TonyTheLightGuy

My name is tony. I have a couple of banana trees in my yard that are now fruiting. I don't know anything about these trees and neither does my landlord.

If there is anyone in the Broward County area of Florida that would like to come and tell me about these trees, nurture them, ect. you can take the first bunch that is on the tree now. I don't have a machete (I don't know if I spelled that right) to cut it though. I was told I would have to cut the tree down for others to grow around it. But I just don't know.

So anyway, that is my bargain. You can take the fruit that is on there now for information / instruction on how I can take care of them.

Thank you all,

Tony

the flying dutchman

Hi and welcome Toni, i am not nearby so i can't help you. You could also
post some pictures on the 'identifying bananas' forum if nobody comes
to see them. The fruiting stem will die but the suckers take it over, at least if the banana
has suckers.





Ron

MediaHound

Welcome aboard Tony.
I'm also in Broward.

Can you take and upload some pics to your gallery so we can see what you have?
You came to the right place to learn about them!

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TonyTheLightGuy

Ok, Posted the only pic I have right now.

MediaHound

Looks like it could be a DC - Dwarf Cavendish.

The next couple of weeks those fruits will plumpen up a bit more, the flower will get a little bit closer to the ground (the raceme will get a tad bit longer), and you can cut the bunch down and hang them to ripen.
Congrats on your bloom!

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TonyTheLightGuy

That picture was taken about a 2 weeks ago. The big purple thing that looks like a big seed is pretty close to the ground. Other than that, I have very little clue what you have said.

Don't get me wrong, I am not stupid. But this just really isn't in my realm of understanding. Do I cut down the whole tree? Just the big stalk that the bananas are hanging off of, WHAT do I do with the big purple seed thing. Can I just dig a hole and throw it in hoping that it will grow another tree? I think they are really cool trees.

I saw a discovery special about some really poisonous spiders that live in banana bunches. Is this something that is possible here in South Florida as well? I really HATE spiders. (not a pus**, just don't like em at all)

MediaHound

read read read
I suggest also going through the photo gallery, in particular, the diagrams category.

That purple thing is the bud, the flower bloom. You will compost that or throw it out... some people cook them but thats another lesson.
You will cut down that one stalk where the bananas are growing from, leave the rest to grow tall and repeat the process.

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

momoese

I would like to suggest eating the fruit as they ripen and just reading this site for more info or asking questions when your stumped on something. The fruits will be far superior to what you'll get at your local grocery store!

Due to the lack of male flowers hanging on I doubt it's a Dwarf Cavendish. Some other dwarf, maybe Brazilian or Namwah?

Bamboo Conne'iseur

Can you let the fruit ripen on the plant?

tlturbo

When I have a bud come out, I write the date that the first red bud petal falls off revealing the bananas under it on the flag leaf stem in black waterproof marker. MOST varieties take 4-5 months from that date for the bananas to ripen. When the bud starts making little bananas that don't grow and tend to fall off, I cut it off somewhere just below the last large fruit ( just the way I do it - why take growth power away from the fruit for a bud that isn't doing anything AND it takes weight off the trunk so it's less likely to topple over). After about 4 months, watch the bunch for signs of turning yellow and it won't necessarily be the top most fruit. I usually wait until a couple bananas are obviously turning yellow then I cut the whole bunch off the plant. You can leave the bunch whole or cut the hands (usually have 8-10 individual bananas on them) off the stem. That way you have what looks like what you get in the store (makes it easy to put in a bag to give away) A bunch of maybe 8-10 bananas. They will all ripen over the next week or so. BE CAREFUL when cutting the bananas off or cutting the hands off. The cut will seep fluid (like watery sap) that WILL stain clothing, countertops, etc. (and it's sticky on your hands). It will stop seeping and dry up in an hour or so.

After I cut the ripening stalk of bananas off, I take a large sharp knife and cut the trunk down level with the ground. There should already be several other stems of varying height growing. I usually have 4-5 stalks of varying height growing so I get bananas about every 4 months.

As for spiders I have never seen any on my bananas and I had NEVER seen a poisonous spider in FL but I know they exist.

Terry

Bch Grl

Terry!
Thanks for the above post! I have a bunch that has been hanging for a while now and I was getting ready to ask for this info. That was so helpful, detailed and timely. Very much a compilation of what I have been reading!
Mine are plumping, but not yet yellow!
Mediahound says to post pics, so here they are!
Can anyone figure out what they are? The back of the leaves are very waxy/powdery.






Margie

tlturbo

I added to the original post that I take a black waterproof marker and write the date on the stem of the flag leaf that I see the first bananas appear from under the purple bud petal. That way I don't forget when they flowered.