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+--- Thread: Variegated Banana (/showthread.php?tid=12162)
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Variegated Banana - hawaiideborah - 07-08-2013
I have the Hawaiian variegated banana. Every bunch I have picked doesn't ripen. I left the bunch on plant until several bananas split and some were yellowish. Even then the bananas are hard and don't ripen.
Any suggestions?
RE: Variegated Banana - Cagary - 07-08-2013
Where are you?
Meaning, what are your soil and rain conditions?
Do you fertilize, if so with what?
Did the fruit get nice and full before ripening?
How tall did the plant get before fruiting?
-Veritas odium parit”(Terence 195–159 BC))-"Truth begets hatred".
RE: Variegated Banana - hawaiideborah - 07-08-2013
quote:I am at the bottom of HPP. Bananas grow like crazy here. The Cuban bananas and other varieties of neighbors do well.
Originally posted by Cagary
Where are you?
Meaning, what are your soil and rain conditions?
Do you fertilize, if so with what?
Did the fruit get nice and full before ripening?
How tall did the plant get before fruiting?
-Veritas odium parit”(Terence 195–159 BC))-"Truth begets hatred".
I have banana fertilizer from the Garden Supply Co-op
I have had these for two years and they are beautiful, healthy, fruit, flower, produce Keiki. The variegated bananas get tall before fruiting. Normal for this type to be very tall.
I don't understand your question "did the fruit get nice and full before ripening"
See my initial posting: it does not ripen. That is the problem I needed suggestions for.
The bananas are the same length as the ones you buy in Safeway with the Dole stickers on. The variegated ones are fuller than the generic mainland type of bananas.
So, yes, mine get long and so full they split open.
The problem is they do not ripen. They stay hard. The last bunch didn't ripen/soften for over a month hanging after cutting. This newest bunch is split open on some, yellow on some and still hard. I have never had bananas that stayed hard and never ripened before.
Has anyone had success with this AeAe (Hawaiian variegated) type getting ripe fruit?
RE: Variegated Banana - bananahead - 07-08-2013
Safeway bananas (Dole) are Williams
here is some basic info on these bananas...
http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Musa_%27Ae_Ae%27
Ive only seen them off the side of the hwy near the Hilo Coffee Mill (on other side) so dont know much about
on most bananas... usually its best to wait til the top ones (oldest) turn bright yellow before cutting down the 'tree' and hanging or cutting apart the hands. I work on property on 1st Ave in HPP and its common for the Apple Bananas to split because of the sun even before they turn yellow...
Not sure, but Maybe the variegated form is mainly an ornamental type (??) like the lady fingers and some of the red types, etc.
they (keiki) do sell for good $$,....... going to get me one
******************************************************************
save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
RE: Variegated Banana - hawaiideborah - 07-08-2013
Thanks banana head. I thought the splitting was significant and now I know it is because of the sun.
No, these can be eaten, for sure.
The top on the newest bunch were turning yellow. Now it is hanging
This next bunch has some split and thanks to you I now know this has nothing to do with being ripe.
I will wait to cut down until more of the top bananas are yellow.
Thanks for the help, banana head.
RE: Variegated Banana - kalakoa - 07-08-2013
quote:
Originally posted by hawaiideborah
I have banana fertilizer from the Garden Supply Co-op
I have heard that Ai'Ai' prefer chicken manure.
RE: Variegated Banana - hawaiideborah - 07-09-2013
quote:Yes, I do chick manure also.
Originally posted by kalakoa
quote:
Originally posted by hawaiideborah
I have banana fertilizer from the Garden Supply Co-op
I have heard that Ai'Ai' prefer chicken manure.
RE: Variegated Banana - kalakoa - 07-09-2013
quote:
Originally posted by hawaiideborah
Yes, I do chick manure also.
Mine only grows when I use chicken manure instead of more-powerful chemicals.
No fruit yet, time will tell.
RE: Variegated Banana - Andy - 07-10-2013
I'm on 8th, ours take a bit of time but they do ripen
RE: Variegated Banana - Carey - 07-10-2013
If you have the `A`ea`e, they are more like cooking bananas, like plantain...sometimes they can ripen enough to eat out of hand, but were mostly used as a starch.
Link (pg 15):
http://www.agroforestry.net/tti/Banana-plantain-overview.pdf
Added- could also be that the plant is getting sunburnt, as the lower chlorophyll stripes can sunburn...