Banana variety tastes

[cgbills]

We are looking at doing a bed/area of banana trees. My wife was thinking of just doing cavendish bananas, but I was thinking we should grow some things we don’t get in the store. So first question is what are some of your favorite banana varieties based on taste? Size isn’t a big issue but probably would like to stay around the 6-7 foot range. Second question is does anyone know a good place to try several different varieties that is semi close to the treasure coast? I think if we could taste a few different varieties, then maybe we would want more than the cavendish.

[Calusa]

I'm familiar with Cavendish and some other varieties but all I have now are Dwarf NamWah, and it's my favorite. Sweet, smooth and creamy, and the trees don't get very tall. The crown never gets taller than 6 feet, so the fruit is easily harvested. Never have more than a few in each mat - one large, one half that size and one small one. This allows the large tree to prosper without having to give up needed nourishment to produce bananas. I happen to have a stalk that emerged a week ago.

[Daintree]

Going Bananas has a huge variety of plants.  When they were still doing mail order I got some things from them.  Now they are local only, by appointment. They are in Homestead.
I really like their stuff, and am sad I have to travel there to get corms.

Carolyn

[gnappi]

Even from most of Florida they're just not worth the L-O-N-G drive. I wish they would sell on Ebay.

[Rice-N-Beans]

Even from most of Florida they're just not worth the L-O-N-G drive. I wish they would sell on Ebay.

The drive can be long, and I live wayyy further South than you so my drive is shorter than yours. I make a half day trip out of it when I visit Going Bananas, I visit the local nurseries around Chrome Avenue while I drive home. If you are into Mexican, Cuban or Colombian food, you can definitely get a good lunch before going back home, that is what I do after cruising multiple plant and pottery places down there.

[gnappi]

Gadzooks, I'm a good 30 miles north of you, kudos to you for being a determined fruit nut! :-)

[spaugh]

Best taste and small tree is dwarf brazilian and dwarf namwah. 

Definitely stick with dwarf banana trees.  Banana mats quickly get big and invasive and hard to manage. 

[Epicatt2]

So, how about 'Hua Moa' and 'Raja Puri'? 

Neither of those cultivars are overly large although maybe not what would be considere dwarf.

And both have distinctive flavors.

Paul M.
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[TnTrobbie]

I love Raja Puri. Bananas taste like ripe plantains.

[johnb51]

I would agree with you to skip Cavendish and try other varieties.  And to stick with dwarfs.  I like Raja Puri--a short but sturdy plant with flavor in the apple category.  I've got Goldfinger, too, but it hasn't fruited yet.

[Daintree]

Gadzooks, I'm a good 30 miles north of you, kudos to you for being a determined fruit nut! :-)

You think THAT'S a long haul? We flew from Idaho into Tampa, drove down to the Keys, shopping along the way, then mailed our clothes home and filled four carry-ons with plants.  The guy at the x-ray machine asked my husband to "blink twice if you're carrying against your will..."   

[JR561]

SH 3640 was my favorite to grow.

Super productive.

[Rispa]

Nam Wah are fantastic. I got to try them off a tree on my trip to Florida and was blown away. Way better than store bought and worth growing
Blue javas are also great. I think I tried Hua Kia years ago and really liked them too the point where I've been trying to find that banana for a decade. Hopefully by next year I'll try one to confirm. I also want to taste the Kakopo.