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kuma119
09-08-2008, 06:39 PM
:woohoonaner:This is the second year for my orinicos and I can't believe I have a bunch of nanas on my 12 footer. The bunch has nine nanas. Do I let the nanas ripen on the plant or pick them green? I hope the frost holds off long enough for them to mature.Any help is appreciated, Mark.

island cassie
09-08-2008, 09:21 PM
Hey Kuma - on orinoco I generally let them sit for about 4 months, or until the first finger starts to show a colour change from green to yellow. Good luck, Cassie

Bananaman88
09-09-2008, 11:22 AM
Kuma,

How long ago did your Orinoco begin to flower? You need approximately 4 months from the time the first fruit appeared for them to mature. If the fruit seem to have plumped up by the time your first frost threatens you can cut them and bring them inside and allow them to ripen. Alternatively, if it is supposed to be a light frost with temps forcast to warm back up you could try bagging them overnight to protect them from the cold. This might gain you an extra few days or a couple of weeks of leaving your fruit on the plant. The longer you can leave it on the plant the better. However, if it's really going to get cold, cut the stalk and bring them in. Fruit as far north as PA is pretty impressive! Congrats!

Chironex
09-09-2008, 12:01 PM
How exciting for you! You must be thrilled! Hope they ripen for you.

kuma119
09-15-2008, 04:30 PM
Thanks for the advice. Excuse my ignorance but the flower has not opened yet but there is a bunch of nanas. I don't think I have 4 mos to wait, it has been like this for only one month so far. I hope I do this right I'm not puter savy. Here are two links with pics. Excuse the unfinished waterfall in the yard, work in progress. Mark http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc335/kuma119/IMG_1667.jpg http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc335/kuma119/IMG_1681.jpg

TTP, Fred
09-15-2008, 06:33 PM
From those pictures, I'd say you'll need about 4 months until the bananas are mature.

Others on this board may have some hints for protecting the bananas during colder weather. We don't see winters like yours down in the Houston area.

Good luck!

cactus6103
09-15-2008, 07:40 PM
I wonder if you can dig up the plant and winter it in your garage to let the banana's mature? (I don't know if that will even work, just thinking out loud) Red

kuma119
09-16-2008, 06:08 PM
I'd love to try but the tree is about 15 feet tall and my garage has 10 foot ceilings. Also my garage doesn't allow much light in. Unfortunately I'm just going to have to be satisfied that it fruited after only two years of doing this as a hobby. Mark