bigdog

Hi Michael, I keep trying to come up with new ways to hasten the maturation process, but nothing has really shown to make much of a difference. They really just need heat, sun, water, and a good source of Potassium (when they are fruiting). I have five plants in different stages of bloom or fruit right now, and only one bunch will make it before frost hits. I have considered erecting temporary greenhouse structures over them, but seems like quite a pain for a few bananas. Here (zone 7a), my bunch sizes are usually between 5-16 bananas, so it's really not worth the trouble. Now, if I had 30 or more fingers on a bunch, then I'd be trying my best to protect it!! I have used a paper bag over the bunch, but I have no idea why I did that, lol. I think it was to avoid sunburn or something. I did try a plastic bag over a few bunches a couple of years ago, thinking that it would at least hold some heat in. It didn't make any difference for me though, because they rest of the plant got scorched by frost. I need a bloom on my Orinocos by the end of July or early August at the latest for the bunch to mature properly.