servatusprime

Is this known to be a common problem?

robguz24

It hasn't happened to me before, but these two bunches were larger than previous ones.

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JCA433

I think I understand what others here mentioned here with reference to the pithy core in namwa bananas. I have experienced this for the first time but only on 10 to 20 percent of the bananas picked so far. This bunch began in December and ripened in April. The last two bunches had no bananas with a hard core so it must be related to growing conditions. Maybe some of them dry out in cooler weather during winter? It could also be a nutrient issue because I did not fertilize as much this winter. I have another Namwa bunch that will ripen in about a month so it will be interesting to see if it has any bananas with harder core. Namwa is still my favorite banana though and not bothered by the harder core on a few of the bananas. This issue has only appeared on the most recent bunch and only on a small percentage. Most of them are normal.

robguz24

A lot of harvesting going on this month in my little yard. I think this is my 6th this month with 4 more bunches to harvest by the end of April. This is the biggest Ice Cream bunch I've ever had. Felt bigger than the 25 lbs it weighed. 8 hands. My solution after finally getting a decent sized bunch of these? I killed it and ripped all traces of it out of the ground. Was blocking my ocean view, had to be propped up in 3 directions, and they're my least favorite type I grow, now down to 2 mats. Just keeping those because I can sell keikis and they're actually good frozen.
5 months flower to harvest. Probably could have stayed on the plant another couple weeks.

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robguz24

Another day, another 80lbs of DB. 50 on the left, 30 on the right.

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Nicolas Naranja

FHIA-17

Grade it


Cut 1


Cut 2


40 lbs of fruit

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JCA433

When harvesting your bananas how deep do you cut the stem before pulling the bunch down ? I cut stem about 3/4 deep and try to pull it down slowly but it crashes instead.

Nicolas Naranja

I cut a V into the stem. It doesn't always work, but it works most of the time. So if you are facing the bunch cut one notch on the right side and another notch on the left.

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robguz24

My month of bounty continues. This is the most I've had in a month. Today was another 30 lb DB, my biggest rack of 1000 Fingers yet, also 30lbs, and both a Tall and Dwarf Namwah, both only 20lbs. My last Tall Namwah bunch was 65 lbs.

The 1000 Fingers was good sized, but not even close to fruiting endlessly.


Virtually all of these will be big enough to be worth eating.


Tall Namwah on the left, Dwarf on the right. The Dwarf began flowering 10 days earlier than the Tall, but still doesn't have yellow fruit. Had to harvest now before I leave for vacation. I also wanted to try both and see if I can taste any difference. The fruit on both of these is far less filled out than on previous bunches. Maybe because these fruited during winter?

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keikikid

Awesome! Do you try to connect the high end of the cuts on the side opposite the bunch?

Short Kid with Tall Bananas

bananimal

No. The extra tissue in the back of the cut area acts like a hinge keeping the pstem from separating. And getting konked in the head by the naner bunch. lol

The bigger the bunch the shallower the cuts. Works for me.

bananimal

Small bunch off the mat of whatever USDA substituted for Datil la Lima. Nevertheless it's a good banana. Will now replace this mat with a Williams.

ez

Raja Puri

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JCA433

I harvested another Namwa bunch. This one had very thick fingers and started splitting and ripening on the stem. I delayed harvesting this one because a Goldfinger bunch was harvested earlier this month and did not have room for more bananas. If you delay harvest you risk bananas ripening on the stem and splitting. It is a pain when two bunches ripen at almost the same time!




When harvesting this bunch the stem crashed and crushed two bananas on the bottom! Harvesting bananas without a helper is very difficult.

Richard

It definitely takes practice. Plantation workers use the "slash and catch" method -- a cut is made in the pstem to weaken it and the bunch is lowered with partial support from the broken stem. The videos of the workers who do it dozens of times a day make it look pretty easy. A full bunch of green bananas can weigh upwards of 200 lbs so a small error in a pstem cut can make for a big crash!

An alternate method for the novice homeowner is to erect a tripod or orchard ladder next to the bunch. Then attach a pulley (or loop of rope) at the top. Run rope through the pulley/loop and attach it to the bunch. After the bunch is cut lower it to the ground.

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kubali

raja puri been waiting on these.

servatusprime

Need some advice. I know I am close to harvest on my double mahoi and my goldfinger. But I have to do some traveling starting on the 23 but don't want to miss harvesting my bananas. The DM is showing a yellow "blush" on the top hand. And both sets of fruit look pretty filled in to me. I have posted some pictures below of to show where the fruit. In the past I have waited until at least on finger to be totally yellow.

Doulbe Mahoi

Double Mahoi pretending to be a travelers palm!


Goldfinger


I can't believe how much bigger the leaves are on the second generation.



Thanks

kubali

they are ready for sure you cut them down now and you probally will have ate them all by time you leave on the 23rd....I might add really nice looking bunches enjoy......................kub

servatusprime

Just for fun, here is where I am at on my SH 3640 bunch. It flowered almost the exact same time as the Goldfinger.

servatusprime

Is there a consensus on the harvesting for the goldfinger and double mahoi? Thanks.