newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden...

jjjankovsky · 08-04-2009, 06:41 PM

I humbly ask all you folk how you know what you have?...Where do you go for info on that green leafy thing in your backyard? Did the nursery tell you?...or the friend who gave you the pup?

I'm in Bananaville, Mexico...and the names of the cultivars I'm getting are usually 'common names'...and in Spanish...(go figure...)

I now have but four varieties...so named: commercial; dominicos; paras; and a new one, un-named(great big purple fruit, very sweet and to eat out of hand)...it's pretty easy here to bring home something new

I don't think they are exotic, in fact, I think they are probably very well known.

How can I identify them?

Simply Bananas · 08-04-2009, 08:03 PM

send pics

lorax · 08-04-2009, 08:06 PM

The unnamed great big purple one, which I'll bet you a Maqueno is called Morado or Rosado locally, is 'Lacatan' aka 'Cuban/Jamaican Red' - the flesh is sort of pinkish, too, isn't it?

Dominicos are plantains, usually 'Giant Plantain' but sometimes 'French Horn'

Parras or Paras are usually 'Orinoco' or 'Dwarf Orinoco'

Comerciales are nearly always 'Cavendish' or 'Gran Nain', and occasionally they're ripe 'Silk Plantain'.

jjjankovsky · 08-04-2009, 08:18 PM

to all...while i appreciate your input, the question remains...how might one discover these truths without the experts...where is the reference library?

and i'll send pics too...

sunfish · 08-04-2009, 08:22 PM

Try the Wiki or Encanto farms for photos and discriptions

lorax · 08-04-2009, 10:45 PM

John, I've also got this lovely massive list of edible cultivar descriptors, and I can't recall where I might have found it. I think somebody else here sent it to me, and I'm not sure where they got it either. It strikes me that it might be from the Bioversity.

I'll attach it here so that you can grab it. Best of luck!

To answer your question, it was by asking other people here that I figured out what the 'Ingles' cultivar names are for the various South American bananas I grow and have encountered, and what the various and assorted features of these bananas are so that I can look at them and say "oh, it's an Orito" or whatever.

harveyc · 08-05-2009, 01:18 AM

Beth, that's Richard's information. I posted a link to it 2-3 months ago. I think Richard first posted it about a year or so ago.

jjjankovsky · 08-05-2009, 06:25 AM

thanks beth...that's a very good start...

Jack Daw · 08-05-2009, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorax

John, I've also got this lovely massive list of edible cultivar descriptors, and I can't recall where I might have found it. I think somebody else here sent it to me, and I'm not sure where they got it either. It strikes me that it might be from the Bioversity.

I'll attach it here so that you can grab it. Best of luck!

To answer your question, it was by asking other people here that I figured out what the 'Ingles' cultivar names are for the various South American bananas I grow and have encountered, and what the various and assorted features of these bananas are so that I can look at them and say "oh, it's an Orito" or whatever.

Now that's a great .pdf file. I can't believe I didn't notice it the first time Richard posted it.

Thanks.

jjjankovsky · 08-07-2009, 05:39 AM

since i asked the original question, i've been snooping around this site and somewhere stumbled over a very detailed discussion concerning the identification issues...wow!

so, i'll just post a pic ot two of one variety the locals call 'paras'

the fruit is starchy untill the very last, then it's sweet for the day prior to going bad, and the plant is 12-15' tall

can you help?

Bananaman88 · 08-07-2009, 06:21 AM

Your "paras" look suspiciously like 'Orinoco' and your taste description certainly fits, though mine certainly taste good for more than one day.

Dalmatiansoap · 08-07-2009, 06:26 AM

Realy how long?

djmb74 · 08-07-2009, 08:26 AM

they look just like the ones hanging in my garden waiting to get ripe...

We planted some of the Orinoco's we dug up from the banana forest the kids found in four different spots around the house! hehe

lorax · 08-07-2009, 08:27 AM

Yup - I'd say that the Paras are 'Orinoco' as well (as I did way up in the first post) - pics confirm it nicely. Why do you say that they're only sweet for a day? I've always found that for eating out of hand, Orinoco fruit is good well past the point of superficial blackness.

jjjankovsky · 08-07-2009, 12:36 PM

so...in the wiki, the orinoco is said to be about 6 feet tall...this one is 12+???

djmb74 · 08-07-2009, 12:44 PM

I would think that 6ft tall is the dwarf Orinoco as there are some growing by me that are 20ft tall

Jack Daw · 08-07-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjankovsky

so...in the wiki, the orinoco is said to be about 6 feet tall...this one is 12+???

Well that's for Dwarf Orinoco, Tall Orinocos grow way too higher than that.

jjjankovsky · 08-07-2009, 02:48 PM

so,,,with what you say, it looks as if the wiki needs some editing:

"9. YOU HAVE AN EDIBLE EUMUSA a. rounded leaf bases....go to 10. b. non rounded leaf bases.... go to 11.

10. YOU HAVE AN ABB. a. big ass plant (20-30ft), rounded male bud, plump angled fruit...Musa 'Saba' b. large plant (10-15ft), bluish green angled fruit...Musa 'Ice Cream' c. medium sized plant (10-12ft), few hands of green strongly angled fruit... Musa 'Orinoco' d. small plant (4-6ft), few hands of green strongly angled fruit...Musa 'Dwarf Orinoco' c. fused fingers...Musa 'Praying Hands' "

and, as an aside, this exercise has helped me in how to begin identification...thanks all

08-04-2009, 06:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
jjjankovsky jjjankovsky's Photo Gallery Location: Barra de Navidad, Mexico Find me on the map! Zone: 10-11 Tropical Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 136 BananaBucks : 9,520 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 112 Times in 68 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... I humbly ask all you folk how you know what you have?...Where do you go for info on that green leafy thing in your backyard? Did the nursery tell you?...or the friend who gave you the pup? I'm in Bananaville, Mexico...and the names of the cultivars I'm getting are usually 'common names'...and in Spanish...(go figure...) I now have but four varieties...so named: commercial; dominicos; paras; and a new one, un-named(great big purple fruit, very sweet and to eat out of hand)...it's pretty easy here to bring home something new I don't think they are exotic, in fact, I think they are probably very well known. How can I identify them?

08-04-2009, 08:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Simply Bananas Formerly known as porkpi Simply Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: James Island SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b-9a Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 801 BananaBucks : 97,050 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 440 Times Was Thanked 1,023 Times in 291 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 454 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... send pics __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...5902875?ref=ts

08-04-2009, 08:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 107,498 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 2,986 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... The unnamed great big purple one, which I'll bet you a Maqueno is called Morado or Rosado locally, is 'Lacatan' aka 'Cuban/Jamaican Red' - the flesh is sort of pinkish, too, isn't it? Dominicos are plantains, usually 'Giant Plantain' but sometimes 'French Horn' Parras or Paras are usually 'Orinoco' or 'Dwarf Orinoco' Comerciales are nearly always 'Cavendish' or 'Gran Nain', and occasionally they're ripe 'Silk Plantain'.

08-04-2009, 08:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
jjjankovsky jjjankovsky's Photo Gallery Location: Barra de Navidad, Mexico Find me on the map! Zone: 10-11 Tropical Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 136 BananaBucks : 9,520 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 112 Times in 68 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... to all...while i appreciate your input, the question remains...how might one discover these truths without the experts...where is the reference library? and i'll send pics too...

08-04-2009, 08:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
sunfish sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 15,524 BananaBucks : 373 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,966 Times Was Thanked 16,711 Times in 6,261 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,014 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... Try the Wiki or Encanto farms for photos and discriptions __________________ Tony,Thanks

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08-05-2009, 01:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,877 BananaBucks : 13,355 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 5,632 Times Was Thanked 3,605 Times in 1,679 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,777 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... Beth, that's Richard's information. I posted a link to it 2-3 months ago. I think Richard first posted it about a year or so ago. __________________

08-05-2009, 06:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
jjjankovsky jjjankovsky's Photo Gallery Location: Barra de Navidad, Mexico Find me on the map! Zone: 10-11 Tropical Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 136 BananaBucks : 9,520 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 112 Times in 68 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... thanks beth...that's a very good start...

08-07-2009, 05:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
jjjankovsky jjjankovsky's Photo Gallery Location: Barra de Navidad, Mexico Find me on the map! Zone: 10-11 Tropical Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 136 BananaBucks : 9,520 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 112 Times in 68 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... since i asked the original question, i've been snooping around this site and somewhere stumbled over a very detailed discussion concerning the identification issues...wow! so, i'll just post a pic ot two of one variety the locals call 'paras' the fruit is starchy untill the very last, then it's sweet for the day prior to going bad, and the plant is 12-15' tall can you help?

08-07-2009, 06:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Pearland, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,989 BananaBucks : 91,736 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,279 Times Was Thanked 2,158 Times in 1,135 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 187 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... Your "paras" look suspiciously like 'Orinoco' and your taste description certainly fits, though mine certainly taste good for more than one day.

08-07-2009, 06:26 AM	#12 (permalink)
Dalmatiansoap Let there be light Dalmatiansoap's Photo Gallery Location: Makarska, Croatia Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Ante Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 8,520 BananaBucks : 227,824 Feedback: 10 / 100% Said "Thanks" 5,487 Times Was Thanked 7,226 Times in 2,627 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 620 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... Realy how long? __________________ http://maslinovoulje.org/

08-07-2009, 08:26 AM	#13 (permalink)
djmb74 djmb74's Photo Gallery Location: Longwood. Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Martin Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 631 BananaBucks : 68,075 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 334 Times Was Thanked 630 Times in 242 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 130 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... they look just like the ones hanging in my garden waiting to get ripe... We planted some of the Orinoco's we dug up from the banana forest the kids found in four different spots around the house! hehe __________________ PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID. PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID. *BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL!

08-07-2009, 08:27 AM	#14 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 107,498 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 2,986 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... Yup - I'd say that the Paras are 'Orinoco' as well (as I did way up in the first post) - pics confirm it nicely. Why do you say that they're only sweet for a day? I've always found that for eating out of hand, Orinoco fruit is good well past the point of superficial blackness.

08-07-2009, 12:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
jjjankovsky jjjankovsky's Photo Gallery Location: Barra de Navidad, Mexico Find me on the map! Zone: 10-11 Tropical Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 136 BananaBucks : 9,520 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 112 Times in 68 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... so...in the wiki, the orinoco is said to be about 6 feet tall...this one is 12+??? Last edited by Jack Daw : 08-07-2009 at 12:46 PM. Reason: Sorry, pressed Edit instead of Quote. :D

08-07-2009, 12:44 PM	#16 (permalink)
djmb74 djmb74's Photo Gallery Location: Longwood. Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Martin Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 631 BananaBucks : 68,075 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 334 Times Was Thanked 630 Times in 242 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 130 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... I would think that 6ft tall is the dwarf Orinoco as there are some growing by me that are 20ft tall __________________ PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID. PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID. *BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL!

08-07-2009, 02:48 PM	#18 (permalink)
jjjankovsky jjjankovsky's Photo Gallery Location: Barra de Navidad, Mexico Find me on the map! Zone: 10-11 Tropical Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 136 BananaBucks : 9,520 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 112 Times in 68 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: newbie ??...how to tell which banana grows in my garden... so,,,with what you say, it looks as if the wiki needs some editing: "9. YOU HAVE AN EDIBLE EUMUSA a. rounded leaf bases....go to 10. b. non rounded leaf bases.... go to 11. 10. YOU HAVE AN ABB. a. big ass plant (20-30ft), rounded male bud, plump angled fruit...Musa 'Saba' b. large plant (10-15ft), bluish green angled fruit...Musa 'Ice Cream' c. medium sized plant (10-12ft), few hands of green strongly angled fruit... Musa 'Orinoco' d. small plant (4-6ft), few hands of green strongly angled fruit...Musa 'Dwarf Orinoco' c. fused fingers...Musa 'Praying Hands' " and, as an aside, this exercise has helped me in how to begin identification...thanks all

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