Butch

Hi all,
1st post. I have a stand of dwarf bananas started by a tree given to me by a relative. I live in So.CA and the trees fruit pretty well. Quality varies. The taste has a bit of apple in it. Sometimes it can have a chalky tast. (It makes the best banana bread.) A couple of problems:1) I'm not sure when to pick the fruit or how to treat it after picking. 2) Most of the fruit splits open (I love these little buggers and hate to waist so much to the damage). 3) I also get alot of double fruit (not too bad but kinda wierd). I'm wondering if my early/late pickin' habits could be causing the taste and splitting problems. Anyway, great board and thanks for any help anyone might provide.
Butch
P.S. I have no idea of make or model

Bananavilla

I would guess that the splitting is either inconsistent watering or the fruit have been on too long. Some varieties need to come off while still green or they will split.
If you cut them down at the first sign of a split on one of the bananas, do the rest of them ripen up fine?
Mike

Butch

Mike,
I try to pick when I first see color change but don't always notice the change until quite a few have yellowed. How do I know if I should pick before or after color change? Are all bananas picked before the change? The trees are watered by timer so other than rain (in SO.CA.?) it gets the same water year around. They are just sprinkled heavy, maybe they need deep watering? I would try picking earlier but how do I know when?
Again,thanks
Butch