servatusprime

I wish I could post some pictures (computer issues) but I just harvested my first kandrian and pisang raja! Any experience on how ripe they should be before eating? Thanks.

servatusprime

Well, I harvested both and their are hanging up on the lanai as we speak. The Pisang Raja was only at 16 lb, but the Kandrian was at 50 lbs!! Both were the first harvest off of the mats and started as tissue culture. One of the Kandrian fingers was ripe, so I thought I would give it a try. I was amazed at the flavor. I has no idea it would taste like it did. To me it was a blend of granny smith apple, custard, banana with a hint of vanilla. I'll try to get pictures up later, but this is a wonderful fruit.

servatusprime

Pictures!! (the quality of photos could be better, but I'm having some computer issues)




Just installed some hanging hooks in the lanai.



Kandrian close up (cutting down that one was interesting) I tied to use a method I saw on youtube with a rope over the peduncle. Yeaaaahhhh..... that didn't work.



Pisang Raja close up. Kind of lame in terms of size. But this variety does not appear to be very robust in my yard.

Richard

Thanks for the pictures!

Your profile says you're growing:
Goldfinger
SH 3640
Brazilian (general consensus)
Pisang Raja
Double Mahoi
Creamwah! (Namwah)
Kandarian
Gros Michel
Zebrina
"X" (Grand Nain) x Sumatrana)
FHIA-3
Pisang Ceylon

Of those you grew and tasted, how would you rate the taste (best to worst) ??

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Nicolas Naranja

I'm glad you like it. I was not a fan. It was high yielding, I didn't like the fruit that much though as it tasted like orinoco to me. I also never could figure out how to harvest it without breaking fruit. That being said, I sold about 100 boxes over two years.

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servatusprime

Hi Richard,

Well I wish I could say that I've had them all. But I started less then two years ago. I should get some before and after photos of my yard. The difference is pretty stark.

So far I've only harvested namwah, brazilian, kandarian, and pisang raja. I'm not a hundred percent sure which one I like the most yet. It might be either kandrian or the pisang raja. I tried the pisang raja today and it was another surprise in terms of flavor. It had a little hint of green in the stem so it might need to ripen a little more. But it tasted very bright and fruity with a strong presence of cherry and orange citrus. Not much of a classic banana flavor. It was also every so slightly dry with a firmer texture than a standard cavendish.

In regards to the other varieties, I should have fruit off of the SH 3640, double mahoi, and gold finger, and namwah within the next few months. I also suspect I'll have another brazilian flower very soon. The gros michel should flower soon, but boy is is ever slow. The other varieties won't be ready to fruit anytime real soon. (sweetheart and pisang ceylon are brand new TC)

servatusprime

I could see some similarities between the varieties. The kandarian seems to explode with flavor compared to the orinocos I've had before. I haven't had an orinoco in while, I just don't recall the flavor being as complex or having as pleasant of a texture. I remember orinoco being nice enough, with a light strawberry-banana flavor. I will admit that the person growing them didn't give them the best of care, so I might not be making a fair comparison.

I totally agree with the harvesting. It wasn't easy and three fingers snapped off. But I didn't manage to keep the p-stem standing up and looking nice. (wife likes to leave them up for aesthetic reasons) I think next time I'll have to notch the p-stem and lower it down gently.

I know that this is a really tall variety, but its robust, very cold hardy, and attractive. It would only be better if it was was a dwarf. I would recommend it to anyone who has the space and doesn't mind working with the heights. Its a keeper for me!

robguz24

My biggest Double Mahoi bunch (30lbs, single bunch), and a so-so sized DB bunch.

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Nicolas Naranja

These were mine

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Richard

Yikes!!

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servatusprime

Looks great Nick. Mine aren't that tall yet. (everything seems short in my yard) I could see why you might not to grow these in abundance. Harvesting many mats single handed would be a bit labor intensive. (as I recall you don't have too many people working under you)

When you did grow and sell them, how were they received in comparison to your other varieties? In addition to the harvesting and flavor profile, did market demand influence your decision to stop growing them?

Nicolas Naranja

Planted in 09, sold 2011-2012.
They almost all got sold wholesale as Orinoco
The market for Orinoco is not that great. The price paid tended to be in the $7-$10/box range. They were not popular at the farmer's market the few times I brought them. I can retail the fruit from a 45# stalk of goldfinger or Namwahs for $30 at the farmers market. I could wholesale them in the low $20s.

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JCA433

The Namwa bananas harvested are getting better. The first few fruit harvested were kind of crunchy in the center. However, now that they have ripened further, the texture is much softer. Namwa bananas are one of my favorites: they have good cold tolerance and are very productive with excellent flavor. This is a banana cultivar I can recommend.

robguz24

2 bunches of Gros Michel. Both stalks snapped within a day of each other, but they are at 4 months so should be wonderful. Was planning to harvest them this weekend anyway. Bunch on the right had a week's less growth and aren't as filled out.

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servatusprime

Did they snap from wind?

robguz24

Weight of the bunch. They weren't propped up though. Both snapped about 2 feet from the top of the p-stem.

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servatusprime

Well I guess you could say that's a "natural way" of determining when to harvest them. Let the plant decide for you! I'll have to keep that in mind with my GM. It should be flowering soon.

Richard

But we are not growing them under "natural" conditions!

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servatusprime

Well you got me there, but I meant it tongue-in-cheek

Nicolas Naranja

I had a stalk snap in the same spot last week. Now I have a very under filled bunch. It was my first GM bunch.

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