SoBe Musa

A Banana here in Miami Beach..is surely nice! i'm ready to pop the question!!for the pup..! Any info ~Thanks.
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Dean W.

Hua Moa

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Abnshrek

Nice Pic's :^) Nice looking plant.. Nice nanners too :^)

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I'm a Nannerhead :^)

Gabe15

Yes, the full name is Musa (AAB Maoli/Popoulu) 'Hua Moa', and the full Hawaiian name is 'Popo'ulu Hua Moa'. Hua Moa means "chicken egg", and I never understood why this banana was called such until I was given some fruit from the bottom of the bunch, which were very egg-shaped, and so maybe that's where it comes from.

It is in the informal Popo'ulu group of Hawaiian and Pacific bananas, to banana scientists it in the Maoli/Popoulu subgroup of the AAB group.

It is somewhat close to the Iholena subgroup, but there are many varieties which are much closer, in particular the other common Hawaiian Maoli bananas, 'A'ea'e' and ''Ele'ele'. Iholena is actually designated as distinct AAB subgroup.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

MediaHound

+1 for Hua Moa.
Around the time when they ripen or when they get close to ripening, check the ends of the fruits where the flowers fell off, see if you can make out what look like little faces on them. When my Ele Ele bloomed, it did that, it was really spectacular. I don't think I ever snapped any pictures of it though.
Anyway, hope you get the pup from it.

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Rmplmnz

Wow...now that is what I call complete answer, thanks Gabe!

Hua Moas are awesome, I love tostones (although I cheat and microwave the 1st cooking cycle to avoid "double frying").

ccamp

These don't usually make it to ripening at my house...they make the best tostones for sure! Never tried the microwave idea, just peanut oil x2 then giddyup.

Rmplmnz

Yep..40 seconds..just enough to make them soft..still same quality crisp tostones:-)

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After 40 seconds or so in the Microwave (as opposed to the traditional method of frying, mashing and then frying again).

jeffreyp

hua moa is one of my favorite plantain types

Rmplmnz

Another good Tostone link:

Recipe: Ae Ae Banana Chips / Ae Ae Plantain Mariquetas Bananenchips

ccamp

While we're on Hua Moa I've got a couple of questions:

Is there an idead time to harvest plantains or bananas if you are going to use them green?

My Hua Moa has two 4-5 foot pseudostems and they're doing well, but it hasn't really produced any pups since. Is the plant just putting all its resources into producing fruits or is something wrong with it?

Gabe15

Generally speaking, most banana varieties should be harvested while green and then allowed to ripen. This is not inherently necessary, but if allowed to ripen on the plant often many other things start to enjoy them before you do (birds, rodents and insects usually). So for using under-ripe, you just harvest them like normal and use them before they ripen. To know when a variety is ready to harvest can take some practice. You can wait until the first fingers start to change color a little bit, but it can also be done before. When you see the fruit looks to be of mature size but has yet to change color, and the bunch has been on the plant long enough (usually 3-4 months in warm the tropics, sometimes 6+ in cooler climates but always variety dependent too), then you know they can be harvested.

And for your non-pupping 'Hua Moa', give it a break, its still young. Pups will come when they are ready, if the plant is growing there is nothing to worry about.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

Bananaman88

I think what ccamp meant is that his fruiting Hua Moa has two 4'-5' pups that are not getting any taller.

vitin6039

After 13 months My Hua Moa plant just showed the first sign of flowering. Anyone knows how long from here to the fruit being ready for harvest? (PICS Below)

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