flaflowerfloozie

I had flowers and now bananas on one plant, now another in the clump has sent up a flag leaf, can some one tell me how to know when the bananas are ripe on the pink Velutina?
There about 3 inches long and still hard a rock...Thanks

__________________
I wanna buy your seeds...maybe??

shannondicorse

Flaflowerfloozie,

You'd notice a banana or two on the earliest emerged (basal) hand beginning the longitudinal splitting characteristic of ripening fruit.

You can try to harvest the hand (...not the bunch!) and let it ripen.

The skin of the fully ripened fruit is dehiscent; exposing the pulp inside.

I find it quite flavourful. Just don't swallow the seeds please!

Seeds from ripe fruit can be washed and sown immediately. They germinate rapidly.

BREEDER'S TRIVIA: If anyone is really serious about developing bananas for cold regions; this species, in my opinion, is where you start. Don't try to breed a frost-hardy banana; go instead for a banana that goes from "pup" to ripened fruit in 8 months! Shorten the growing cycle.


shannon


shannon.di.corse@gmail.com

flaflowerfloozie

Thanks for the information :-)
I have true edibles here so I'm not real interested in eating the fruit.
More interested in offering the seeds when they are ready to those who wish to have fresh seed for fresh sowing. I started mine from fresh seed I bought. I know they were fresh because the guy sent me 1/3 of a banana, I had to pick and clean my own seeds...I was good with that though got about 20 seeds and nearly all came up.
It is a nice short fast grower... so far I have enjoyed it immensely, it's one of those types for beginners that gives them a great sense of accomplishment and quick success...but it really resents being potted and would rather be ground grown, just my own observation
Thanks again I'll wait for the skin to thin & rip

__________________
I wanna buy your seeds...maybe??

shannondicorse

Flaflowerfloozie,

I agree 100%. If you want to get anyone hooked on bananas or especially seed bananas; this is the species!

As for potting; I use an inordinately huge pot. I've found that it likes humus-rich well-drained potting soil; but rather frequent watering; and not too much summer sun.

And for those of use who live North of the Tropic of Cancer: just overwinter as seeds! A no hassle banana!


shannon

shannon.di.corse@gmail.com