andy17

Hey everyone,
I'm so excited! The next bract opened showing all male flowers this morning so I've got a final count on the bunch. There are six hands each averaging 12 fingers or so. My current count is around 78 fingers. Is this a pretty good count for an Ice Cream? I know different varieties have different yields Also, the fingers are actually pretty blue-green with a dull waxy coating--that's still consistent with a Namwah type?

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caliboy1994

It definitely is a Namwah. Note the short pedicels with a pink tinge on them.

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Kostas

Looking great Andy!!!
At what height did it flower?

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andy17

Thanks Kostas! It flowered at almost 9 feet exactly in a 30 gallon pot.

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robert0514

Congratz, that definitely sounds like a healthy number of fingers.

Kostas

Thanks Andy!

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Lau

It looks great. Congratulations.

bananimal

Let's settle for the name Ice Cramwah. Has a nice ring.

You will be happier with the fruit in your pics, believe me!

edzone9

lOOKING Good !

wolfyhound

How old is it?

Congrats!! I'd be over the moon! Will you have time for fruit to mature or will it be moved inside?

Darkman

SO....

it is a Tall Namwah and not an IC?

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Darkman in Pensacola

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andy17

Thanks wolfyhound! It's been so exciting after several years to see the plant flower and fruit! I got the plant as a Tissue Culture last spring and planted it sometime around may in a container, so it's not quite two years old and it has already produced fruit. I'd say something like 16 months. I'll have to bring it inside when the fruit is about halfway mature, sometime in mid to late October. It will be interesting to see how the fruit finishes maturing indoors--a plant that big just won't fit in my house so I'll have to put it in the unheated basement.

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andy17

That's a good question Darkman! There's a lot of confusion surrounding the Ice Cream variety. When I got mine last year, I thought there was only one Ice Cream. But I was told later that year that there's an original variety in the South Pacific and Hawaii that is a related but totally different variety. It's been dubbed the "real Ice Cream." For some reason, the variety sold in the US as "Ice Cream" is actually a Namwah type that's closely related to Dwarf Namwah and Tall Namwah. However, it seems that the general consensus on bananas.org is that the Namwah Ice Cream (the Ice Cramwah ) actually is a tougher plant with better tasting fruit than the "real" Ice Cream. From my own experiences I would recommend this variety in a second to anyone. It's been the hardiest, most cold tolerant and fastest to flower of all my other varieties. Can't say anything for taste yet though haha

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Darkman

My Tall Namwah AKA "The Banana formerly know as Ice Cream" has a bunch hanging now so we both get to form an opinion this year. The real test will be to have Bo Hydroid taste them He recently worked in the South Pacific and has tasted the "Real Ice Cream".

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

andy17

That's awesome Darkman! Congrats it would certainly be interesting to see what his opinion on the two would be. Do you know how long Ice Cream takes to ripen before the fruit's ready to cut down?

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robguz24

For me in Hawaii, My Namwahs and real Ice Creams both have taken about 5 months.

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Darkman

Unfortunately that means ours will take 6 months plus.

Fortunately we can cut the bunch when it is completely filled out and take it inside to finish maturing.

Orinocos only take 4 months and is a reliable fruiter in my climate.

Yea Yea I don't care what you naysayers think. A properly ripened Orinoco has a great taste.

Now I'm really going to make some people mad. I've tasted a ripe Pisang Klotek (Thank you Bananimal) and I found the taste of Orinoco very similar. The texture of the PK was firmer but the tatse was similar. Sorry! I report it as I taste it!

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

andy17

Thanks robguz24! That's really helpful!

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bananimal

Hey Charles ---- PK vs Orinoco taste. That is a good comparison. The PK are pretty tart when early and a bit less at mid range ripe. When full ripe I find the PK flavor more complex. But there is a definite taste similarity throughout the cycle.

I know several mango fanatics that turn green at the thought of the slightest bit of tartness, or stringy fibers getting caught in their teeth. They don't know what their missing. A good flavored fruit with a balance of sweet and tart is wonderful. Think Carrie. This year I got a 15 gal potted new mango named "Sweet Tart". It's flushing new growth like crazy now and should produce some fruit next year. One of the newest selections from the famous Zill bros.

cheson74

Fruit wise, you'll be much happier with Namwahs. They taste way better than ice creams.

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