Gabe15

It's basically what it looks like...

I was too busy digging pups and cutting bunches that I didn't get around to getting any photos of the actual collection, but am going back next week (and maybe many many more weeks to come), so more photos soon.

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

Mark Hall

Thats a nice Haul you got yourself there Gabe. What varieties did you get Pup wise?

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Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

Gabe15

The collection was set up by a past grad student of my professor who was sorting out the genetics of some African bananas. Her project is done, but the collection remains, so we got a bunch of plants for our student farm in Waimanalo, as well as fruit bunches and flowers to use in an upcoming lecture I'm giving on bananas. We really don't need that many bunches, but since they were out there we brought some back to share with the department.

I can't remember if we got all of these or not, but I think it's close. Many of them are African, and there is even a special set of East African Highland Bananas which grow at 6000-7000ft in Kenya. The others are mixed and from all over.

Pups dug (in no particular order):
Imbogo
Thousand Fingers
Inyoya
Foconah
Mbirabire
Yangambi #2
Igisahira
Kayinja
Ney Poovan (Safet Velchi)
Pisang Buntal
Gros Michel
Muraru Mshale
Kamaramasenge
Mbwazirume
Safet Velchi (different clone than the Ney Poovan)
Pisang Masak Hijau
Kirun
Cocos (Dwarf Gros Michel)
Vunapope
Kifutu
Goldfinger
Muraru mlalu
Ngu
Exera
Pisang Ceylan
Ungoye Sweet
Njuru
Auko

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

Chironex

WOW!!! Now the envy bug has infected me more than ever. Add me to the TC list - do I really even need to say that??? hahahahaa

Excellent harvest I must say, since Mark stole my initial comment of "Nice Haul."

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Scot

momoese

Wow, that's a load of bananas! Did you three also have to take down the trees after harvesting?

hammer

wow thats alot bananas more than i have seen in my lifetime

Gabe15

We just left the cut plants in the field, kinda like a mulch I suppose. This field is not well kept, and basically growing on nothing but a questionable drip system, which after digging those pups up, is probably definitely out of service in some parts of the field.

The upcoming project (if we get funding) will be to revamp the field, clean it all up and install new irrigation, and then begin evaluating the different varieties for commercial potential, since almost the entire banana industry here is composed of 2 varieties 'Williams' and 'Dwarf Brazilian'. Some growers are starting to plant more things like 'Saba' and 'Namwah', but they are still hard to come by.

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

momoese

I just noticed there are 4 of you! lol

Isn't there enough water falling from the sky there to irrigate them?

Gabe15

It rains, but it's in a pretty dry area (Hawai'i has just about every climate there is), so hopefully they will hold out well until we can get in there. I don't think anything will die completely from lack of water, but they could get pretty stressed.

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

Bananaman88

Thanks for sharing with us, Gabe. I certainly hope you get the funding you need for your project.

Tog Tan

How about we pool our banana bucks? Ok, not so funnee...

Now serious, Gabe, can you give us or an assessment of the taste of the African cultivars vs the Main types which is available over your side. I have always been very curious as to how they taste and they are hardly ever available out of their land. Mucho gracias.

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Gabe15

I've hardly tried any of them yet, but I have a bunch of (AAA-EAH) 'Mbwazirume' ripening and although they are classified as a cooking banana (which is often based upon regional use and not necessarily starch content), and I think they are very good. I don't know how to describe them, kinda sweet and tart, semi-firm with a smooth texture....I tried cooking with them too and they certainly make a good cooking banana.

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