Orinoco Harvest
 

My first and last Orinoco Harvest. This stand will be replaced with FHIA 18 this spring. The fruits are really huge on this bunch, much larger than store bought fruit!

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Awesome, congrats!!!

I will show this pic to my dwarf orinoco so that he knows what to do.

Ron

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Ron or Mitchel:
What is the difference in fruit size between dwarf and not dwarf Orinoco? I have both but they have not yet any bloom. They are still pups. And are they cooking bananas?

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

I don't know if there is a size difference. They are a cooking or eating banana once fully ripe. I'm going to try eating the ripe one tomorrow and start cooking with the almost ripe ones.

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Wow, that is awesome. Congrats on the large fruit. I grew them for three years and never got a flower. I eventually gave up getting fruit from Orinoco and have moved on to other varieties. Great work! :goteam::goteam:

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

was looking to find out how long it takes an Orinoco to fruit. Found a post here that it might take 2 years?

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

I think it depends how long the bananas' soil temperature stayed above50* F. LA is in zone 10 so most of the time , Mitchel's Orinocos are growing most of the year. I live in a cooler climate so my orinocos may take a lot longer to bloom.

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Congrats! Interesting to note, my Dwarf Orinoco plumped out smaller than your std Orinoco and the fruit was shaped differently. Also the DO was the fastest to fruit of all the others so far. Temperature and long season location are everything. Flower popped 9 months after planting the 3 foot potted pup.

The DO made great banana bread. You should try Tyler Florence's recipe titled "Banana bread with Pecans". I used walnuts. And whipped cream - yum.

Dan

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

This bunch took about 6 months to ripen but keep in mind it's still winter here so the temps have not been ideal for ripening fruit.

I have been home cooking for my dogs and one of the things that comes highly recommended is a half a banana a day for each one. Looks like they will also enjoy the harvest!

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Great harvest Mitchel, congrats!

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

May I suggest to give some to the Patriots?
:cool:

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Great Job!!

I have a Dwarf Orinoco as well, which has fruited only 9 months after planting. I brought it inside for the winter and it started flowering and fruiting. What a surprise!! This leads me to a question. I only have about 4 bunches, the rest are male flowers. Is it ok to cut off the rest of the bud because it makes such a mess when dropping the sap and/or leaves (whatever you call them) off the bud?

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Never mind. I found my answer.

When a banana plant matures, it puts out an enormous flower bud. Between the layers of petals are small blossoms that look a lot like baby bananas. These develop one row at a time as the bud unfolds. When sufficient rows of fruit have developed, the remaining bud is cut off. (Cutting off the bud at a certain point ensures larger and healthier bananas. If all the flowers were allowed to develop, the bananas would diminish in size with each successive row, and the size of the fruits in the earlier rows would be compromised as they compete for food.)
Recipe 18612 --- Banana Plant Information: Tropical Fruits Thai Thailand Asian Oriental Thai

Has anyone ever eaten a banana bud?

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Amazon:
Yes. Orientals have some uses for them. Use it as vegetables. They are good too. You may have to remove the sap contents on some uses like in salad. As for soup you don't have to.

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Do you know where I can find some simple recipes? I've looked on the internet and the one's I've seen seem quite complicated, with exotic ingredients.

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

good job!

Re: Orinoco Harvest
 

Very nice Mitchel! Congrats!