short fat banana, ID please
 

Hello everyone :)

I received a banana plant and was told it is a dwarf ornamental. As it usually goes, this pup kept growing and growing and ... now it reaches 12 ft tall and
set fruit. (The bud was thin and long )
So I harvested and waited for the first one to yellow. Thick peel, not real sweet, I am thinking it is a cooking banana (and frying the slices sure turned out yummy)

But I always thought plantains are large and longer than dessert bananas. Any guesses on an ID? is it an Orinoco?

Thank you :-)

Re: short fat banana, ID please
 

Orinoco have pronounced sharp ridges and flat sides. Usually three sides. Great cooked very green or way ripe.

BTW - there are three categories of edible hybrids - dessert, cooking and plantains. The one you have may be the burro. I had some burro fruit from Nick a few years ago. It's ok but there are much better cooking varieties --- like the Hua Moa.

Re: short fat banana, ID please
 

thanks bananimal for your reply.

a burro will be fine, I take it ;-) This one is growing well, I feel it would be a shame to just kill it.

Thanks again.

Re: short fat banana, ID please
 

If you love tostones, it's definitely a keeper. Excellent cold hardiness too.

Re: short fat banana, ID please
 

caliboy, the cold hardiness is worth a lot to me. Central FL does not get too cold in winter, but there are the occasional freezes. A few years ago I lost my 8 ft AeAe, even with protection. Learned my lession, planting 'frost proof' nanas now.