Why do some bananas split before they ripen?

[micah]

Still on the stalk...sometimes they split..sometimes they don't.  Certain types its almost a gaurentee that they split.  Is it normal?  I end up harvesting earlier to avoid.

[Maryoto]

What do you mean with "split", can you post a photo?

[micah]

No photo now...the fruit will sort of burst open exposing inside flesh..I heard it might be from the wet conditions.

[Maryoto]

Well,sometimes also like that in here,but not all kind of banana.
I also do not know the cause.

[AnnonAddict]

I've had that happen before, it usually happens to me when the banana tree has way too many banana's. I think something else causes it though. Does anyone know?

[maui guy]

My dwarf Jamaican red always splits unless pick it still not folly colored [ ie. still green]. Others like apple never seem to have this happen. Thus where I am it is the variety .
 

[jcaldeira]

My guess is that bananas split when soil moisture suddenly increases.

[fruitlovers]

Bananas split because they want to make humans happy. They know that one of our favorite deserts is banana split. 
It's mostly tied into type of bananas. For example, the silk figs (manzano) will always split when fully ripe. Notice they have a very thin peel? Some of the thicker peeled ones, like commercial types Williams, etc., very rarely split, even when fully ripe. If you pick them on green side even the silk figs can be prevented from splitting. This probably doesn't answer your question, but at least you can prevent the bothersome splitting. If i had to guess i would think splitting has to do with to fast a growth burst. In other words the interior is growing faster than exterior.

[Bananimal]

I always harvest banana bunches when the fruit has filled in and the skins are full green.  Never wait till they turn yellow.  Every critter in Florida will target my place.  Hang the bunch in the house off the kitchen counter with a bracket and 120 lb fishing line.  A few days, a week goes by and everyone is eating home grown naners and they usually don't ripen all at once.  Finishing up a Goldfinger bunch right now - wonderful taste and texture.  Skins of bananas that ripen in the house can split but a lot less than outside ripening and drying out on the plant.