Never ripened

jlprintz · 01-21-2015, 02:29 PM

Hi,
I'm new to the site and new to banana growing.
I live in DeLand, FL and converted my swimming pool into a garden. I got some plants from a friend - don't know the variety. They are very healthy! Two plants produced bunches of little bananas last fall, but they never got ripe. I finally cut them off about a month ago, put them in a bag and still nothing. Pics of plants w/bunches have been uploaded to my member gallery.
Anybody recognize the plants or the problem?

John

crazy banana · 01-21-2015, 06:21 PM

Bananas in my area need at least 6 month to fill in on the plant and then ripen. In the past I had bunches that were hanging even 10 month over the colder winter month.
Recently we have harvested bunches from July 2014, but none of my fall bunches have filled in yet. My best guess is that you need to be a lot more patient with your next bunch, assuming you were watering and fertilizing right.

kubali · 01-23-2015, 09:10 AM

Welcome aboard,
pull up a chair and have some fun learning.

cincinnana · 01-24-2015, 06:54 PM

Welcome to the Jungle..!!!!

Richard · 01-24-2015, 09:30 PM

Let me temper crazy_bananas response a bit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

Bananas in my area need at least 6 month to fill in on the plant and then ripen. In the past I had bunches that were hanging even 10 month over the colder winter month.
Recently we have harvested bunches from July 2014, but none of my fall bunches have filled in yet. My best guess is that you need to be a lot more patient with your next bunch, assuming you were watering and fertilizing right.

You are in De Land, Florida which has a different environment than where crazy_banana (and I) live -- and is significantly closer to the tropic zones. The winters are similar but the other seasons are warmer and a lot more humid -- which induces more heat to the plants, rather than draining heat as we experience here with lower humidity.

In general I agree with crazy_banana that you removed your fruit too early, but the six to ten month "hang time" is not necessary in your area. Please consult with other members living in the Orlando area for better advice on your cultivar.

crazy banana · 01-25-2015, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Let me temper crazy_bananas response a bit:

You are in De Land, Florida which has a different environment than where crazy_banana (and I) live -- and is significantly closer to the tropic zones. The winters are similar but the other seasons are warmer and a lot more humid -- which induces more heat to the plants, rather than draining heat as we experience here with lower humidity.

In general I agree with crazy_banana that you removed your fruit too early, but the six to ten month "hang time" is not necessary in your area. Please consult with other members living in the Orlando area for better advice on your cultivar.

Even in a tropical environment most banana bunches will probably take longer to fill in and ripen than just three month.
A banana bunch that has shown its first hand in USDA growing zone 9A in fall with average low temperatures between 63 F in October and 47F in December (I am referring to the US climate data website) will simply take longer.
Some varieties will also take longer to fill in and ripen than others. Saba is known for that and one of my Blue Java bunches has taken 10 month last year (first hand showed in October). Jlprintz photo shows a Raja Puri or Dwarf Brazilian, which I am not aware of taking that long, but bottom line, why cutting a bunch if it is not properly filled in or does not show any signs of ripeness?

from the sea · 01-27-2015, 07:00 AM

Where I'm at it takes 5-6+ months to ripen most kinds and it is usually over 70 deg here. You jumped the gun on cutting the bunch.

Snarkie · 01-27-2015, 09:56 PM

Welcome to the board, John!

01-21-2015, 02:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
jlprintz Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 3,546 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Never ripened Hi, I'm new to the site and new to banana growing. I live in DeLand, FL and converted my swimming pool into a garden. I got some plants from a friend - don't know the variety. They are very healthy! Two plants produced bunches of little bananas last fall, but they never got ripe. I finally cut them off about a month ago, put them in a bag and still nothing. Pics of plants w/bunches have been uploaded to my member gallery. Anybody recognize the plants or the problem? John Last edited by jlprintz : 01-21-2015 at 02:37 PM.

01-21-2015, 06:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,641 BananaBucks : 277 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,021 Times Was Thanked 2,961 Times in 1,115 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,990 Times	Re: Never ripened Bananas in my area need at least 6 month to fill in on the plant and then ripen. In the past I had bunches that were hanging even 10 month over the colder winter month. Recently we have harvested bunches from July 2014, but none of my fall bunches have filled in yet. My best guess is that you need to be a lot more patient with your next bunch, assuming you were watering and fertilizing right.

01-23-2015, 09:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
kubali kubali Location: lakeland,fl Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Name: kub Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 996 BananaBucks : 37,206 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,939 Times Was Thanked 1,438 Times in 627 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,608 Times	Re: Never ripened Welcome aboard, pull up a chair and have some fun learning.

01-24-2015, 06:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,784 BananaBucks : 1,573 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,709 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Never ripened Welcome to the Jungle..!!!! __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

01-27-2015, 07:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
from the sea Location: Big Pine Key fl Find me on the map! Zone: 11 sunset 25 Name: Stephen Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 244 BananaBucks : 9,191 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 63 Times Was Thanked 332 Times in 157 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 172 Times	Re: Never ripened Where I'm at it takes 5-6+ months to ripen most kinds and it is usually over 70 deg here. You jumped the gun on cutting the bunch.

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01-27-2015, 09:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b, pushing 9a Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,119 BananaBucks : 156,262 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,218 Times Was Thanked 1,970 Times in 1,145 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,049 Times	Re: Never ripened Welcome to the board, John! __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

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