My First Banana Plant! Alleged Ice Cream Banana
 

This is my very first banana plant ever. I bought it as a 3 gallon from a fruit tree nursery. I was told it was an ice cream banana though, after discussing with some helpful people on this site, there is a good chance it isn't the real Blue Java.

I planted in a prepared bed in August 2018. This is the first pup that came up maybe a month ago or so. Since, I've found two more that were still under some mulch. I'll take pictures of those and add them to the thread soon.

As the banana plant grows, flowers, and produces bananas, I'll post more pictures. Surely, I'll also be tapping the well of knowledge around here since I'm a rank amateur in the banana world.

Thank you, everyone! :08:

Re: My First Banana Plant! Alleged Ice Cream Banana
 

Here are some updated pictures from today. I included a 6" pot for a size reference. I believe the pups are all sword pups but I'm a newbie so please correct me if I'm wrong.

My tentative plan is to leave one pup, give one pup to a friend, and pot up the last pup to eventually transplant it at work so our nursery worker clients can enjoy some tasty bananas.

Re: My First Banana Plant! Alleged Ice Cream Banana
 

I am in the same boat same cultivar. So we shall see. Aside from the fruit being deciding factor in the authenticity of the plant are there any things specific to this plant that sets it apart that you have learned?

Re: My First Banana Plant! Alleged Ice Cream Banana
 

If by "sets it apart" you mean characteristics specific to this cultivar, then I'd say the blue fruit coloration is pretty specific to the Blue Java (I think only before it ripens). Besides the fruit, the flower may be the key. Other people on this forum are excellent at identifying cultivars based on the flowers but I'm clueless in that department. Before flowering, I don't think there's any good way to identify whether it's a blue java, a tall namwah, or other cultivar.

In terms of what sets the Blue Java apart from other bananas, I can only parrot what I've read about a supposedly very good taste with vanilla notes and a creamy texture. I've never had one myself.

I haven't learned anything in particular about the Blue Java (or whatever I actually have) from growing it so far but it's only been about 8 months since I transplanted it into the ground.

This recent thread has some food for thought regarding the Blue Java: http://www.bananas.org/f2/musa-ice-c...row-48530.html

Here's the forum search results for "blue java." There are plenty of identification threads if that's what you're looking for.

Re: My First Banana Plant! Alleged Ice Cream Banana
 

Doesn't really look like Misi Luki which is what most Ice Cream bananas sold retail end up being in reality. This looks more promising than most "ice Cream" plants that you see. After that, it is fruit that will be definitive.