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supermario
05-19-2009, 07:25 AM
I have a few questions....

I have a Dwarf Cavendish with a large bunch of fruit on it. It flowered in late December/early January and now has several large fruit. How do I know when to harvest?

I cut one banana off about 2 weeks ago and left it to ripen...didn't work. Should I allow them to ripen on the tree?...I've heard the flavor is better if allowed to ripen off the tree...is it a big difference?

Also, some of the fruit have some black, calcerous looking formations along the ridges. Is this a bad thing?

supermario
05-19-2009, 05:28 PM
Here are pics of my bananas. Anyone know if they are ripe yet? Also included pics of odd marks on some bananas...any idea what that is?

This first pic is how the bunch looked when it first fully emerged back in January..

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/bananas001.jpg


These next photos are close-ups of the bunch now. Please see above questions. :drum:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/bananaharvestmaybe001.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/bananaharvestmaybe004.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/bananaharvestmaybe005.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/bananaharvestmaybe002.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/bananaharvestmaybe003.jpg

ArchAngeL01
05-19-2009, 09:20 PM
it looks like you did an awesome job!! i dont see any abnormalities of the naners,idonno about the ripeness tho

Gabe15
05-20-2009, 01:09 AM
You can wait until they start turning yellow (though the critters might get to them before you do), or you can cut the whole bunch off and they will start to ripen off the plant.

chong
05-20-2009, 01:27 AM
I don't know if the fruits have filled out as much as they can, so the only way to make sure is to wait until one or two fingers start to turn yellow. Then, personally, that's when I cut off the bunch and let them ripen indoors. If critters are a problem, as Gabe cautioned, I would wrap/encase the bunch with 1/4" mesh wire fabric to prevent them from getting to them. They are available from HD, Lowe's, etc.

supermario
05-20-2009, 08:33 AM
Thanks for the advice. I'll wait until some of them start to yellow before cuttig the bunch.

Critters aren't usually a problem, although insects always are. I've seen some pictures of online of growers placing large bags around the bunch of bananas to keep insects and critters out. They are special bags(I think polyeurathane or something like that). Have any of you tried this before?

Jack Daw
05-20-2009, 08:52 AM
Thanks for the advice. I'll wait until some of them start to yellow before cuttig the bunch.

Critters aren't usually a problem, although insects always are. I've seen some pictures of online of growers placing large bags around the bunch of bananas to keep insects and critters out. They are special bags(I think polyeurathane or something like that). Have any of you tried this before?
But beware, when one gets the yellow color, the rest will soon too, so get it off quickly, inless you like 15kg of fruit a day... :D