View Full Version : Banana Identification
Anupama
09-14-2017, 07:51 AM
Hello,
I live in Northern Virginia. I was gifted an indoor banana plant in 2014 which has now grown and produced a flower. Could someone please identify the type of plant?
Are these bananas edible?
Will they ripen on the tree?
The flower hasn't come out of the tree but is already opening up. Do I have to do something to help it come out?
Here are some pictures:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62302&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62302)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62301&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62301)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62300&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62300)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62299&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62299)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62297&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62297)
Thank you!!
edwmax
09-14-2017, 08:44 AM
Did the plant with the flower have wine stains when younger? I see wine stains on one of the smaller plants. So assuming these are the same plant, I think you have a super dwarf Cavendish; aka: Truly Tiny. ... These are hard to flower and yes they are eatable. ... As far as I know, super dwarf/dwarf Cavendish types are the only eatable banana in this super small dwarf size.
Otherwise you have a seeded dwarf ornamental, generally considered to be un-eatable.
Nice plant keep us posted with updates and pictures.
Anupama
09-14-2017, 09:01 AM
Thank you for your response!
I don't remember seeing the wine stains on the big plant when it was young but yes, the baby plant is the bigger one's pup.
Do the seeded dwarf ornamental ones have wine stains?
Do the seeded dwarf ornamental's flower/bananas look the same as the super dwarf Cavendish? Is there a way to make sure that these are the eatable kind?
Thank you, I will update with the latest pictures as it gets bigger.
edwmax
09-14-2017, 09:47 AM
I don't grow ornament bananas, so I can answer those questions. Ripen the fruit and taste it. ... Ornamental bananas are considered 'ornamental' because the fruit is seeded and as such not marketable as fruiting plants. Many of these are eatable if you have a Torrance for spiting out the seeds; like eating watermelon. The seeds are big and hard as a rock.
The Cavendish and other eatable bananas (grocery store bananas) are sterile and do not have seeds.
Thank you for your response!
I don't remember seeing the wine stains on the big plant when it was young but yes, the baby plant is the bigger one's pup.
Do the seeded dwarf ornamental ones have wine stains?
Do the seeded dwarf ornamental's flower/bananas look the same as the super dwarf Cavendish? Is there a way to make sure that these are the eatable kind?
Thank you, I will update with the latest pictures as it gets bigger.
I believe all banana are edible. I have never heard of a poisonous banana plant before. I know some banana plants produce bananas with seeds. The bananas with seeds might not taste good but I'm sure they are safe to eat. You might just get a mouth full of seeds on the ornamental varieties.
I think your plant is a super dwarf Cavendish too.
Nice plant thanks for the pictures.
Susan
Tytaylor77
09-15-2017, 01:48 AM
All super dwarfs are "super dwarf cavendish" all of them come from the original radiation experiment on a dwarf cavendish that produced the Musa Novak. Every mutation since then has changed the plant in minor ways. Mostly size/makeing smaller plants (Truly Tiny, little prince, Tropicana) they are extremely hard to fruit. The only 2 lines I have found that fruit are the Novak and the Logees lines.
Your plant is a super dwarf cavendish and will make awesome little bananas. Just keep on what your doing and you will have a few to eat in 3-4 months. Congrats!!
Anupama
09-21-2017, 01:27 PM
It's growing steadily! :)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62367&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62367)
Tytaylor77
09-21-2017, 04:58 PM
Looks awesome!! Please keep posting pictures!!
edwmax
09-21-2017, 05:50 PM
I agree, awesome!
Oh, I want a pup from that plant!
Anupama
10-22-2017, 01:32 PM
Hello,
Here are the latest pics of the plant. There seems to be something like white fungus growing on the flower. Should I be cutting off the flower to prevent it from spreading?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62548&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62548)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62547&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62547)
Tytaylor77
10-22-2017, 11:21 PM
The male flowers are the dried up old flowers you see between the actual bananas and the purple bud. Some must have stayed a little wet and caused a mold or fungus to grow. You can cut the whole bud that is hanging down off to prevent any more and you can pick off the old male flowers up to the actual bananas (female flowers). Pick off the bracts also (old flower pedals) Just clean it all up a little. Not sure what else you could do. Don’t be afraid you can get pretty rough with the bunch. Just be easy around the actual bananas.
The little cavendish bananas are filling in slowly! Looking good.
Anupama
10-24-2017, 11:37 AM
Thank you! I cut off the bud but now I can see some fungus between the lower most bananas and the leaves around them. The bananas are so deep inside, that I cannot clean the fungus out. can I use any sprays that'll dry out the fungus growth?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62554&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62554)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62553&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62553)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62555&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62555)
Gabe15
10-24-2017, 12:59 PM
The stature looks more like a standard ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ to me which is short and choking because it is in a small pot indoors, ‘Super Dwarf Cavendish’ are very very stout little plants, with a visibly different stature regardless of height.
Tytaylor77
10-24-2017, 07:12 PM
I totally agree looking at it closer! It’s a super-wanna-be-dwarf cavendish. Lol. It’s a normal dwarf cavendish. And that’s why Gabe is the man!
You may wanna try to free up the hands stuck inside the pstem. I take a razor blade or sharp knife and cut between the leaves on the side the bunch is hanging. Just cut out a U shaped area that will allow the peduncle (stem) to hang lower, freeing the choked hands.
If your careful it’s really easy!
Anupama
03-05-2018, 09:24 PM
Hello,
The bananas are still on my tree. Please let me know if I should be cutting them from the plant and ripening them. Please find the pictures below:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62869&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62869)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62868&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62868)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62867&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62867)
Tytaylor77
03-06-2018, 01:26 AM
I would let them go further. Dwarf cavendish you can keep them filling until one turns yellow. I would give them more time though. Unless you just have to cut them.
They look great! Nice job over winter!
Anupama
04-05-2018, 02:27 PM
Hello, One banana has completely turned yellow and the rest have a yellowish tinge to it. I've tried to upload the pictures several times today but unable to do so. Can I cut all the bananas out? Do I cut the entire stem to do that? If yes, Can I cut using a regular knife? Is there a minimum height I have to cut it at? Thank you!!
Anupama
04-06-2018, 10:59 AM
Hello All, Thanks for your support and expert advice all these months. I harvested a couple of bunches today. 4 bananas ripened fully on the tree. They are absolutely delicious.
I'm still unable to upload pictures but will keep trying.
Thank you once again.
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