hard to pick. That's assuming I ever get a flag...
I'm rethinking Truly Tiny but am ready to try 1000. Any other recommended varieties on Wellspring? If not, I'll probably spread the shipping on something else. Figs? Perhaps. (I don't eat them at all but they're fun to grow and the leaves and sap have other uses.)
sunfish
08-29-2013, 05:07 PM
I actually have or will make space for more if they come to me but I have a perfect spot for 2 really different ones now. If I really have a Dwarf Cavendish (which I am seriously doubting unless it's normal for leaves to be 3'+ long and 1'+ wide and only 1 pup) then I'm expecting 6' to 8' height; it appears 1000 fingers will get a bit taller but if, as it appears, the fruit hangs down it wouldn't be hard to pick. That's assuming I ever get a flag...
I'm rethinking Truly Tiny but am ready to try 1000. Any other recommended varieties on Wellspring? If not, I'll probably spread the shipping on something else. Figs? Perhaps. (I don't eat them at all but they're fun to grow and the leaves and sap have other uses.)
Takes a long time to get figs on a TC. You would be better off to root a cutting.It's free and you usually get figs in one season
Ears perk up? Free figsticks? Not here where I live in FL; I have yet to figure out what they grow. I can spot a ficus at 100 yards. Stop vehicle with small clippers in pocket (so you don't scare anyone), knock on door and ask for a clipping. I had 42 different unnamed varieties are 1 point in my life. Yes, done right they will fruit within a year. And what is a TC? Code for what?
sunfish
08-29-2013, 06:43 PM
Ears perk up? Free figsticks? Not here where I live in FL; I have yet to figure out what they grow. I can spot a ficus at 100 yards. Stop vehicle with small clippers in pocket (so you don't scare anyone), knock on door and ask for a clipping. I had 42 different unnamed varieties are 1 point in my life. Yes, done right they will fruit within a year. And what is a TC? Code for what?
Tissue culture
Ah. I had seen that but not in relation to figs. Are you saying that Wellsprings only sells TC plants? A 1" fig twig can be rooted so I don't understand using a more costly propagation method.
sunfish
08-29-2013, 07:25 PM
Ah. I had seen that but not in relation to figs. Are you saying that Wellsprings only sells TC plants? A 1" fig twig can be rooted so I don't understand using a more costly propagation method.
I don't think it is any more costly for them to do TC's.
AgriStarts (http://www.agristarts.com/)
Ficus 'Celeste' - Common Fig 0
Ficus 'Dessert King' - Common Fig 1008
Ficus 'Kadota' - Common Fig 360
Ficus 'Lattarula' - Italian Honey Fig 0
Ficus 'Olympian' - Common Fig 0
Ficus 'Petite Nigra' - Common Fig 0
Ficus 'Violet De Bordeaux' - Common Fig 144
Ficus carica 'Black Mission' - Common Fig 936
Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey' - Common Fig 4968
Ficus carica 'Ischia' - Common Fig 3024
Ficus carica 'LSU Purple' - Common Fig 2880
Ficus carica 'Magnolia' - Common Fig 3384
Ficus carica 'Texas Everbearing' - Common Fig
It is more expensive; I've seen the price lists. If you have the mother tree, starts costs next to nothing. I'll have to find a spot to upload pictures but I had 1000 starts in gallon pots (ganged about 20 or so) filled with sterile compost (PU my kitchen stunk!) in my basement one winter in the DC area; 90% took. Traded many, gave away a lot more but let most just die off. Did find one growing in my garden path the next year--producing.
Just potted up 4 little gardenias that I'd layered from the $1.98 dead one I bought at Walmart.
Sigh, I just like propagating things.
sunfish
08-29-2013, 07:40 PM
It is more expensive; I've seen the price lists. If you have the mother tree, starts costs next to nothing. I'll have to find a spot to upload pictures but I had 1000 starts in gallon pots (ganged about 20 or so) filled with sterile compost (PU my kitchen stunk!) in my basement one winter in the DC area; 90% took. Traded many, gave away a lot more but let most just die off. Did find one growing in my garden path the next year--producing.
Just potted up 4 little gardenias that I'd layered from the $1.98 dead one I bought at Walmart.
Sigh, I just like propagating things.
I agree I do not buy anymore plants material. I'll start from seed or cutting.
Cost to you yes I thought you meant the supplier.Check out the fig cutting prices on ebay :)
I agree I do not buy anymore plants material. I'll start from seed or cutting.
Cost to you yes I thought you meant the supplier.Check out the fig cutting prices on ebay :)If I ever get back into figs, I'll just go scouting. Where are my glasses?
But actually the supplier is paying more in that they spend for the plugs then have a hold time in new pots. If they grew their own tree they would not only have more control but reduced costs thus higher profits. Their choice.
shannondicorse
08-29-2013, 08:29 PM
I like Thousand fingers. The fruit, while small, often fall into the range of a small pisang mas. Taste to me is somewhat reminiscent of Silk/Apple group.
I have found that the plant is robust freely suckering on clayey soils and... to me very important... produces lots of pollen for an AAB triploid cultivar!
shannon
shannon.di.corse@gmail.com
venturabananas
08-29-2013, 10:11 PM
There is a longtime member here named jeffreyp (http://www.bananas.org/member-jeffreyp.html) who has seen and tasted Truly Tiny fruit. He runs a nursery in southern Florida and actually knows the person who developed Truly Tiny, which is a super dwarf form of Brazilian.
I'd love to see a photo of a Truly Tiny fruiting. Seeing is believing.
sunfish
08-29-2013, 10:36 PM
The Hardy Banana Plant Cultivars - Musa 'Truly Tiny' - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE5RZGaSn3Y)
venturabananas
08-30-2013, 12:06 PM
Very amusing. None of the bananas pictured in that vidoo are an AAB variety, with Truly Tiny is claimed to be. Still waiting for a photo of that variety with a bunch.
It really does seem odd that there do not appear to be pictures of Truly Tiny in fruit. I did find someone on GW who claimed in 2007 to have shots taken in FL; they said they'd post them but never did.
Richard
08-31-2013, 03:24 AM
It really does seem odd that there do not appear to be pictures of Truly Tiny in fruit. I did find someone on GW who claimed in 2007 to have shots taken in FL; they said they'd post them but never did.
Not worth growing for fruit in Southern CA. Image peeling a small banana with fruit flesh the size of a 2 inch wooden pencil. This is your result with either of these cultivars in Southern CA. If you happen to peel one that is ripe, you'll have to scrap the fruit off the peel. Afterwards you'll wonder why you bothered.
Not worth growing for fruit in Southern CA. Image peeling a small banana with fruit flesh the size of a 2 inch wooden pencil. This is your result with either of these cultivars in Southern CA. If you happen to peel one that is ripe, you'll have to scrap the fruit off the peel. Afterwards you'll wonder why you bothered.Hmmm.....
GreenFin
09-01-2013, 05:47 PM
I'd love to see a photo of a Truly Tiny fruiting.
Yes, I would too. There were similar doubts about SDC's fruiting ability until Gabe shared some pics and explained that it fruits regularly in the tropics and just seems to need steady, near-perfect conditions throughout its fruiting cycle. It makes sense that a genetic disaster like SDC would have trouble overcoming its genetic shortcomings without highly favorable conditions, and I suspect that Truly Tiny is the same way. And since TT is less common and even smaller than SDC, it isn't overly surprising that we don't have pics online of it fruiting yet. But unsurprising or not, it's still irksome.
Since Jeffrey was nice enough to share his account and give us some good leads to go on, I emailed Agri-Starts and asked them what they knew and if they had pics. I received a nice reply from a VP named Ty who said that they received the original TT corm from Truly Tropical's Nursery on 8/24/2001, but that it was before his time there and there was no documented info about its genetic lineage. He said they didn't have any fruit pics and haven't fruited it themselves because the cold gets it every winter, but that Don at Going Bananas had. So I emailed Don and he replied that he didn't have any pictures, either, but that it makes 4" fruit in up to 10lb bunches. He also said he thinks it's a Cavendish and definitely not a Brazilian. I tried looking up the original Truly Tropicals business in Boynton, but it's not listed anymore. There's a Truly Tropicals that does interiorscapes in Dallas, but I don't think it's the same lady. So now I'm out of leads and still no pics.
Regarding my own TT from Wellspring, it's disappointing to hear Don's experience because I was really hoping for a non-Cavendish (of any type, really) super dwarf that I could grow in a tropical setting along with my Cavendishes. I had been hopeful from the start since my TT has always had obvious differences from all of my other Cavendishes (the TT has been pure green and black since I got it at one inch tall, with no red on p-stem or leaves, and the same with all 6 pups, whereas all of my Cavendishes--LP, SDC, DC, GN, WH, all grown alongside the TT in the same conditions--look utterly identical with red bulbs at their bases, red going up the p-stems, and wine marks on the leaves), but now I worry that those differences aren't due to having a non-Cavendish, and are instead a result of something about my particular environment that causes an 'all green' expression in TT but not in my other Cavendishes. I've seen another thread on here of a guy whose DC's are always totally green, but his GN's have the 'normal' markings, so it seems there's a precedent for that type of an expressive difference. Might even be boringly common, I don't know.
As for my garden, I think TT's days are numbered. I've decided that the smallest Cavendish I'm going to keep around long-term is DC, so if a fastidious runt isn't going to give me something non-Cavendishy to savor, it's not worth the space and effort.
venturabananas
09-02-2013, 05:54 PM
Thanks for the info GreenFin. It sort of confirms my suspicion that what is being sold as Truly Tiny is not a super dwarf Pome cultivar. Maybe such a plant exists, but it is not what is being sold under that name, which seems to be a Cavendish.
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