Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity

Brebarian · 02-27-2020, 11:40 PM

I live in Santa Barbara, and currently have a small, longstanding mat of FHIA-01 Goldfinger, purchased from a grower in Carpinteria many years ago. It produces reliably and is a great banana, but I'd like to expand my collection to other varieties.

I'd like two more varieties with the dessert-type, dwarfing, cold- and wind-resistant characteristics of the Goldfinger, but with a somewhat different taste profile. Is that possible?

I'm looking at Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Brazilian and Pisang Ceylon as possibilities, but I'm worried that their fruit will be virtually indistinguishable from the Goldfinger's.

Any advice? Are there varieties that I'm overlooking?

Thanks!

beam2050 · 02-28-2020, 01:03 AM

good luck

Backyard Banana Joe · 02-28-2020, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brebarian

I live in Santa Barbara, and currently have a small, longstanding mat of FHIA-01 Goldfinger, purchased from a grower in Carpinteria many years ago. It produces reliably and is a great banana, but I'd like to expand my collection to other varieties.

I'd like two more varieties with the dessert-type, dwarfing, cold- and wind-resistant characteristics of the Goldfinger, but with a somewhat different taste profile. Is that possible?

I'm looking at Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Brazilian and Pisang Ceylon as possibilities, but I'm worried that their fruit will be virtually indistinguishable from the Goldfinger's.

Any advice? Are there varieties that I'm overlooking?

Thanks!

I think that they would all taste different. Pisang Ceylon is not too wind hardy tho

Best day · 02-28-2020, 10:24 AM

I agree with your logic of, why grow another banana if it tastes the same? I would highly recommend Dwarf Namwa. The fruit is sweeter and denser. Dwarf Brazilian is amazing but I think tastes similar to Gold Finger.

I don’t know how cold it gets in your part of Santa Barbara. But if you can, you should grow Dwarf Red. It stays small. It is a beautiful plant with beautiful fruit. Even if you think the fruit tastes similar to Gold Finger. The plant looks so different and beautiful you will be happy you grow it. The only problem is it is somewhat cold sensitive. It takes temps down to 40 with no problem. But under that it’s leaves will start browning.

I’m interested to see what other varieties people recommend.

Bill

Mark Dragt · 02-28-2020, 10:36 AM

I would add a Raja Puri to that list.

Mark Dragt · 02-29-2020, 12:22 AM

There this known fact among banana growers. You can always plant 1 more. Dwarf Orinoco should also be on your list.

Brebarian · 02-29-2020, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backyard Banana Joe

I think that they would all taste different. Pisang Ceylon is not too wind hardy tho

Thanks for the tip Joe, I'll take it off the list.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Best day

I don’t know how cold it gets in your part of Santa Barbara. But if you can, you should grow Dwarf Red. It stays small. It is a beautiful plant with beautiful fruit. Even if you think the fruit tastes similar to Gold Finger. The plant looks so different and beautiful you will be happy you grow it. The only problem is it is somewhat cold sensitive. It takes temps down to 40 with no problem. But under that it’s leaves will start browning.
Bill

I'd love to be able to grow something like Dward Red, but from your description, it would definitely get too cold. Santa Barbara is pretty solidly zone 10a, it got into the mid-30's this winter. For the that reason, I'm also apprehensive about trying varieties like Gros Michel "Highgate." There don't seem to be many reviews for Highgate, but I might have to get one as an experiment.

Bill, thanks for your vote to Dwarf Namwah, it's definitely on my list now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Dragt

There this known fact among banana growers. You can always plant 1 more. Dwarf Orinoco should also be on your list.

Haha, I'm getting there. Mark, thanks for the recommendation. I'll do some research into Dwarf Orinoco.

Best day · 02-29-2020, 10:46 AM

As far as cold hardiness for Dwarf Red goes, in Long Beach we had an early onset of a cold winter. But we didn’t get really cold. We had a lot of nights that got down to 40-45F. We probably had 10-20 nights that got down to 38. The Dwarf Red had zero damage while my Gros Michel had brown spots all over its leaves. About 7-8 years ago we had a very cold winter. Many, many nights got down to mid thirties. The coldest night got down to 29! The Dwarf Red looked horrible. I thought it was dead. But come spring it came back to life. By mid summer it was beautiful again. So it might do fine at your house. I don’t know.

Bill

Brebarian · 03-01-2020, 09:23 PM

Interesting. I wouldn't have thought dwarf red would be hardier than gros michel.

Now that I've filled one of my two spots with a Dwarf Namwah, I still have one spot to fill.

I really like the idea of a Dwarf Orinoco, it's definitely produces a different banana than the Goldfinger/Namwah does, and I remember enjoying the taste of the Orinoco when I had one years ago.

From here, it seems I need to decide between Dwarf Orinoco, Cali Gold (which I've read is a sport of Dwarf Orinoco) and Monthan, which I recently found out about, and seems to be comparable, or even superior to Dwarf Orinoco in some respects.

Any opinions about how Cali Gold and Monthan stack up against Dwarf Orinoco?

momoese · 03-01-2020, 09:46 PM

DB is very tasty.

Orinoco sucks IMO.

pitangadiego · 03-01-2020, 11:49 PM

Variety in taste would include Saba or Praying Hands, a red banana, Lakatan (less sweet, stronger flavor) and Misi Luki or Namwah. Most of these are tall in inbetween.

The Fhias and Pisang Klotek, MPsang Ceylon, Poovan, etc mostly have the same flavor profile. Most of the Cavendish family are similar, and you can buy Cavendish at the grocery store. Most reds have the same flavor profile, and produce smaller bunches. Saba and Praying Hands are related.

It has nothing to do with height, but my favorites are all tall.

sammy121 · 03-02-2020, 05:29 AM

cincinnana · 03-02-2020, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brebarian

Any advice? Are there varieties that I'm overlooking?

Thanks!

Forum member Robguz24 has done a few taste reports of the banana plants he grows.

Here is a link of one of his posts....there are many more.
Veinte Cohol Taste Report

Brebarian · 03-03-2020, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

Forum member Robguz24 has done a few taste reports of the banana plants he grows.

I've seen a few of his reports, they're great! Very thorough. Unfortunately, nothing on Monthan/(Dwarf) Orinoco/Cali Gold.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitangadiego

Variety in taste would include Saba or Praying Hands, a red banana, Lakatan (less sweet, stronger flavor) and Misi Luki or Namwah. Most of these are tall in inbetween.

The Fhias and Pisang Klotek, MPsang Ceylon, Poovan, etc mostly have the same flavor profile. Most of the Cavendish family are similar, and you can buy Cavendish at the grocery store. Most reds have the same flavor profile, and produce smaller bunches. Saba and Praying Hands are related.

From the research I've done, it seems that Saba is part of of the ABB group, the same group as the Dwarf Orinoco. A few taste reports I've run across mention similarities between the flavor profiles of Saba and Orinoco, and the bananas also seem to resemble each other. Since it seems Dwarf Orinoco get close to Saba flavor-wise, I would probably prioritize it over Saba due to its short stature and legendary hardiness.

And Monthan is out because it appears it's on the taller side.

So, I think I'm down to choosing between Dwarf Orinoco and Dwarf Orinoco "Cali Gold." Are there any meaningful differences between those two varities?

pitangadiego · 03-03-2020, 04:28 PM

Monthan is a nice banana, but definitely taller.

anhy123 · 03-09-2020, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brebarian

I live in Santa Barbara, and currently have a small, longstanding mat of FHIA-01 Goldfinger, purchased from a grower in Carpinteria many years ago. It produces reliably and is a great banana, but I'd like to expand my collection to other varieties.

I'd like two more varieties with the dessert-type, dwarfing, cold- and wind-resistant characteristics of the Goldfinger, but with a somewhat different taste profile. Is that possible?

I'm looking at Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Brazilian and Pisang Ceylon as possibilities, but I'm worried that their fruit will be virtually indistinguishable from the Goldfinger's.

Any advice? Are there varieties that I'm overlooking?

Thanks!

02-27-2020, 11:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Brebarian Find me on the map! Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 2,816 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity I live in Santa Barbara, and currently have a small, longstanding mat of FHIA-01 Goldfinger, purchased from a grower in Carpinteria many years ago. It produces reliably and is a great banana, but I'd like to expand my collection to other varieties. I'd like two more varieties with the dessert-type, dwarfing, cold- and wind-resistant characteristics of the Goldfinger, but with a somewhat different taste profile. Is that possible? I'm looking at Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Brazilian and Pisang Ceylon as possibilities, but I'm worried that their fruit will be virtually indistinguishable from the Goldfinger's. Any advice? Are there varieties that I'm overlooking? Thanks!

02-28-2020, 01:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
beam2050 banana cereal killer Location: middleburg fl. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b-8a Name: walkinbeam Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 2,446 BananaBucks : 321 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10,917 Times Was Thanked 3,386 Times in 1,554 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 817 Times	Re: Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity good luck __________________ ................................................... npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7 npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5 Last edited by beam2050 : 02-28-2020 at 01:14 AM.

02-28-2020, 10:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
Best day Location: Long Beach, CA Zone: 10B Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 465 BananaBucks : 80,298 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 12 Times Was Thanked 684 Times in 256 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity I agree with your logic of, why grow another banana if it tastes the same? I would highly recommend Dwarf Namwa. The fruit is sweeter and denser. Dwarf Brazilian is amazing but I think tastes similar to Gold Finger. I don’t know how cold it gets in your part of Santa Barbara. But if you can, you should grow Dwarf Red. It stays small. It is a beautiful plant with beautiful fruit. Even if you think the fruit tastes similar to Gold Finger. The plant looks so different and beautiful you will be happy you grow it. The only problem is it is somewhat cold sensitive. It takes temps down to 40 with no problem. But under that it’s leaves will start browning. I’m interested to see what other varieties people recommend. Bill

02-28-2020, 10:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mark Dragt Location: Rochester,Wa Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 823 BananaBucks : 49,154 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,357 Times Was Thanked 1,718 Times in 635 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 332 Times	Re: Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity I would add a Raja Puri to that list. __________________ Mark's Banana Forest Paradise

02-29-2020, 12:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mark Dragt Location: Rochester,Wa Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 823 BananaBucks : 49,154 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,357 Times Was Thanked 1,718 Times in 635 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 332 Times	Re: Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity There this known fact among banana growers. You can always plant 1 more. Dwarf Orinoco should also be on your list. __________________ Mark's Banana Forest Paradise

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02-29-2020, 10:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
Best day Location: Long Beach, CA Zone: 10B Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 465 BananaBucks : 80,298 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 12 Times Was Thanked 684 Times in 256 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity As far as cold hardiness for Dwarf Red goes, in Long Beach we had an early onset of a cold winter. But we didn’t get really cold. We had a lot of nights that got down to 40-45F. We probably had 10-20 nights that got down to 38. The Dwarf Red had zero damage while my Gros Michel had brown spots all over its leaves. About 7-8 years ago we had a very cold winter. Many, many nights got down to mid thirties. The coldest night got down to 29! The Dwarf Red looked horrible. I thought it was dead. But come spring it came back to life. By mid summer it was beautiful again. So it might do fine at your house. I don’t know. Bill

03-01-2020, 09:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
Brebarian Find me on the map! Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 2,816 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity Interesting. I wouldn't have thought dwarf red would be hardier than gros michel. Now that I've filled one of my two spots with a Dwarf Namwah, I still have one spot to fill. I really like the idea of a Dwarf Orinoco, it's definitely produces a different banana than the Goldfinger/Namwah does, and I remember enjoying the taste of the Orinoco when I had one years ago. From here, it seems I need to decide between Dwarf Orinoco, Cali Gold (which I've read is a sport of Dwarf Orinoco) and Monthan, which I recently found out about, and seems to be comparable, or even superior to Dwarf Orinoco in some respects. Any opinions about how Cali Gold and Monthan stack up against Dwarf Orinoco?

03-01-2020, 09:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,593 BananaBucks : 8,554 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,763 Times Was Thanked 10,896 Times in 3,314 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 730 Times	Re: Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity DB is very tasty. Orinoco sucks IMO.

03-01-2020, 11:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,489 BananaBucks : 197,704 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,732 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity Variety in taste would include Saba or Praying Hands, a red banana, Lakatan (less sweet, stronger flavor) and Misi Luki or Namwah. Most of these are tall in inbetween. The Fhias and Pisang Klotek, MPsang Ceylon, Poovan, etc mostly have the same flavor profile. Most of the Cavendish family are similar, and you can buy Cavendish at the grocery store. Most reds have the same flavor profile, and produce smaller bunches. Saba and Praying Hands are related. It has nothing to do with height, but my favorites are all tall. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

03-02-2020, 05:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
sammy121 Location: Australia Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 1 BananaBucks : 318 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity aaa __________________ cost accounting assignment help taxation assignment help case study assignment help

03-03-2020, 04:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,489 BananaBucks : 197,704 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,732 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Need Recommendations for Banana Taste Diversity Monthan is a nice banana, but definitely taller. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

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