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island cassie
08-04-2008, 12:48 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12085&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12085&ppuser=628)
I pronounce them ready!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12086&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12086&ppuser=628)
Willing helper doing the deed!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12088&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12088&ppuser=628)

Around 80 fingers and bunch weighs around 50 lbs, and some are just starting to change colour

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12087&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12087&ppuser=628)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12089&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12089&ppuser=628)

The smallest fingers never developed.

Cassie

Richard
08-04-2008, 03:45 PM
Congratulations on the naners!

:woohoonaner:

Also congratulations on scoring the dude from Chippendales.

Bananaman88
08-05-2008, 11:53 AM
If you want to peel and eat them rather than cooking them you need to let them get really ripe! My apologies if you were already aware of this. Mine turn a nice yellow and I give them a little squeeze too. If they feel somewhat soft, they are good to go. I've jumped the gun a time or two and peeled one that was fairly yellow only to find them still a bit starchy, hard, and not too sweet. Another day or so usually does the trick. Of course, everyone's tastes are different too. Nice looking fruit!

island cassie
08-05-2008, 12:02 PM
Richard - that dude came with the ladder!! lol!

Thanks Brent - always glad of a few tips! You have to wait until you think they are ready - then wait some more until they are quite soft, but in the meantime - tostones are on the menu!! :woohoonaner:

Cassie

Bananaman88
08-05-2008, 12:16 PM
Thanks Brent - always glad of a few tips! You have to wait until you think they are ready - then wait some more until they are quite soft, but in the meantime - tostones are on the menu!! :woohoonaner:

Cassie[/QUOTE]

Yep! That's exactly what I do! Nothing like making tostones from your very own bananas!

paula
08-05-2008, 04:47 PM
How tall was the plant ?
And if you can tell me how long
till fruit is ripe?
Thanks for any info.
Paula

island cassie
08-05-2008, 04:57 PM
Paula - it was 15ft to where the bud emerged, and took 4 months until we cut them down from when the first fingers appeared. Another week until ripe I expect - could be less as the weather is very warm.

Brent - homemade tostones are totally different from bought ones - so much better and delicious!

Cassie

momoese
08-05-2008, 05:21 PM
Looks great Cassie!

Have you seen in the harvesting videos how they take down the bunches on the plantations? It takes two people but I think it's much safer than one person climbing a ladder with a machete in one hand while trying to hold a huge bunch of fruit in the other. :weightliftingnaner: The way they do it is one person holds a short prop under the bunch while the other person makes a small cut on the back side of the PS about half way up. Then they just slowly let it break in half while lowering the fruit bunch to a level where they can safely cut it off. I have tried both methods and can tell you that the tall orchard ladder bit is scary! :nanadrink:

Dean W.
08-05-2008, 06:33 PM
Congrats on your fruit, Cassie. :woohoonaner:

Chironex
08-05-2008, 06:35 PM
I'll never tire of seeing everyone's bananas fruiting. It's zen-like to me.

mskitty38583
08-05-2008, 08:37 PM
cassie congrats on the nanas!!!!

island cassie
08-05-2008, 10:01 PM
Mitchell - it is not how it looks - that was posed for the camera! lol! The bunch was secured to the pstem with a rope so that when it was cut it didn't fall at all as the prop held it all up. Then we slowly lowered it to the ground. The ladder was just to reach up to make the cut as those things are so danged tall. But thanks for your concern as people surely do stupid things and I am always glad of advice. Thanks for your help.
Cassie

dablo93
08-06-2008, 04:20 AM
congrats!:D

Kenzie_POM
08-06-2008, 11:05 PM
Mighty mighty nice. Congrats.

natedogg1026
08-06-2008, 11:48 PM
Wow, that's quite a bunch off an Orinoco. Congrats. They are a really tasty nana when good and ripe. Mines got a while for it will be cut.

MediaHound
08-07-2008, 12:17 AM
Congrats Cassie, great harvest!!!!



Looks great Cassie!

Have you seen in the harvesting videos how they take down the bunches on the plantations? It takes two people but I think it's much safer than one person climbing a ladder with a machete in one hand while trying to hold a huge bunch of fruit in the other. :weightliftingnaner: The way they do it is one person holds a short prop under the bunch while the other person makes a small cut on the back side of the PS about half way up. Then they just slowly let it break in half while lowering the fruit bunch to a level where they can safely cut it off. I have tried both methods and can tell you that the tall orchard ladder bit is scary! :nanadrink:


It's called humping the bananas. (Seriously) That was me the other day cutting down my Saba, that bunch was so high up! I kept the wife at bay while I yanked on the raceme and snapped the plant, it fell over and I was able to whack it with the machete and ease the bunch onto the ground. Next time I will let the wife assist and we'll try to get the bunch onto my back.
Here's some videos of the (right) way to do it:


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magicgreen
08-07-2008, 07:46 AM
Ohhhh Cassie,
Wonderful job!!! Congratulations!! Pat on the back!!!:woohoonaner::goteam:

Greenie
08-14-2008, 10:09 PM
congrats!

paula
08-15-2008, 06:27 AM
That was neat thanks.

island cassie
08-16-2008, 03:29 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12414&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12414&ppuser=628)

Divided into hands ready to share.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12415&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12415&ppuser=628)

2 days later! I've got to pass these around today - it is so warm that they are ripening fast! The first ones will be soft and ready to eat by tomorrow!