Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old?

springtime_fl · 01-07-2008, 06:17 PM

I had to pick a bunch of bananas before they completely filled out on the plant because of freezing weather. The plant bloomed on Oct. 1 and we had a freeze here in Tampa last week. Does anyone have any experience with this? If I left it on the plant I know I would have lost it for sure so I took a chance and picked it. Thanks for any help.

momoese · 01-07-2008, 07:10 PM

All you can do is hang them up and wait. I had some reds that were about 3 months that didn't want to ripen and had no flavor on the few that did. But then I've had Hawaiian Apples that did ripen with about the same hanging time on the plant and they had great flavor even though they hadn't plumped yet.

You can put a paper bag over them with some apples included to help gas them. This will help to shorten the ripening time.

springtime_fl · 01-08-2008, 05:49 AM

Thanks for the information. At least I know that there is a chance.

pitangadiego · 01-10-2008, 12:39 AM

Some varieties will definitely ripen, and some definitely will not. You have nothing to loose by trying.

MediaHound · 01-10-2008, 08:19 AM

Agreed with previous comments. What would happen is they will turn yellow and either be sweet or not be sweet.

JoeReal · 01-10-2008, 09:21 AM

Most banana cultivars are highly climacteric. They will ripen even if picked immature and stored in enclosed containers together with a ripe banana. Bananas that are picked immature and are ripened will not be as sweet or as good tasting as the plump bananas or tree-ripened bananas. Most immature bananas that are ripened would taste bland.

01-07-2008, 06:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
springtime_fl Location: Brandon, FL (near Tampa) Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9 BananaBucks : 9,431 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old? I had to pick a bunch of bananas before they completely filled out on the plant because of freezing weather. The plant bloomed on Oct. 1 and we had a freeze here in Tampa last week. Does anyone have any experience with this? If I left it on the plant I know I would have lost it for sure so I took a chance and picked it. Thanks for any help.

01-07-2008, 07:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 3,664 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old? All you can do is hang them up and wait. I had some reds that were about 3 months that didn't want to ripen and had no flavor on the few that did. But then I've had Hawaiian Apples that did ripen with about the same hanging time on the plant and they had great flavor even though they hadn't plumped yet. You can put a paper bag over them with some apples included to help gas them. This will help to shorten the ripening time.

01-08-2008, 05:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
springtime_fl Location: Brandon, FL (near Tampa) Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9 BananaBucks : 9,431 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old? Thanks for the information. At least I know that there is a chance.

01-10-2008, 12:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,488 BananaBucks : 132,623 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,729 Times in 929 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old? Some varieties will definitely ripen, and some definitely will not. You have nothing to loose by trying. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

01-10-2008, 08:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-Man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,261 BananaBucks : 2,028,081 Feedback: 66 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,856 Times Was Thanked 5,086 Times in 1,353 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,086 Times	Re: Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old? Agreed with previous comments. What would happen is they will turn yellow and either be sweet or not be sweet. __________________ 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.

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat.

01-10-2008, 09:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,034 BananaBucks : 413,919 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 108 Times Was Thanked 474 Times in 228 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Can bananas ripen if picked at 3 months old? Most banana cultivars are highly climacteric. They will ripen even if picked immature and stored in enclosed containers together with a ripe banana. Bananas that are picked immature and are ripened will not be as sweet or as good tasting as the plump bananas or tree-ripened bananas. Most immature bananas that are ripened would taste bland.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
My first banana - Ice Cream, 3 1/2 months old	Patty in Wisc	Main Banana Discussion	41	05-01-2007 11:20 PM
13 months and still no bloom to help identify	Bubbatex0	Banana Identification	7	09-19-2006 03:07 PM