robguz24

This plant was sold locally to me as a Raja Puri. The pics of the fruit are immature, with the flower having emerged only 2 weeks ago. However they do not look like a ladyfinger type, and they have no acidity to them. It's been a long time since I had fruit, and I don't recall the color, but they tasted very sweet and a little more interesting than a cavendish, such as Williams. Also, the rachis was clean, not messy, if that helps. The one with the bunch is maybe 7' where the bract comes out, but the one behind it is now flowering about 1' shorter. I've read the it is supposed to be completely green, and obviously this has some red/pink to it.

Any ideas about what this could be?

__________________
My micro-farm

Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

caliboy1994

It looks Cavendish-y.

__________________
"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings."
~ Masanobu Fukuoka

Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer:
https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

Gabe15

That is 'Gros Michel', more commonly known locally as 'Bluefields'.

__________________
Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

robguz24

That was fast, thanks, Gabe!

The only thing I'm not sure about is that Kepler and Rust state that Bluefields "no distinct red margins (this is an important difference between 'Bluefields' and the very similar 'Hamakua')." They list Bluefields as very tall, 15-20', and Hamakua as 10-18'. Mine are 6-8' and flowering. Could mine be a Hamakua?

Also, what made you figure out it was Bluefield so easily? Was it the bent rachis?

__________________
My micro-farm

Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

Yug

Bluefields/Gros Michel come in different sizes. A typical characteristic is the red margin petioles, held wide open. I've heard of straight Gros Michel, and also varieties 'Highgate', 'Lowgate' & 'Cocos' but I don't remember the sizes for each.

If you read something saying "no disctict red margins" what were they referring to?

Gabe15

Are they talking about petiole margins or leaf margins? All Gros Michel types I have seen always have red petiole margins. I don't have their book on me at the moment but I'll try to look at it soon (it's up at my office) and see what they are referring to. I suppose it is possible it is 'Hamakua' and I am not seeing it right in those photos, but my gut tells me 'Bluefields' for now.

The height is extremely dependent on growing conditions, your plants look under nourished in some way and so are not representing maximum height.

__________________
Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

robguz24

Sorry, it is listed under "Leaf Stalk" (p. 359, fig 17.21 on p 360) so leaf stalk margins. Same as petiole margins? Thanks for clarifying. I'm still a newbie and trying to learn and remember as much as I can. Happy to now know what it really is! The rest of the descriptions seemed to hit the nail on the head too.

You're right, I think a lot of my bananas, especially ones I started a few years ago when I knew basically nothing about them, aren't in ideal conditions. Our "soil" here is basically crushed a'a lava, and soil tends to just eventually break down and wash away into rocks below. I once left a hose on in a raised vegetable bed with about a foot of soil, ran through 6000 gallons and when I touched the soil a few inches away it was totally dry. It just goes straight down.

Thanks again for the follow up, and for all your contributions here Gabe!

__________________
My micro-farm

Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage