View Full Version : Edible Zebrina Rojo
gnappi
04-28-2017, 03:36 AM
Last year I bought two at of all places, Lowes and some banana lovers said the fruit is not edible, others opined that it is. Well after a MADDENINGLY L-O-N-G wait to sample the fruit, one was kinda sorta ripe and I ate it today.
I've had unripe bananas before and they are not edible, patience and waiting for them to ripen is paid in dividends.
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The fruit was creamy and surprisingly sweet. I can't wait for it to give me the rest of the bunch fully ripened!
One down side is it's a LOT more aggressive of a grower and pups with MANY new stems. NP, I'll give them to friends and neighbors. The leaves are VERY attractive, I may use them as landscape specimens now.
Does anyone else have a ZR fruiting?
beam2050
04-28-2017, 09:58 AM
zabrina rojo is supposed to have a lot of seeds. that is why most consider it inedible, so I have been led to understand. you might not have a zabrina. post some pics. I now I would like to see them. when wellspring gardens sell the zabrina and the sumatrana x at the same time they use the same picture for both.
gnappi
04-28-2017, 10:44 AM
zabrina rojo is supposed to have a lot of seeds. that is why most consider it inedible, so I have been led to understand. you might not have a zabrina. post some pics. I now I would like to see them. when wellspring gardens sell the zabrina and the sumatrana x at the same time they use the same picture for both.
Yeah, I read about the seeds.
When I bought them, the hang tag said "Edible zabrina rojo", and all of the pix I saw online look like mine. Solid burgundy color under the leaves, striated burgundy on top of the leaves, the bananas start out burgundy but ripen to green, and the one I ate had no seeds.
Sorry about the crummy phone pic.
The one on the left is of the second one I have in a pot showing the top of the leaves, the center shot shown the underside of the leaves, the third on the right has the banana bunch.
https://s10.postimg.org/czq7a1ft5/zebrina_rojo_banana.jpg
gnappi
05-01-2017, 09:37 PM
I ate my second one today, same as the last no seeds, creamy and sweet. They are coming ripe V-E-R-Y slowly, Grrr...
Nobody else has one fruiting that's edible?
gnappi
05-02-2017, 02:07 PM
OK, nobody has an edible fruiting Rojo... pups are $1000 each :-)
Seriously, if anyone in So Fla wants cuttings, I'll be more than happy to give some away, but I DO NOT, and WILL NOT ship anywhere sorry.
Tytaylor77
05-03-2017, 12:30 AM
It is a Musa Sumatrana Rojo x Gran Nain cross! They sell them as TC cultures. Not rare at all. I have NEVER seen one bloom! Truly awesome! Both plants are extremely cold sensitive. So I bet this variety really is. That may be way you see so few fruiting? I don't know. Very beautiful plant! Seedless! It is always advertised as a seedless variety.
Congrats! Keep us updated as they ripen fully. Cut the fruit up like others do and do a taste report! I'm pretty sure none has been done!
Very cool you got ripe fruit off it.
Congrats!
gnappi
05-03-2017, 04:09 AM
It is a Musa Sumatrana Rojo x Gran Nain cross! They sell them as TC cultures. Not rare at all. I have NEVER seen one bloom! Truly awesome! Both plants are extremely cold sensitive. So I bet this variety really is. That may be way you see so few fruiting? I don't know. Very beautiful plant! Seedless! It is always advertised as a seedless variety.
Congrats! Keep us updated as they ripen fully. Cut the fruit up like others do and do a taste report! I'm pretty sure none has been done!
Very cool you got ripe fruit off it.
Congrats!
Thank you very much!
Maybe it's the climate down here in North Broward? We have not had really cold weather here, but it's REALLY good to know it may be sensitive. Now that I know this, just to keep it going, every year if we get a cold snap predicted I will cut off a pup and some of the korm and bring it inside. I'll also bring in the one that's in a pot.
For sure I'll keep up with taste reports, and the offer to locals for pup cuttings as well as fruit samples is open. I REALLY dislike selling plants but even more so I HATE going to the post office. :-)
Gabe15
05-03-2017, 09:57 AM
See my comments about this plant in these previous threads:
http://www.bananas.org/f2/edible-variegated-red-banana-37424.html
http://www.bananas.org/f12/blood-banana-new-orleans-46735.html
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