Who is growing bananas for fruit?

[mamuang]

Here is a home-grown Nam Wah banana tree at my sister’s home, Bangkok, Thailand. Generally speaking, Nam Wah takes about 7-8 months to flower and fruit. The fruit takes about 3-4 months to ripe.

My sister does not take any care to her banana trees except for watering them as needed. This tree is about 3.5 meters tall.

[Richard]

Here’s Namwa budding in San Diego CA. In our climate it’s about 18 months to flower and 4 months to ripen if the fruit appears in spring or summer.

[Sam]

i’m growing california gold. i also have goldfinger but planning on getting rid of the gf and keep only 1 variety. with space being limited… only want to keep the reliable fruit

[Richard]

@Sam

i’m growing california gold.

California Gold is Dwarf Orinoco – a rather unpleasant tasting fruit compared to store bought bananas.

@Sam

i also have goldfinger

Typically Namwa is sold as Goldfinger by retail nurseries. The good news is that it is about as cold hardy as Orinoco (USDA borderline 9b/10a) and is much better tasting than Orinoco or store bought bananas for that matter.

[Vakota]

Hello, I’n new to this forum and to growing fruit. You posted this several years ago. I’m wondering how it went. Did you get bananas?

[ammoun]

Guess the Namwa banana bunch size

Back by popular demand! My “Namwa” banana cultivar is currently endowed with an inflorescence of bananas. Colloquially we refer to it as a “bunch”, which is further divided into “hands” (sometimes what you get at the grocery store, although more often half and quarter hands), and finally “fingers” – the individual banana fruits (what you’d normally count at a grocery store). This contest is to guess how many fingers are in this bunch. The final count will be determined by the almighty banana c…

Check out this thread.

[chriso]

Growing Manzano, ice cream and dwarf Cavendish in Miami, Florida

[Arturo]

I have an unknown that I have being growing since 2018. I got it cause I wanted the ice cream banana, I wanted to see if it really tasted like vanilla ice cream. It is not blue java. The fruit is about 3 to 4 inches long. The banana plant normally gets around 10’ tall. I grow them in South Louisiana zone 9a/8b. Planted cause I wanted the fruit and will continue

[jbclem]

Arturo, if you’re in 9a/8b you must have pretty cold weather for bananas. How does your unknown handle the cold snaps? Do you try to protect it…

[clarkinks]

Thats impressive maybe @Richard does know some additional information. It sounds very cold hardy.

[Arturo]

We get temps in the low 20’s and once in a while in the high teens. Depends where I look it may say 9a but some say 8b. They have taken the temps like a champ. I can tell you, I mulch them with leaves and mulch and that is all.

[Arturo]

I am always looking to learn. If Mr Richard can help that would be great. My kids love the little nanas. Wife and I love them in our smoothies. I eat them fresh like the kids.