The real question is...

ChristineInSocal · 06-08-2010, 04:24 PM

can we eat it?

I'm sure this is a very common banana plant. I've tried figuring it out on my own, but I'm confused. It was planted about 2 years ago in a sunny spot of our yard in San Diego. It's on the South side of the house and other than irrigation it's had no special care. It might have gotten some fertilizer that I use for the roses and flowers. We just pulled out tons of pups.

Here it is two weeks ago.

Here it is today.

Last year, this pup took off and I just let it go. Now I think maybe it's going to do it's banana flower thing.

I think it's a really common plant, but I can't quite figure out what it is. It's probably not more than 10 feet tall.

All my banana-loving boyfriend wants to know is can we eat it? If so, when?

LilRaverBoi · 06-08-2010, 07:53 PM

I would say you can definitely eat the fruit once they're ripe (but I would cut one in half to make sure it's not seeded first). Just let the plant continue to fill out the fruit and ripen them. Once you see the first few turning yellow, you can pick the bunch and allow the rest to ripen (there are threads about it around the forums). Should take ~4-6 months for the fruit to fill out and ripen from what I've read.

Abnshrek · 06-08-2010, 08:01 PM

I think bryan got it covered other than the type. Gabe? Very Nice Pic's BTW :^)

Gabe15 · 06-08-2010, 11:30 PM

It's 'Dwarf Cavendish', very common and very edible indeed.

ChristineInSocal · 06-09-2010, 01:08 AM

Thanks so much. Dwarf Cavendish was on my list of possibilities, but I just couldn't quite narrow it down. I'll look at some of the other parts of the forum to figure out how to let the fruit ripen and harvest them.

Between the banana plant and exceeding productive fig tree next to it, we should have plenty of fresh fruit this summer.

06-08-2010, 04:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
ChristineInSocal ChristineInSocal's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6 BananaBucks : 2,314 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 6 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	The real question is... can we eat it? I'm sure this is a very common banana plant. I've tried figuring it out on my own, but I'm confused. It was planted about 2 years ago in a sunny spot of our yard in San Diego. It's on the South side of the house and other than irrigation it's had no special care. It might have gotten some fertilizer that I use for the roses and flowers. We just pulled out tons of pups. Here it is two weeks ago. Here it is today. Last year, this pup took off and I just let it go. Now I think maybe it's going to do it's banana flower thing. I think it's a really common plant, but I can't quite figure out what it is. It's probably not more than 10 feet tall. All my banana-loving boyfriend wants to know is can we eat it? If so, when?

06-08-2010, 07:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 113,795 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: The real question is... I would say you can definitely eat the fruit once they're ripe (but I would cut one in half to make sure it's not seeded first). Just let the plant continue to fill out the fruit and ripen them. Once you see the first few turning yellow, you can pick the bunch and allow the rest to ripen (there are threads about it around the forums). Should take ~4-6 months for the fruit to fill out and ripen from what I've read. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

06-08-2010, 08:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,492 BananaBucks : 195,999 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,440 Times in 5,237 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: The real question is... I think bryan got it covered other than the type. Gabe? Very Nice Pic's BTW :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

06-08-2010, 11:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,339,280 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,237 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: The real question is... It's 'Dwarf Cavendish', very common and very edible indeed. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

06-09-2010, 01:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
ChristineInSocal ChristineInSocal's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6 BananaBucks : 2,314 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 6 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: The real question is... Thanks so much. Dwarf Cavendish was on my list of possibilities, but I just couldn't quite narrow it down. I'll look at some of the other parts of the forum to figure out how to let the fruit ripen and harvest them. Between the banana plant and exceeding productive fig tree next to it, we should have plenty of fresh fruit this summer.

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