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737mech
07-02-2017, 09:46 AM
About 3 years ago a friend gave us some banana trees. They seem to be shorter than some others that we got a year ago.
Now one of them has a flower and some small bananas inside. Any idea what kind this one is? Thanks!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4254/35507427632_bab1fd4815_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/W6ERb9)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4101/35635764656_07aed4139a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Wi1Bis)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4044/34834710864_9dbc854bb9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/V5dZVb)

robguz24
07-02-2017, 01:10 PM
I see you've been hit by the photobucket curse too. What an awful company. Looking for an alternative myself.

737mech
07-02-2017, 04:45 PM
I'm now using flickr.

Tytaylor77
07-09-2017, 01:16 AM
Dwarf Orinoco maybe? It's very hard to tell. Take more pics when the hands are out completely. Good pics of the flower Tips also.

Congrats on the flower!

hdynad
07-09-2017, 07:40 AM
Agreed, It looks like my Dwarf Orinoco, time will tell as the bananas mature.
congrats and happy growing,

Darla

737mech
07-09-2017, 10:55 AM
Here's one taken yesterday. Thanks for all the help. Newbie questions....can we eat the bananas and when would we pick them?

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4236/34977871834_8e9106bce3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VhSJFL)

Danounet
07-09-2017, 11:17 AM
If they end up being Orinocos, they say that they are better fully ripe for cooking, you could eat them raw, but again you have to wait till they are fully ripe and it seems most ppl dont like them raw. Is all up to your taste. Pick them when the top fingers start to change colors, you dont have to pick them all at the same time, but you could.

I planted my Orinoco last December and waiting for flower so I dont have experience yet sorry, just what I've read. Congrats, very nice pictures btw :03:

Tytaylor77
07-10-2017, 12:45 AM
I can confirm that is dwarf Orinoco. They are a very cold hardy banana and do great for your area. Yes you can eat them but you have a ways to go before then. Continue to fertilize them with small amounts of potassium only! Do not feed them anymore nitrogen! In 2-3 months they will be mostly filled and in 3-4 months they will be ripe. It is a great time of the year and they will ripen perfectly!

Orinocos are good. Not great compared to other bananas. I have lots of dwarf Orinoco. They are reliable producers! You can cook with them green or eat them out of hand yellow. When they turn full yellow and just start to get brown spots I like them best. Out of everything I have harvested they are my dads favorite! So it depends on your taste. They are for sure better than a store cavendish. They are sweet, very flavorful, and have an awesome dense texture. You will enjoy them!

Every once in awhile a bunch will have a hard gooey Center. It's just something Orinoco do. To me if they have the Center I compost the bunch! Just be patient now! That's the hard part lol.

737mech
07-25-2017, 08:11 AM
Ty thanks for all your help. How often should I apply potassium fertilizer?

beam2050
07-25-2017, 08:20 AM
question, when the Orinoco is green is the meat inside an orangeish color?

Botanical_Bryce
07-25-2017, 09:07 AM
No, plantains are orange and yellow. Orinocos are off white.

beam2050
07-25-2017, 10:52 AM
had some banana plants years ago. when they were green the meat was orange. they were not plantains.

edwmax
07-25-2017, 02:44 PM
My first thought was Orinoco, glad our other forum experts agree. Now, that pstem looks to be about 3 ft. tall. That is a very short dwarf Orinoco.

My dwarf Orinoco pstem is at 6 1/2 ft and hasn't flagged yet. My other Orinoco pstem are at 8 to 9 ft. Three of those have a big base and quick taper. So I was hoping to see a flag & bud soon.

Hamakua
07-25-2017, 06:34 PM
had some banana plants years ago. when they were green the meat was orange. they were not plantains.

Could be green red

Tytaylor77
07-26-2017, 11:52 AM
Ty thanks for all your help. How often should I apply potassium fertilizer?

Being the plant is on the small side I would cut all nitrogen and give just a little potassium every couple weeks. About your normal dose minus the nitrogen!

It's looking good for such a small plant! Keep us updated on how it fills!

737mech
08-05-2017, 10:55 AM
Update. I took this photo after a vacation in Colorado. The nanners are filling in a bit more. The plant is about 5 ft tall.

BTW, there is another one about 4 ft tall that is now flowering :)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4353/36219039282_1879657bf0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Xby3ww)

737mech
08-05-2017, 11:29 AM
Ty,
What type of fertilizer do you use and schedule? I'm a bit lazy, I used fertilizer spikes
https://www.miraclegro.com/smg/goprod/miracle-gro-fruit-citrus-tree-fertilizer-spikes/prod70144?locale=en_US
(10-15-15) around all the bananas. So, they are more than likely still going to get nitrogen.
Looking for a better suggestion on fertilizer in the future.

737mech
09-04-2017, 11:32 AM
Do I need to cut the flower and long stem off below the banana bunch? The flower is almost touching the ground. I pulled off the small fingers after I took the photo.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4399/36217028523_5da0a1d1d7_b.jpg

737mech
09-04-2017, 11:53 AM
Here is another dwarf orinoco that is producing bananas behind our pool.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4426/36217021483_245d8d98d8_b.jpg

Tytaylor77
09-05-2017, 01:12 AM
I use Urea for nitrogen. Then I use murate of potash for potassium. They are STRONG!! You can get them at a feed/farm/ag store for $10-$15 per $50 lb bag. Start SMALL and slowly add more. You can also buy a couple bags of 10-10-10 to mix and weaken it some. Email me if you need more info. I have lots of info and pics.

I ONLY fertilize plants over 3-4 feet tall. Under that gets sheep manure and compost! I fertilize every 2 weeks since I live and grow in pure sand. After a sign of flowering (pre-flag, etc) I stop all nitrogen and only apply potash every 2 weeks. It really helps fill the fingers.

Like I said email me if you have any questions. I'm always happy to help!

Congrats on your flowers!!! Hope you get some fruit to eat!