First fruit off tall orinoco
 

I pronounce them ready!


Willing helper doing the deed!



Around 80 fingers and bunch weighs around 50 lbs, and some are just starting to change colour





The smallest fingers never developed.

Cassie

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Congratulations on the naners!

:woohoonaner:

Also congratulations on scoring the dude from Chippendales.

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

If you want to peel and eat them rather than cooking them you need to let them get really ripe! My apologies if you were already aware of this. Mine turn a nice yellow and I give them a little squeeze too. If they feel somewhat soft, they are good to go. I've jumped the gun a time or two and peeled one that was fairly yellow only to find them still a bit starchy, hard, and not too sweet. Another day or so usually does the trick. Of course, everyone's tastes are different too. Nice looking fruit!

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Richard - that dude came with the ladder!! lol!

Thanks Brent - always glad of a few tips! You have to wait until you think they are ready - then wait some more until they are quite soft, but in the meantime - tostones are on the menu!! :woohoonaner:

Cassie

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Thanks Brent - always glad of a few tips! You have to wait until you think they are ready - then wait some more until they are quite soft, but in the meantime - tostones are on the menu!! :woohoonaner:

Cassie[/quote]

Yep! That's exactly what I do! Nothing like making tostones from your very own bananas!

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

How tall was the plant ?
And if you can tell me how long
till fruit is ripe?
Thanks for any info.
Paula

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Paula - it was 15ft to where the bud emerged, and took 4 months until we cut them down from when the first fingers appeared. Another week until ripe I expect - could be less as the weather is very warm.

Brent - homemade tostones are totally different from bought ones - so much better and delicious!

Cassie

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Looks great Cassie!

Have you seen in the harvesting videos how they take down the bunches on the plantations? It takes two people but I think it's much safer than one person climbing a ladder with a machete in one hand while trying to hold a huge bunch of fruit in the other. :weightliftingnaner: The way they do it is one person holds a short prop under the bunch while the other person makes a small cut on the back side of the PS about half way up. Then they just slowly let it break in half while lowering the fruit bunch to a level where they can safely cut it off. I have tried both methods and can tell you that the tall orchard ladder bit is scary! :nanadrink:

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Congrats on your fruit, Cassie. :woohoonaner:

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

I'll never tire of seeing everyone's bananas fruiting. It's zen-like to me.

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

cassie congrats on the nanas!!!!

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Mitchell - it is not how it looks - that was posed for the camera! lol! The bunch was secured to the pstem with a rope so that when it was cut it didn't fall at all as the prop held it all up. Then we slowly lowered it to the ground. The ladder was just to reach up to make the cut as those things are so danged tall. But thanks for your concern as people surely do stupid things and I am always glad of advice. Thanks for your help.
Cassie

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

congrats!:D

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Mighty mighty nice. Congrats.

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Wow, that's quite a bunch off an Orinoco. Congrats. They are a really tasty nana when good and ripe. Mines got a while for it will be cut.

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Congrats Cassie, great harvest!!!!




It's called humping the bananas. (Seriously) That was me the other day cutting down my Saba, that bunch was so high up! I kept the wife at bay while I yanked on the raceme and snapped the plant, it fell over and I was able to whack it with the machete and ease the bunch onto the ground. Next time I will let the wife assist and we'll try to get the bunch onto my back.
Here's some videos of the (right) way to do it:


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Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Ohhhh Cassie,
Wonderful job!!! Congratulations!! Pat on the back!!!:woohoonaner::goteam:

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

congrats!

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

That was neat thanks.

Re: First fruit off tall orinoco
 

Divided into hands ready to share.



2 days later! I've got to pass these around today - it is so warm that they are ripening fast! The first ones will be soft and ready to eat by tomorrow!