The Tropical Fruit Forum

Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: expo on August 12, 2019, 05:53:58 PM

Title: Bananas are coming in
Post by: expo on August 12, 2019, 05:53:58 PM
Wish I knew the variety. My first two bunches were ruined by harvesting too early and the second one was an "accident" by the lawn guy. Hoping they taste good when ripe.

(https://i.imgur.com/SxD3ub4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/clJEUrS.jpg)
Title: Re: Bananas are coming in
Post by: spaugh on August 12, 2019, 06:10:59 PM
Looks like a cavendish type maybe.
Title: Re: Bananas are coming in
Post by: expo on August 12, 2019, 07:38:36 PM
Looks like a cavendish type maybe.

I will have to post when they ripen with a measurement. They are small. Thought cavendish were larger. But I will post a better pic in a month or so I guess.
Title: Re: Bananas are coming in
Post by: Archer on August 12, 2019, 11:20:07 PM
Looking good.  There are two surprising moments in growing bananas for the first time.  The first is when you realize it's flowering.  The second is when you realize you have 15 bunches of bananas ripening in the space of a week.  ;D
Title: Re: Bananas are coming in
Post by: Oolie on August 13, 2019, 04:08:12 AM
Looking good.  There are two surprising moments in growing bananas for the first time.  The first is when you realize it's flowering.  The second is when you realize you have 15 bunches of bananas ripening in the space of a week.  ;D

Banana freezes pretty well though, and makes excellent smoothie, though some varieties are overpowering.
Title: Re: Bananas are coming in
Post by: expo on August 13, 2019, 08:27:19 AM
These are my third and fourth bunches and I have yet to taste a banana. I am hoping they are good.

Title: Re: Bananas are coming in
Post by: pineislander on August 13, 2019, 03:08:22 PM
Usually the top hands ripen first you can cut them off working your way down. This spreads out the harvest so you don't get stuck with 30 pounds to eat at one time. You can try cooking some green bananas fried or boiled as a starchy vegetable.

Commercial growers clean the bunches removing the non-functional male flower at the botom, the lowest malformed fruits, the red bracts which cover each hand while flowering, and the dead blossoms on the end of each banana, then they cover the bunch with a plastic bag to protect it. Sometimes they leave one fruit on the last hand saying
Those measures tend to reduce disease. I usually only remove the male flower and bracts.
Title: Re: Bananas are coming in
Post by: Coach62 on August 14, 2019, 09:07:23 AM
Yes, cut off the flower. It’s now wasted energy the plant has to use.

For harvesting, I wait until one banana starts to turn yellow before I harvest. It seems to be pretty foolproof. 
Title: Re: Bananas are coming in
Post by: Coach62 on August 14, 2019, 09:08:28 AM
By the way, parts of the banana flower are edible, look it up.
Title: Re: Bananas are coming in
Post by: expo on August 17, 2019, 03:36:25 PM
Yes, cut off the flower. It’s now wasted energy the plant has to use.

For harvesting, I wait until one banana starts to turn yellow before I harvest. It seems to be pretty foolproof.

Thank you
Title: Re: Bananas are coming in
Post by: expo on August 17, 2019, 03:37:40 PM
Yes, cut off the flower. It’s now wasted energy the plant has to use.

For harvesting, I wait until one banana starts to turn yellow before I harvest. It seems to be pretty foolproof.

Thanks, will cut them off today.

By the way, parts of the banana flower are edible, look it up.

Not that brave.