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View Full Version : Unknown Variety in Port St. Lucie, FL


Paulzie32
03-27-2016, 04:12 PM
My sister has this plant in her yard. She doesn't remember where they got it but said it could have actually been in the yard when they bought the house many years ago. They don't eat the bananas as her kids are not really banana fans, so I asked her to send me pics and a small plant.. she said she'll send it on Tuesday or Wednesday. But, Does anyone recognize it? She lives in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The Bananas are small... Only about 6-7 inches in length. I tried them a few years back but don't remember what they tasted like.
The plants are about 10 feet or so tall.

Also, Since I've never grown one and my sisters husband moved it to the far corner because it was... "messy looking", How are they supposed to be "Cleaned" or maintained? They should be cutting out stems once they finish fruiting, Correct? Then just remove dead leaves?

Any help is appreciated.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59580 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59580&ppuser=22522)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59579 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59579&ppuser=22522)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59578 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59578&ppuser=22522)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59577 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59577&ppuser=22522)

Tytaylor77
03-27-2016, 07:33 PM
Orinoco.

Paulzie32
03-27-2016, 08:14 PM
How can you tell? Can you Please explain to me the features?

Botanical_Bryce
03-27-2016, 08:34 PM
Paul, you should read my post on Florida Orinoco history

Paulzie32
03-27-2016, 08:50 PM
just found it.. Will read it now.
Thanks

Tytaylor77
03-27-2016, 08:59 PM
How can you tell? Can you Please explain to me the features?

You can usually tell by the fruit. They are angular and almost triangle shaped. As they get full out more you can see "stitching" on the fruit also. I'm no expert but it's my best guess. They are all over just south of here. Almost growing "wild". Very popular all around the southern US it seems.

verndoc50
03-28-2016, 04:29 PM
Orinoco for sure. But there are a number of different names used here in South Florida, these are best as a cooked banana but can also be eaten out-of-hand when very ripe.

They often produce small bunches such as you have in the pic.

A fast producer, they are hardy and mostly disease resistant. If you want larger bunches plant further apart and fertilize. Generally I leave them alone and they do pretty well.