Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Hey guys,

Does any one have any recommendations for FHIA cultivars? I am currently growing the Goldfinger FHIA-01, which aside from the leaf stripes, I really like. I'm interested in the FHIA-02, FHIA-17, and the SH-3640, but I've heard these are really similar. Any help would be really appreciated! Thanks!

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

I've only tried SH-3640, and would put it in my top 5 bananas for eating out of hand.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Thanks robguz24! How does the SH-3640 taste and compare to the supermarket cavendish?

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

I only had a few 9 months ago and didn't take notes. I remember it kind of like a big dwarf brazilian with more of a cavendish texture, but still altogether different than both. I remember thinking it was one I could eat every day.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Sounds like a good variety! Thanks robguz24

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

FHIA-17 does not tolerate cold conditions very well. It does however produce fairly large bunches of long fruit. The fruit taste a lot like cavendish, but the texture is softer.

FHIA-1 is a good variety. It produces large bunches of medium sized fruit that have a slightly tart taste to them.

FHIA-18 doesn't perform as well as FHIA-1 does agronomically, but it does produce excellent tasting fruit, that in my opinion are better than FHIA-1.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Just finishing up the SH 3640 bunch. What a good tasting banana! Maintains good texture thru ripe stage. Will never replace this mat. It's that good. Sprouts very wide heavy suckers when only 8 inches tall.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Thanks bananimal! It seems like the SH 3640 is a winner. How does the taste compare to supermarket bananas? Also, what height did yours fruit?

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

I've only tried FHIA 1, 17, and 18 so far. Personally, I wouldn't bother with 17 because it is so similar to the Cavendish I can buy in the supermarket, and kind of nasty when overripe, but it is super productive. FHIA-01 and 18 are both very tasty and sturdy plants.

Thinking about the parentage of the varieties may help you decide. FHIA-01, 18, and SH-3640 all have Dwarf Brazilian as the female parent and so have some of the tartness of that variety. FHIA-02 and 17 are sweet varieties without any tartness, because their parents don't (Williams and Gros Michel -- Highgate -- as female parents respectively). Then there are some FHIA varieties that were derived largely from and intended to be cooking bananas (e.g., FHIA-03 and 25). I think some people like FHIA-03 as a dessert banana, and the plant is tough as nails from what I understand, but I can't comment on its flavor.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Whichever one you like the best is the one you should get

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

I'm growing 18. Great tasting fruit, big fat p-stems. I have no experience with the others.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

This is really helpful; thanks! After reading your post, I think I'm between the FHIA-02 and the SH-3640. I've read great things about the Sh-3640, but my only concern is if its too similar to the Goldfinger. Do you know if the SH-3640 and Goldfinger share any other genetic stock in common other than the Dwarf Brazilian? There was a FHIA publication I saw somewhere that said both the Goldfinger and the SH-3640 are AAAB hybrids, but gave no other info on SH-3640 genetics. The most interesting thing that intrigued me about the FHIA-17 like you said is that one of it's parents is Gros Michel, but I've been told it would be better to grow a dwarf Gros Michel instead of the FHIA-17 because the original variety's flavor is so much better. Does anyone have any experiences with FHIA-02? Thanks again for all of the help everyone!

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

That's good advice! Admittedly, I've only had a few varieties: supermarket cavendish, and another variety several years ago, which I think was Manzano (I thought the taste was weird for a banana, but I liked it). I'm growing the Goldfinger right now, which is a really nice plant, but I've not had a chance to try the fruit. I like collecting different varieties (it's kind of addictive haha), and with just a few tasting experiences, talking with other people who have grown and tried other kinds is super helpful. Honestly, it's hard to pick just one! :ha:

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

For growing in your zone I'd stay away from FHIA-02 its the slowest grower I have in the bunch.. :^)

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Ya don't say? Lol!

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

The only thing I will comment on about FHIA-17 vs Cavendish is that Cavendish can be difficult to get to ripen to a nice yellow color, whereas FHIA-17 does ripen to yellow nicely.

Also, I don't have trouble with cigar-end rot or crown rot on FHIA-17.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Thanks Abnshrek, that's really helpful. Have you had any successes with fruiting in zone 8b? I'm in the Deep South as well, and the biggest problem I've had is finding varieties that tolerate varied temperatures (looking at you SDC) and stay a manageable size to bring in for winter.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Thanks Nicolas Naranja It seems like I remember seeing one of your posts about a FHIA-17 harvest. Did they turn out good?

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

haha I'm glad to know I'm not the only one!

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Just wait, spend another year or so on here a lot and you'll be thinking about buying more land so you can expand your banana collection.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

The male parent for SH-3640 is SH-3393, whereas it was SH-3142 for FHIA-01 and FHIA-18. Both of those male parents are AA varieties that were produced by hybridization in the FHIA program. I don't know what they are hybrids of.

FHIA-02 has been a very slow grower for me.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Thanks, this really helpful. So the SH-3640 is different from the Goldfinger except that they both share Dwarf Brazilian as a parent. I was thinking for some reason that the SH-3640 was the SH-3142--One of the Goldfinger's parents. That's great to know! I may have to devote some space for this one. That's good to know about the FHIA-02; I'm glad I didn't get this one after having read your and Abnshreck's experiences with it. Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it
Best wishes

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

They did. The ones I didn't eat immediately I froze and used in smoothies. I got into a situation last fall where I actually had to buy bananas from the store after not buying them for several years. Now I freeze and eat them.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

That's awesome! I would love to be able to grow all of my own bananas like that! How did the FHIA-17 taste?

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Thereʻs a bunch of info on this.

http://www.bioversityinternational.o...che=1350544986

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Exactly the info I was just searching for! You're full of nuggets, VB.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Truth.

Re: Best FHIA Cultivar?
 

Fhia 17 taste like a regular banana