Dwarf Cavendish questions

Ciscored · 03-10-2009, 08:47 PM

hello board. I'm a newbee to bananas and gardening altogether. I recently became excited when I saw the dwarf cavendish banana plants. I immediatly ordered 2 of them from springhill nursry. I havnt recieved them yet
Anyhow I told my girlfriend about it and she said I may not like the taste as she found mini bananas to taste a little tart and bitter.
I've been googling these bananas ever since and have found there to be many species of small bananas.
I went to a market today and bought "baby bananas". To see if I can get an idea for the taste.
Are the cavendish bananas tart and bitter as my girlfriend described or do you think she had a different variety? Do you think the dole "baby bananas" will give me an idea of what to expect? Any help and guidance would be appreciatted as I still have time to cancel the order.

austinl01 · 03-10-2009, 09:35 PM

I believe the dwarf cavendish are very similar to the regular grocery store bananas. The mini bananas are a different type with a different taste altogether. I prefer the mini's actually. Others can weigh in their thoughts.

chong · 03-10-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ciscored

hello board. I'm a newbee to bananas and gardening altogether. I recently became excited when I saw the dwarf cavendish banana plants. I immediatly ordered 2 of them from springhill nursry. I havnt recieved them yet
Anyhow I told my girlfriend about it and she said I may not like the taste as she found mini bananas to taste a little tart and bitter.
I've been googling these bananas ever since and have found there to be many species of small bananas.
I went to a market today and bought "baby bananas". To see if I can get an idea for the taste.
Are the cavendish bananas tart and bitter as my girlfriend described or do you think she had a different variety? Do you think the dole "baby bananas" will give me an idea of what to expect? Any help and guidance would be appreciatted as I still have time to cancel the order.

Welcome Ciscored!

Cavendish bananas are similar to the regular store bananas. And if you have them ripen on the plant (not a tree), you will have a treat. Particularly, if all the banana you've had so far is the store bought ones. The regular store bananas are the Gran Naine variety, which was developed from the Cavendish.

Baby bananas, if properly ripened, are sweeter than regular store bananas. They are from the Sucrier group of bananas, usually grows only to 6 - 8 feet high, similar to the Dwarf Cavendish. Sucrier, which means "sugar bowl or basin" in French, is an appropriate name for this group of bananas because all of them are sweet.

island cassie · 03-10-2009, 09:44 PM

Hi Ciscored - the dwarf only applies to the height of the plant at fruiting height. Dwarf cavendish bear normal sized sweet bananas (if you leave them on the plant until they are nearly ripe). Never had a bitter Dwarf Cavendish as they are really nice to eat - but don't expect to get dwarf nanas as the size will be like grocery bought ones.

buzzwinder · 03-10-2009, 09:53 PM

Ciscored, Welcome to the Org. The Cavendish and Gran Nain bananas are generally what you find in the store produce section ( Chiquita), the Dwarf Cav. is a smaller plant 6-8 feet of stem, but produce 3/4 to normal size bananas, with the same taste, that is my understanding anyhow. Where are you located,zone, state? if you could edit your userCP with that info, it will help people with answers to any questions you have. Basically, you have found Banana Utopia, meaning there are a ton of knowedgable people with years of experience and practical application of knowledge here, again welcome and enjoy the nanner express!

buzzwinder · 03-10-2009, 09:58 PM

Wow, I must type really slow, by the time I submitted both you guys ( Chong, Cassie) responded, I must be getting old!

island cassie · 03-10-2009, 09:59 PM

Haha! old dude!

chong · 03-10-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzwinder

Wow, I must type really slow, by the time I submitted both you guys ( Chong, Cassie) responded, I must be getting old!

No, I'm the one that's slow. I was typing my response, just after I moved Ciscored's first post from Main Banana Discussions to Member Introductions, and by the time I clicked "submit", Austin had already replied.

austinl01 · 03-10-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chong

No, I'm the one that's slow. I was typing my response, just after I moved Ciscored's first post from Main Banana Discussions to Member Introductions, and by the time I clicked "submit", Austin had already replied.

Ha ha. I'm a very fast typer!

buzzwinder · 03-10-2009, 10:22 PM

lorax · 03-11-2009, 01:02 AM

Welcome aboard!

Normally, DC fruits are sweet - very similar to grocery store nanners. Tart and bitter ones are underripe!

Tog Tan · 03-11-2009, 08:49 AM

Welcome to the .org Ciscored!

DC's are nice 'naners if you are not spoilt by the taste of other Asian cultivars. I like them for the number of fruits they get, their nice small size, beautiful leaf growth and form. What more can one ask for? Enjoy! All d best to your plants.

Ciscored · 03-11-2009, 10:08 PM

Wow!

It looks like I came to the right place! Thanks a lot for all of your answers. Do you know of the sweet not bitter taste of the dwarf cavendish from growing and tasting your own or from other forums and post.. Just wanna hear it straight from someone who has eaten a dwarf one.

Any tips on how I should plant it? I plan on keeping it in a pot and indoors near a sliding glass door, and bring it outside in the summer. I live in San Diego and it still gets cold here at night

island cassie · 03-11-2009, 11:10 PM

Ciscored - can't help you with the growing, but Dwarf Cavendish have always been sweet from all our different plants! Keep them on the plant until they start to colour up - then cut the bunch down - always delicious. Never had a "bitter" banana. Any small bananas ( perhaps ladyfingers?) will not be delicious until fully ripe - most of the species bananas cannot be eaten unripe! I know people who like to eat their bananas when they are greenish and unmarked by freckles - you can do this with some of the store bought varieties, but they are missing out on the best fruit!! Wait until they are speckled and soft, and you will thank me for a delicious fruit.

Caloosamusa · 03-12-2009, 06:56 AM

Welcome to the organization Ciscored!

momoese · 03-12-2009, 09:52 AM

I grow DC also, have tasted them and never have they tasted bitter. I don't like the flavor as much as some of the others I grow but they still taste better than what you can buy in the store. Some of my others do have a certain amount of acidity to them which I actually prefer over the bland Cavendish taste. It's like a Red Delicious apple VS a Fuji apple, the Fuji has much more flavor and a better balance in my opinion.

Anyway welcome to the forum!

03-10-2009, 08:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ciscored Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 6,817 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Dwarf Cavendish questions hello board. I'm a newbee to bananas and gardening altogether. I recently became excited when I saw the dwarf cavendish banana plants. I immediatly ordered 2 of them from springhill nursry. I havnt recieved them yet Anyhow I told my girlfriend about it and she said I may not like the taste as she found mini bananas to taste a little tart and bitter. I've been googling these bananas ever since and have found there to be many species of small bananas. I went to a market today and bought "baby bananas". To see if I can get an idea for the taste. Are the cavendish bananas tart and bitter as my girlfriend described or do you think she had a different variety? Do you think the dole "baby bananas" will give me an idea of what to expect? Any help and guidance would be appreciatted as I still have time to cancel the order.

03-10-2009, 09:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 188,403 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 907 Times in 397 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions I believe the dwarf cavendish are very similar to the regular grocery store bananas. The mini bananas are a different type with a different taste altogether. I prefer the mini's actually. Others can weigh in their thoughts. __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

03-10-2009, 09:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 415,460 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions Hi Ciscored - the dwarf only applies to the height of the plant at fruiting height. Dwarf cavendish bear normal sized sweet bananas (if you leave them on the plant until they are nearly ripe). Never had a bitter Dwarf Cavendish as they are really nice to eat - but don't expect to get dwarf nanas as the size will be like grocery bought ones.

03-10-2009, 09:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
buzzwinder buzzwinder's Photo Gallery Location: Loves Park, Il. Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bill Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 871 BananaBucks : 13,261 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,043 Times Was Thanked 846 Times in 354 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,155 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions Ciscored, Welcome to the Org. The Cavendish and Gran Nain bananas are generally what you find in the store produce section ( Chiquita), the Dwarf Cav. is a smaller plant 6-8 feet of stem, but produce 3/4 to normal size bananas, with the same taste, that is my understanding anyhow. Where are you located,zone, state? if you could edit your userCP with that info, it will help people with answers to any questions you have. Basically, you have found Banana Utopia, meaning there are a ton of knowedgable people with years of experience and practical application of knowledge here, again welcome and enjoy the nanner express! __________________ Bill for my friend

03-10-2009, 09:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
buzzwinder buzzwinder's Photo Gallery Location: Loves Park, Il. Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bill Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 871 BananaBucks : 13,261 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,043 Times Was Thanked 846 Times in 354 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,155 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions Wow, I must type really slow, by the time I submitted both you guys ( Chong, Cassie) responded, I must be getting old! __________________ Bill for my friend

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03-10-2009, 09:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 415,460 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions Haha! old dude!

03-10-2009, 10:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
buzzwinder buzzwinder's Photo Gallery Location: Loves Park, Il. Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bill Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 871 BananaBucks : 13,261 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,043 Times Was Thanked 846 Times in 354 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,155 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions __________________ Bill for my friend

03-11-2009, 01:02 AM	#11 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 325,712 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions Welcome aboard! Normally, DC fruits are sweet - very similar to grocery store nanners. Tart and bitter ones are underripe!

03-11-2009, 08:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
Tog Tan Ensete nut Tog Tan's Photo Gallery Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Name: Tog Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,757 BananaBucks : 450,041 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,011 Times Was Thanked 2,723 Times in 787 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 204 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions Welcome to the .org Ciscored! DC's are nice 'naners if you are not spoilt by the taste of other Asian cultivars. I like them for the number of fruits they get, their nice small size, beautiful leaf growth and form. What more can one ask for? Enjoy! All d best to your plants. __________________ ____ Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

03-11-2009, 10:08 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ciscored Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 6,817 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions Wow! It looks like I came to the right place! Thanks a lot for all of your answers. Do you know of the sweet not bitter taste of the dwarf cavendish from growing and tasting your own or from other forums and post.. Just wanna hear it straight from someone who has eaten a dwarf one. Any tips on how I should plant it? I plan on keeping it in a pot and indoors near a sliding glass door, and bring it outside in the summer. I live in San Diego and it still gets cold here at night

03-11-2009, 11:10 PM	#14 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 415,460 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions Ciscored - can't help you with the growing, but Dwarf Cavendish have always been sweet from all our different plants! Keep them on the plant until they start to colour up - then cut the bunch down - always delicious. Never had a "bitter" banana. Any small bananas ( perhaps ladyfingers?) will not be delicious until fully ripe - most of the species bananas cannot be eaten unripe! I know people who like to eat their bananas when they are greenish and unmarked by freckles - you can do this with some of the store bought varieties, but they are missing out on the best fruit!! Wait until they are speckled and soft, and you will thank me for a delicious fruit.

03-12-2009, 06:56 AM	#15 (permalink)
Caloosamusa Caloosamusa's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,578 BananaBucks : 28,605 Feedback: 1 / 67% Said "Thanks" 3,829 Times Was Thanked 1,556 Times in 675 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 334 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions Welcome to the organization Ciscored!

03-12-2009, 09:52 AM	#16 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 87,581 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish questions I grow DC also, have tasted them and never have they tasted bitter. I don't like the flavor as much as some of the others I grow but they still taste better than what you can buy in the store. Some of my others do have a certain amount of acidity to them which I actually prefer over the bland Cavendish taste. It's like a Red Delicious apple VS a Fuji apple, the Fuji has much more flavor and a better balance in my opinion. Anyway welcome to the forum!

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