Dwarf Cavendish Banana

supermario · 05-19-2009, 07:25 AM

I have a few questions....

I have a Dwarf Cavendish with a large bunch of fruit on it. It flowered in late December/early January and now has several large fruit. How do I know when to harvest?

I cut one banana off about 2 weeks ago and left it to ripen...didn't work. Should I allow them to ripen on the tree?...I've heard the flavor is better if allowed to ripen off the tree...is it a big difference?

Also, some of the fruit have some black, calcerous looking formations along the ridges. Is this a bad thing?

supermario · 05-19-2009, 05:28 PM

Here are pics of my bananas. Anyone know if they are ripe yet? Also included pics of odd marks on some bananas...any idea what that is?

This first pic is how the bunch looked when it first fully emerged back in January..

These next photos are close-ups of the bunch now. Please see above questions.

ArchAngeL01 · 05-19-2009, 09:20 PM

it looks like you did an awesome job!! i dont see any abnormalities of the naners,idonno about the ripeness tho

Gabe15 · 05-20-2009, 01:09 AM

You can wait until they start turning yellow (though the critters might get to them before you do), or you can cut the whole bunch off and they will start to ripen off the plant.

chong · 05-20-2009, 01:27 AM

I don't know if the fruits have filled out as much as they can, so the only way to make sure is to wait until one or two fingers start to turn yellow. Then, personally, that's when I cut off the bunch and let them ripen indoors. If critters are a problem, as Gabe cautioned, I would wrap/encase the bunch with 1/4" mesh wire fabric to prevent them from getting to them. They are available from HD, Lowe's, etc.

supermario · 05-20-2009, 08:33 AM

Thanks for the advice. I'll wait until some of them start to yellow before cuttig the bunch.

Critters aren't usually a problem, although insects always are. I've seen some pictures of online of growers placing large bags around the bunch of bananas to keep insects and critters out. They are special bags(I think polyeurathane or something like that). Have any of you tried this before?

Jack Daw · 05-20-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supermario

Thanks for the advice. I'll wait until some of them start to yellow before cuttig the bunch.

Critters aren't usually a problem, although insects always are. I've seen some pictures of online of growers placing large bags around the bunch of bananas to keep insects and critters out. They are special bags(I think polyeurathane or something like that). Have any of you tried this before?

But beware, when one gets the yellow color, the rest will soon too, so get it off quickly, inless you like 15kg of fruit a day...

05-19-2009, 07:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
supermario Banana brain supermario 's Photo Gallery Location: Miami, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10A Name: Mario Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 298 BananaBucks : 60,064 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 251 Times Was Thanked 348 Times in 139 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Dwarf Cavendish Banana I have a few questions.... I have a Dwarf Cavendish with a large bunch of fruit on it. It flowered in late December/early January and now has several large fruit. How do I know when to harvest? I cut one banana off about 2 weeks ago and left it to ripen...didn't work. Should I allow them to ripen on the tree?...I've heard the flavor is better if allowed to ripen off the tree...is it a big difference? Also, some of the fruit have some black, calcerous looking formations along the ridges. Is this a bad thing?

05-19-2009, 05:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
supermario Banana brain supermario 's Photo Gallery Location: Miami, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10A Name: Mario Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 298 BananaBucks : 60,064 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 251 Times Was Thanked 348 Times in 139 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish Banana Here are pics of my bananas. Anyone know if they are ripe yet? Also included pics of odd marks on some bananas...any idea what that is? This first pic is how the bunch looked when it first fully emerged back in January.. These next photos are close-ups of the bunch now. Please see above questions.

05-19-2009, 09:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
ArchAngeL01 ArchAngeL01's Photo Gallery Location: Greenville, SC Zone: 8A Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 849 BananaBucks : 143,096 Feedback: 4 / 83% Said "Thanks" 104 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 165 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish Banana it looks like you did an awesome job!! i dont see any abnormalities of the naners,idonno about the ripeness tho __________________ Brad

05-20-2009, 01:09 AM	#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 : 13,341,364 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,239 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish Banana You can wait until they start turning yellow (though the critters might get to them before you do), or you can cut the whole bunch off and they will start to ripen off the plant. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

05-20-2009, 01:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
chong Senior Member chong's Photo Gallery Location: Seattle, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Name: Chong Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,851 BananaBucks : 97,391 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times Was Thanked 1,702 Times in 759 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish Banana I don't know if the fruits have filled out as much as they can, so the only way to make sure is to wait until one or two fingers start to turn yellow. Then, personally, that's when I cut off the bunch and let them ripen indoors. If critters are a problem, as Gabe cautioned, I would wrap/encase the bunch with 1/4" mesh wire fabric to prevent them from getting to them. They are available from HD, Lowe's, etc.

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05-20-2009, 08:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
supermario Banana brain supermario 's Photo Gallery Location: Miami, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10A Name: Mario Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 298 BananaBucks : 60,064 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 251 Times Was Thanked 348 Times in 139 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish Banana Thanks for the advice. I'll wait until some of them start to yellow before cuttig the bunch. Critters aren't usually a problem, although insects always are. I've seen some pictures of online of growers placing large bags around the bunch of bananas to keep insects and critters out. They are special bags(I think polyeurathane or something like that). Have any of you tried this before?

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