Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old?
 

I had to pick a bunch of bananas before they completely filled out on the plant because of freezing weather. The plant bloomed on Oct. 1 and we had a freeze here in Tampa last week. Does anyone have any experience with this? If I left it on the plant I know I would have lost it for sure so I took a chance and picked it. Thanks for any help.

Re: Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old?
 

All you can do is hang them up and wait. I had some reds that were about 3 months that didn't want to ripen and had no flavor on the few that did. But then I've had Hawaiian Apples that did ripen with about the same hanging time on the plant and they had great flavor even though they hadn't plumped yet.

You can put a paper bag over them with some apples included to help gas them. This will help to shorten the ripening time.

Re: Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old?
 

Thanks for the information. At least I know that there is a chance.

Re: Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old?
 

Some varieties will definitely ripen, and some definitely will not. You have nothing to loose by trying.

Re: Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old?
 

Agreed with previous comments. What would happen is they will turn yellow and either be sweet or not be sweet.

Re: Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old?
 

Most banana cultivars are highly climacteric. They will ripen even if picked immature and stored in enclosed containers together with a ripe banana. Bananas that are picked immature and are ripened will not be as sweet or as good tasting as the plump bananas or tree-ripened bananas. Most immature bananas that are ripened would taste bland.