cheson74

This bunch is 5 months old. I've always heard general rule of thumb is 6 months.

It's my first bunch and once I hack down the fruit, I'm digging up the whole mat.

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robguz24

I usually try to wait until some start to turn yellow which I'd think would be any day now. DBs and Williams always seem to be 6 months, but the Ice Creams I've had have been earlier, like 4.5 months or a bit longer. I'm sure they'd be fine if you cut them now. That's a bigger bunch of Ice Creams than I've ever gotten. They look great!

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amantedelenguaje

Out of curiosity, why are you removing the mat? Do you not like ice cream bananas? Many of your bananas.org brethern are anxious to get a bonafide IC plant. You've got the real thing.

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Julian

Looks great. Do you have it staked up?

cheson74

Yes I have it propped up with a 12 foot PVC pipe. I'm getting rid of it because its so robust. The mat needs a lot attention because its so vigorous. At last count, I've removed 14 pups.

Here in Hawaii, it'll grow to 14 feet plus with monster pstems. The pups aren't much smaller. On the mainland, they have a cold season where growth stops or the pstem dies. In Hawaii it'll grow year round. So long story short, it spreads too much and takes up a lot of space. Otherwise, it's a great plant that is very bountiful.

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Julian

That bunch looks great. I hope mine will be close to that size. I was going to pull mine right after my bunch, but I think I am going to wait for my other varieties to fruit. All of my other plants are really young. Best wishes

robguz24

More than any other variety I have, all my Ice Creams fall over long before the bunch emerges if they aren't propped up somehow. The real thing is common here in Hawaii. In my limited experience trying to sell pups, very few want them and the fruit is hard to sell too. There are so many better tasting options for people here to find, both in terms of plants and fruit.

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Julian

Foodland has been carrying Ice cream for a few months now. $1.49 a pound. I also think it's just not good enough.

Abnshrek

Makes me glad I have thee imposter.. :^)

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nph

So i other words you guys in Hawaii that has the true Blue Java would say that Nam Wah is better tasting?
Maybe I should stop looking for the real blue java then.

I love my Nam Wah but I thought Blue Java was even better or at least equal in taste.
Or are there other Nanas you feel are better tasting?

cheson74

Namwah is better. Plus we have access to tons of Brazilians which are my favorite.

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robguz24

There are quite a few I think are better tasting. Namwahs are one of the best, I think, though I like the tanginess of DBs, Mysore, and Raja Puri too, probably more so as ones to eat every day. My other favorite without any sub-acid taste is Gros Michel. The real Blue Java makes very interesting looking and beautiful fruit because it's blue. But it doesn't taste like Ice Cream. I usually force myself to eat one or two off a bunch, then freeze the rest. They make a great frozen banana in smoothies or as dairy free and sugar free "ice cream." Eaten out of hand, I particularly find the Blue Java texture off putting. They taste better when ripe, but then the stringy part of the peel sticks to the banana and makes it kind of gross.

If you want the novelty of a blue skinned banana, go for it. But don't seek it out for the fruit IMHO.

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cheson74

Just checked them again today and took a better photo with the digital camera. It looks like they should be ready any day now.



Kostas, I noticed some more sword pups coming up. There are some monster ones that are too big but there's a good size one and two small ones that I'll send to ya. So if one survives that long journey, you'll at least have the real Blue Java.

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Kostas

AWESOME!!!! Both the bunch and the news!!! Thank you very very much Cheson!!!!!

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robguz24

I don't think I've ever seen a better looking bunch of Ice Creams. They look huge!

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cheson74

Each finger is pretty fat. It must have loved all the fish emulsion and zoo dung lol

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amantedelenguaje

Thanks for all the info. I just bought a supposed TC ice cream. Now I hope it is mislabeled. Oh well.

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cheson74

I harvested the Blue Java today. It took about 6 months and the bunch weighed 52.3 lbs! Largest finger had a circumference of 7 1/8".

Kostas, I'll dig up your pups soon!

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crazy banana

Hahaha. Funny post.

Julian

I have been critical of Blue Java, but you really could do a lot worse. I have tasted some horrible bananas lately.