How about these Abaco Bananas?

[abacomah]

I was never successful getting Banana Tress to grow in South Carolina although I have neighbors who have them. Don't really know if they bear fruit there; but, the one here in Abaco most definitely bears fruit.

So, I am looking for a little help from Board Members on:
1) About how long before the fruit is ready to be picked? (been watching these since early May)
2) What color should the fruit be when picked? Do I wait until it is yellow?
3) Will this banana tree bear fruit again? I read on the internet that banana trees bear fruit once and I didn't know if that meant all types of banana trees.
4) Are these native to Abaco?

Any additional information on your experience with banana trees in Abaco would be appreciated.

Hey..... it's a rainy few days so checking on the plants is a good thing to dohttp://coconuttelegraph.net/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif

[PattyB]

It takes about 18 months for the tree to grow and produce fruit. Bananas are heavy eaters, requiring lots of water and mulch. We have ours growing near the downspouts, and feed them lawn clippings. I'm surprised they grow so well where there is no mulch. You have some nice looking trees there!

Once the shoot stops producing bananas cut off the pod. Theory is that the growth energy goes to the fruit once the pod is removed. The tree stops producing new fronds, and the hands get plump over the next few months. During this time you and AW will have many -- Do you think they are ready yet? -- discussions. Have patience. Bananas do not turn yellow until after harvest.

Only one harvest per tree. Hack it off at the ground with a machete. Several more trees will sprout from the stump. I see you already have a few pups growing.

One word of warning. Watch out for the sap. There is nothing known to man that can remove a banana sap stain from clothing!

Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne destroyed our immature crop in 2004. We had to cut all the trees down. The next year Wilma did the same. Last summer a few trees put out fruit, but it never matured properly after the hurricane traumas. We harvested our first crop of bananas in nearly three years, just a few weeks ago. Yummy shakes and daiquiris!

[BahamaAngie]

The fellow Israel that takes care of the grounds might be able to help you with info, Mah. Real nice guy.

[abacomah]

-- Do you think they are ready yet? -- discussions. Have patience. Bananas do not turn yellow until after harvest. !OK, as we have these discussions and they are still green give me some hints on when they are ready. Different color green? I think if I wait 'til they fall off I've waited too longhttp://coconuttelegraph.net/forums/images/icons/icon11.gif



Only one harvest per tree. Hack it off at the ground with a machete. Several more trees will sprout from the stump. I see you already have a few pups growing.! So once these bananas are "done" we'll hack off just this stalk .... right?

Thanks for the tip on the water. We are thinking of a few gutters to take water off the patio so I'll ensure the water lands right at the banana trees. As far as mulch..... hmmmmmm coffee grinds, left overs?

Thanks for the tip on the sap and BahamaAngie, I try to catch Israel to see if he'll give me some hands on tips. Maybe we'll make that side the "Banana Wall".

And PattyB, Happy Bananas to you! I hope you have many more to harvest this yearhttp://coconuttelegraph.net/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif.

[bahamian69]

You should cut off the stalk of bananas when they are full. (when the sides are smooth and round or if you see any of them starting to split)

After cutting off the stalk use a rope and hang them to rippen.

You will need to cut down the entire tree. It will not reproduce. You will then get a few new trees shoot up from the stump and they will grow and reproduce.

My experence anyway.

[AbacoSea]

Abaco Mah,
Just like most others, they will turn yellow. They do not stay green. What most people do, is cut off the stalk when it gets closer to being ripe. Then they will hang the whole stalk in a dark place and the bananas will continue to rippen.

[floridaskater]

I have trees like this here in FL. I made the mistake the first time by hanging the fruit outside to ripen. Soon discovered the raccoons and/or foxes really like ripe bananas too. All that was left was the stalk and skins on the ground. Glad they went to a good place though. There are usually so many you have to be creative in using them up.

[Charlotte Couple]

Are those bananas or plantains? Plantains are commonly grown in Abaco, and they stay green.

[$?]

I agree with what all the members said but by the looks of the bananas in your photo, you should consider adding some good fertilizer and soil amendments then lots of water. Good luck. Banana pies are great when you have a lot of ripe ones.