First fruit off tall orinoco

island cassie · 08-04-2008, 01:48 PM

I pronounce them ready!

Willing helper doing the deed!

Around 80 fingers and bunch weighs around 50 lbs, and some are just starting to change colour

The smallest fingers never developed.

Cassie

Richard · 08-04-2008, 04:45 PM

Congratulations on the naners!

Also congratulations on scoring the dude from Chippendales.

Bananaman88 · 08-05-2008, 12:53 PM

If you want to peel and eat them rather than cooking them you need to let them get really ripe! My apologies if you were already aware of this. Mine turn a nice yellow and I give them a little squeeze too. If they feel somewhat soft, they are good to go. I've jumped the gun a time or two and peeled one that was fairly yellow only to find them still a bit starchy, hard, and not too sweet. Another day or so usually does the trick. Of course, everyone's tastes are different too. Nice looking fruit!

island cassie · 08-05-2008, 01:02 PM

Richard - that dude came with the ladder!! lol!

Thanks Brent - always glad of a few tips! You have to wait until you think they are ready - then wait some more until they are quite soft, but in the meantime - tostones are on the menu!!

Cassie

Bananaman88 · 08-05-2008, 01:16 PM

Thanks Brent - always glad of a few tips! You have to wait until you think they are ready - then wait some more until they are quite soft, but in the meantime - tostones are on the menu!!

Cassie[/quote]

Yep! That's exactly what I do! Nothing like making tostones from your very own bananas!

paula · 08-05-2008, 05:47 PM

How tall was the plant ?
And if you can tell me how long
till fruit is ripe?
Thanks for any info.
Paula

island cassie · 08-05-2008, 05:57 PM

Paula - it was 15ft to where the bud emerged, and took 4 months until we cut them down from when the first fingers appeared. Another week until ripe I expect - could be less as the weather is very warm.

Brent - homemade tostones are totally different from bought ones - so much better and delicious!

Cassie

momoese · 08-05-2008, 06:21 PM

Looks great Cassie!

Have you seen in the harvesting videos how they take down the bunches on the plantations? It takes two people but I think it's much safer than one person climbing a ladder with a machete in one hand while trying to hold a huge bunch of fruit in the other.

The way they do it is one person holds a short prop under the bunch while the other person makes a small cut on the back side of the PS about half way up. Then they just slowly let it break in half while lowering the fruit bunch to a level where they can safely cut it off. I have tried both methods and can tell you that the tall orchard ladder bit is scary!

Dean W. · 08-05-2008, 07:33 PM

Congrats on your fruit, Cassie.

Chironex · 08-05-2008, 07:35 PM

I'll never tire of seeing everyone's bananas fruiting. It's zen-like to me.

mskitty38583 · 08-05-2008, 09:37 PM

cassie congrats on the nanas!!!!

island cassie · 08-05-2008, 11:01 PM

Mitchell - it is not how it looks - that was posed for the camera! lol! The bunch was secured to the pstem with a rope so that when it was cut it didn't fall at all as the prop held it all up. Then we slowly lowered it to the ground. The ladder was just to reach up to make the cut as those things are so danged tall. But thanks for your concern as people surely do stupid things and I am always glad of advice. Thanks for your help.
Cassie

dablo93 · 08-06-2008, 05:20 AM

congrats!

Kenzie_POM · 08-07-2008, 12:05 AM

Mighty mighty nice. Congrats.

natedogg1026 · 08-07-2008, 12:48 AM

Wow, that's quite a bunch off an Orinoco. Congrats. They are a really tasty nana when good and ripe. Mines got a while for it will be cut.

MediaHound · 08-07-2008, 01:17 AM

Congrats Cassie, great harvest!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by momoese

Looks great Cassie!

Have you seen in the harvesting videos how they take down the bunches on the plantations? It takes two people but I think it's much safer than one person climbing a ladder with a machete in one hand while trying to hold a huge bunch of fruit in the other.

The way they do it is one person holds a short prop under the bunch while the other person makes a small cut on the back side of the PS about half way up. Then they just slowly let it break in half while lowering the fruit bunch to a level where they can safely cut it off. I have tried both methods and can tell you that the tall orchard ladder bit is scary!

It's called humping the bananas. (Seriously) That was me the other day cutting down my Saba, that bunch was so high up! I kept the wife at bay while I yanked on the raceme and snapped the plant, it fell over and I was able to whack it with the machete and ease the bunch onto the ground. Next time I will let the wife assist and we'll try to get the bunch onto my back.
Here's some videos of the (right) way to do it:

magicgreen · 08-07-2008, 08:46 AM

Ohhhh Cassie,
Wonderful job!!! Congratulations!! Pat on the back!!!

Greenie · 08-14-2008, 11:09 PM

congrats!

paula · 08-15-2008, 07:27 AM

That was neat thanks.

08-04-2008, 01:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,666 BananaBucks : 2,227 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 510 Thanked 333 Times in 200 Posts Welcomes: 168	First fruit off tall orinoco I pronounce them ready! Willing helper doing the deed! Around 80 fingers and bunch weighs around 50 lbs, and some are just starting to change colour The smallest fingers never developed. Cassie Last edited by island cassie : 08-04-2008 at 01:59 PM. Reason: addition

08-04-2008, 04:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,427 BananaBucks : 217 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 363 Thanked 588 Times in 388 Posts Welcomes: 624	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco Congratulations on the naners! Also congratulations on scoring the dude from Chippendales. __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

08-05-2008, 12:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Pearland, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,107 BananaBucks : 8,853 Feedback: 15 / 100% Thanks: 114 Thanked 312 Times in 215 Posts Welcomes: 8	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco If you want to peel and eat them rather than cooking them you need to let them get really ripe! My apologies if you were already aware of this. Mine turn a nice yellow and I give them a little squeeze too. If they feel somewhat soft, they are good to go. I've jumped the gun a time or two and peeled one that was fairly yellow only to find them still a bit starchy, hard, and not too sweet. Another day or so usually does the trick. Of course, everyone's tastes are different too. Nice looking fruit!

08-05-2008, 01:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,666 BananaBucks : 2,227 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 510 Thanked 333 Times in 200 Posts Welcomes: 168	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco Richard - that dude came with the ladder!! lol! Thanks Brent - always glad of a few tips! You have to wait until you think they are ready - then wait some more until they are quite soft, but in the meantime - tostones are on the menu!! Cassie

08-05-2008, 01:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Pearland, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,107 BananaBucks : 8,853 Feedback: 15 / 100% Thanks: 114 Thanked 312 Times in 215 Posts Welcomes: 8	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco Thanks Brent - always glad of a few tips! You have to wait until you think they are ready - then wait some more until they are quite soft, but in the meantime - tostones are on the menu!! Cassie[/quote] Yep! That's exactly what I do! Nothing like making tostones from your very own bananas!

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08-05-2008, 05:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
paula Junior Member paula's Photo Gallery Location: nj. Zone: 7 Name: paula Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 131 BananaBucks : 1,316 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 12 Thanked 22 Times in 15 Posts Welcomes: 25	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco How tall was the plant ? And if you can tell me how long till fruit is ripe? Thanks for any info. Paula

08-05-2008, 05:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,666 BananaBucks : 2,227 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 510 Thanked 333 Times in 200 Posts Welcomes: 168	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco Paula - it was 15ft to where the bud emerged, and took 4 months until we cut them down from when the first fingers appeared. Another week until ripe I expect - could be less as the weather is very warm. Brent - homemade tostones are totally different from bought ones - so much better and delicious! Cassie

08-05-2008, 06:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
momoese Organic Mechanic momoese's Photo Gallery Location: West Los Angeles CA Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Name: Mitchel Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,983 BananaBucks : 30,241 Feedback: 9 / 100% Thanks: 36 Thanked 381 Times in 208 Posts Welcomes: 91	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco Looks great Cassie! Have you seen in the harvesting videos how they take down the bunches on the plantations? It takes two people but I think it's much safer than one person climbing a ladder with a machete in one hand while trying to hold a huge bunch of fruit in the other. The way they do it is one person holds a short prop under the bunch while the other person makes a small cut on the back side of the PS about half way up. Then they just slowly let it break in half while lowering the fruit bunch to a level where they can safely cut it off. I have tried both methods and can tell you that the tall orchard ladder bit is scary! __________________ Mitchel

08-05-2008, 07:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,199 BananaBucks : 8,184 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 645 Thanked 223 Times in 210 Posts Welcomes: 199	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco Congrats on your fruit, Cassie. __________________ Dean

08-05-2008, 07:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chironex Dayyyyyyyy-O Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Las Vegas, NV Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,227 BananaBucks : 564 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 1,910 Thanked 323 Times in 226 Posts Welcomes: 251	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco I'll never tire of seeing everyone's bananas fruiting. It's zen-like to me. __________________ Scot "Grow 'em if ya got 'em!"

08-05-2008, 09:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,598 BananaBucks : 16,941 Feedback: 24 / 100% Thanks: 23 Thanked 466 Times in 396 Posts Welcomes: 59	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco cassie congrats on the nanas!!!! __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys:

08-05-2008, 11:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,666 BananaBucks : 2,227 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 510 Thanked 333 Times in 200 Posts Welcomes: 168	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco Mitchell - it is not how it looks - that was posed for the camera! lol! The bunch was secured to the pstem with a rope so that when it was cut it didn't fall at all as the prop held it all up. Then we slowly lowered it to the ground. The ladder was just to reach up to make the cut as those things are so danged tall. But thanks for your concern as people surely do stupid things and I am always glad of advice. Thanks for your help. Cassie

08-06-2008, 05:20 AM	#13 (permalink)
dablo93 dablo93 's Photo Gallery Location: Randstad North Find me on the map! Zone: Z8b-Z9a, wet cold winters and mild summers Name: daen Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 844 BananaBucks : 5,634 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 107 Thanked 186 Times in 128 Posts Welcomes: 135	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco congrats! __________________ -=

08-07-2008, 12:05 AM	#14 (permalink)
Kenzie_POM Member Kenzie_POM's Photo Gallery Location: Mobile, Alabama Find me on the map! Zone: 8B-9 Name: Kenzie Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 234 BananaBucks : 1,838 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 35 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts Welcomes: 11	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco Mighty mighty nice. Congrats. __________________ Cheers then~ Happy Growing Kenzie

08-07-2008, 12:48 AM	#15 (permalink)
natedogg1026 Banana addict natedogg1026's Photo Gallery Location: Pittsburg, Kansas Find me on the map! Zone: 6b Name: Nate Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 616 BananaBucks : 8,660 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 134 Thanked 113 Times in 92 Posts Welcomes: 3	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco Wow, that's quite a bunch off an Orinoco. Congrats. They are a really tasty nana when good and ripe. Mines got a while for it will be cut. __________________ Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

08-07-2008, 08:46 AM	#17 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 828 BananaBucks : 3,094 Feedback: 8 / 100% Thanks: 380 Thanked 146 Times in 123 Posts Welcomes: 122	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco Ohhhh Cassie, Wonderful job!!! Congratulations!! Pat on the back!!! __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

08-14-2008, 11:09 PM	#18 (permalink)
Greenie Senior Member Greenie's Photo Gallery Location: Miami,FL. Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 642 BananaBucks : 5,727 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 154 Times in 61 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco congrats!

08-15-2008, 07:27 AM	#19 (permalink)
paula Junior Member paula's Photo Gallery Location: nj. Zone: 7 Name: paula Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 131 BananaBucks : 1,316 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 12 Thanked 22 Times in 15 Posts Welcomes: 25	Re: First fruit off tall orinoco That was neat thanks.