katykat

Hi Banana Experts,
I have two questions for you.

The first is whether anyone can ID my banana--it was sold as a Cavendish but the fruit doesn't look like that to me--please see the attached photos.

The second question is in regard to the fruit on this plant and our upcoming temps. I'm in 8B and the first hand of fruit arrived the first week in October. From what I've read on the forums, it's way too early for anything to be ripe, and as you can see, the fruit is still very green. However, our nightly temps are reaching the low 50s (70s and 80s during the day) and are forecast to hit the upper 30s next week. So what to do about my fruit? Pick it and hope something ripens? Is it even an edible variety?

Thanks![IMG][IMG][/IMG][/IMG]

pitangadiego

As long as it is above freezing (so fruit is not damaged), and plant continues to have green leaves and is not rotting away, leave the fruit on. You are right, 8 weeks is not long enough for the fruit to mature.

If it is a dwarf plant, you could build a frame of 1/2" PVC pipe and some plastic sheeting and put a small heat source, such as a floodlight bulb, inside to keep above freezing. That will extend your time.

The it is a matter of how cold it gets, and how long it stays cold. If you pick now, you will have lost the fruit because it is unripe, so you have nothing to lose by trying to keep the plant viable, so you can keep the fruit on it.

Fall flowering is very common in out temperate climate zone. Early Spring flowering is also quite common.

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HMelendez

Katy,


I also agree with experienced forum member Pitangadiego says!.....

Looks like Hua Moa ‘Nana (Popoulu AAB) variety!....Not a Cavendish ‘Nana variety at all!....It’s called Hawaiian Plantain!.....It’s one of the most consume ‘Nana varieties in South Florida!...You can find them in every supermarket!....Hua Moa grows approx. 10 ft. to 14 ft. tall at flowering/blooming!.....Needs about 2 to 3 months depending on weather, to be ready!....

Hopefully it helps!....

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katykat

Thanks so much! I'll bet you nailed it--my plant is 14 ft. Now looking through the plantain recipes on this site--and looking forward to trying some.

sputinc7

Hua Moa is actually quite tasty ripe out of hand, but it will have a core. I cut them up and eat them to avoid the core.

BTW... I never see Hua Moa in stores here in the Palm Bay / Melbourne area, only Manzano, reds and those nasty baby bananas. I wish I did.

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Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.