Small and fat but what is it?

Bermy nana · 08-31-2010, 11:04 PM

Hi
Please help me identify this banana. It is growing in Bermuda. The tree is 10 - 15 ft high with green leaves and a slight red edge on the stalk. The bananas are short, fat and split when they turn yellow. The fruit tastes sweet but is slightly chalky.
Thanks

Gabe15 · 08-31-2010, 11:14 PM

They sound and look like 'Manzano' (AAB Silk subgroup), although it likely has a completely different local name. That skin splitting and chalkyness is very characteristic of this group, and some of these cultivars need to be really extra ripe before the chalkyness goes away, the skin splitting is not even enough of a sign, they need to start getting spots and turning black sometimes in order to taste fully ripe.

Bermy nana · 08-31-2010, 11:17 PM

Thanks Gabe. I will let them ripen a bit more and try them when I see some spots.
James

DoctorSteve · 09-01-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

That skin splitting and chalkyness is very characteristic of this group, and some of these cultivars need to be really extra ripe before the chalkyness goes away, the skin splitting is not even enough of a sign, they need to start getting spots and turning black sometimes in order to taste fully ripe.

I have tried some manzano after I saw some in Berkeley for sale. They felt ripe so I opened one up took a bit and it was if I just filled my mouth with starch, it was like antiperspirant in my mouth it was so dry. I think the chalkiness you are talking about is the starch in the banana. The enzymes need to break down the starch into sugars so just give it a little time. Let them get very ripe, I ate mine in stages of ripeness, lots of brown is good if it is a manzano.

hydroid · 09-03-2010, 12:52 PM

Hey Bermy nana, I arrived here in BDA about 2 weeks ago and took some photos and started a thread: Bananas in Bermuda. So far it looks like Dwarf Cavendish and Orinoco. They are posted in membes galleries. I am down by Somerset Drawbridge and had a local guy give me a small bunch of the Cavendish that are green. I am waiting for them to ripen. Hope this helps
Bo

Bermy nana · 09-03-2010, 04:24 PM

Hi Hydroid
I have lived in Bermuda all my life and eaten local bananas given to me by friends and family. Six years ago we built our own house and I planted some pups. My first bunch of Manzanos I thought were cooking bananas since they were so starchy but now I have more info on them I know better than to eat them yellow. They are just starting to become sweet, flavourful and creamy. I also have some other bananas which I think are Dwarf Cavendish (very common in Bermuda from what I read).
The Royal Gazette
I'll send you a private message about getting together.
James

momoese · 09-03-2010, 04:46 PM

As for fruits with thin skins that split while ripening I've found that separating all the hands from the peduncle helps to stop the splitting, that is if the bunch has been picked right when you see the first sign of yellow.

08-31-2010, 11:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bermy nana Bermy nana's Photo Gallery Location: Bermuda Find me on the map! Name: James Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 276 BananaBucks : 87,668 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 252 Times in 78 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Small and fat but what is it? Hi Please help me identify this banana. It is growing in Bermuda. The tree is 10 - 15 ft high with green leaves and a slight red edge on the stalk. The bananas are short, fat and split when they turn yellow. The fruit tastes sweet but is slightly chalky. Thanks __________________ Last edited by Bermy nana : 08-31-2010 at 11:06 PM. Reason: Add photo

08-31-2010, 11:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,350,064 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,241 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Small and fat but what is it? They sound and look like 'Manzano' (AAB Silk subgroup), although it likely has a completely different local name. That skin splitting and chalkyness is very characteristic of this group, and some of these cultivars need to be really extra ripe before the chalkyness goes away, the skin splitting is not even enough of a sign, they need to start getting spots and turning black sometimes in order to taste fully ripe. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

08-31-2010, 11:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bermy nana Bermy nana's Photo Gallery Location: Bermuda Find me on the map! Name: James Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 276 BananaBucks : 87,668 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 252 Times in 78 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Small and fat but what is it? Thanks Gabe. I will let them ripen a bit more and try them when I see some spots. James __________________

09-03-2010, 12:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
hydroid Minister of Propaganda hydroid's Photo Gallery Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama Find me on the map! Zone: Zone -8b-9a Name: Bo Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 687 BananaBucks : 110,472 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 775 Times Was Thanked 729 Times in 329 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 45 Times	Re: Small and fat but what is it? Hey Bermy nana, I arrived here in BDA about 2 weeks ago and took some photos and started a thread: Bananas in Bermuda. So far it looks like Dwarf Cavendish and Orinoco. They are posted in membes galleries. I am down by Somerset Drawbridge and had a local guy give me a small bunch of the Cavendish that are green. I am waiting for them to ripen. Hope this helps Bo

09-03-2010, 04:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bermy nana Bermy nana's Photo Gallery Location: Bermuda Find me on the map! Name: James Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 276 BananaBucks : 87,668 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 252 Times in 78 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Small and fat but what is it? Hi Hydroid I have lived in Bermuda all my life and eaten local bananas given to me by friends and family. Six years ago we built our own house and I planted some pups. My first bunch of Manzanos I thought were cooking bananas since they were so starchy but now I have more info on them I know better than to eat them yellow. They are just starting to become sweet, flavourful and creamy. I also have some other bananas which I think are Dwarf Cavendish (very common in Bermuda from what I read). The Royal Gazette I'll send you a private message about getting together. James __________________

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09-03-2010, 04:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 117 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: Small and fat but what is it? As for fruits with thin skins that split while ripening I've found that separating all the hands from the peduncle helps to stop the splitting, that is if the bunch has been picked right when you see the first sign of yellow.

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