flacracker

Just joined today and I need some information about my banana plants.

Please do not ask me what kind they are. I am not plant person. But the first banana tree was bought about 5 or so years from a local plant show. The bananas are supposed to taste like ice cream. We were told in about 2 to 3 years we should have fruit. Fine, I'm in no hurry, but this life time would be good.

Just about the time they should have given us fruit we were smacked with 3 hurricanes in a row. Yes, I'm on the East Coast of Florida. The poor little trees were whipped, but after some TLC, they came back. Just like they should. I'm thinking the fruit wont come for another 2 to 3 years (I should mention that I'm not a plant person!). Anyway, the trees grew back and the following year we were smacked by another hurricane. Well rats, now the trees are whipped again and yes we did cut them down both times and they grew up just fine in a matter of months because that's what they should do.

Now that you have a history, here's my real question:

One of the trees produced a bunch of fruit, albiet small, the purple pod was there and the little bananas were there. The purple pod shed it's outer coat and dropped the little doo-hickeys (remember, I'm new to banana-ese). After a few months nothing happened. No growth and things seemed to have stagnated. We have about 14 trees throughout our yard. Lo and behold, another one has produced a much larger purple pod and much bigger bananas.

At what point are we supposed to cut the bunch off the tree? I know that it has to be cut off for the fruit to rippen, but when is that supposed to happen?

Okay, time to get up off the floor from all the laughing at this little novice, but you guys are the experts. Can you help me?