How to tell if namwah ripe
 

Hi
I have not posted before, I have been growing dwarf musa for several years.

I planted namwah about 2 years ago, I have had bannans on for several months, but I don't know how to tell if they are ripe, do they turn yellow?

Thanks

Carl

Re: How to tell if namwah ripe
 

http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/.../banana-sm.jpg
thats a picture of ripe dwarf click on it

Re: How to tell if namwah ripe
 

Hi there Carl,

If the bunch comes out at the beginning of a long stretch of warm weather you let them "tree ripen" incrementally -- picking them individually as they ripen. Although this is at the risk of critters beating you to the task. I wait until a few begin to ripen (not yet ripe) and the other fingers on the bunch look like they are done "plumping". They I harvest the entire bunch and hang it in the garage. Then, depending on the variety they will fully ripen within a few weeks to several months.

Re: How to tell if namwah ripe
 

I had not grown Namwah before, the bunch has been on the tree for several months and still blueish color. Do you have any idea how many months namwah normally take?

thanks
Carl

Re: How to tell if namwah ripe
 

"For several months" would mean it has been on the plant through the traditional winter months. If you are somewhere other than USDA zone 12 or higher, then the plant simply shut down during those months. In this case you might see some color change in the coming month or two. If it has been outdoors on the plant for 4 months, I would remove it hang it in your garage by mid-May. The quality of the fruit will be "off" in comparison to fruit that emerges in April-June.