Banana Bunch (forum)

wazzamcg starts with ...
In a couple of weeks I will be cutting down my first bunch of banana's. If any of you have had experience surrounding this could you please share it with me please.

Things like how to care for the bunch once removed, cutting the old tree down, when to remove the bunch, is there a good technique when cutting the bunch?

Time: 9th December 2012 9:09am

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About the Author wazzamcg
Brisbane
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John Mc says...
By cutting the whole bunch down you'll
end up with a glut of bananas.
Why don't you pick a hand off at a time and spread the glut over a few weeks?
Start picking them early with the most plump hands and work your way down the bunch

Time: 9th December 2012 9:55pm

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denise1 says...
Sometime the whole bunch will ripen at once. If you see that happening then pick the lot and stick it in cool storage out of the light. If you have time you could dry them. Do you have family to share it with

Time: 10th December 2012 6:23am

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About the Author denise1
auckland NZ
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paula-f says...
Also, if they all ripen at once and you have too many to eat.......just peel them, and put them whole into plastic bags then into the freezer. They are great for smoothies.

Time: 10th December 2012 8:03am

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Mike says...
To get bigger bunches many commercial growers inject GA3 in stalks of young bunches.I thinki it is best to harvest from the bottom taking hands as they are needed over a couple of weeks.

Time: 10th December 2012 8:32am

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Cairns
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wazzamcg says...
I like the idea of picking a dozen bananas from the bottom up each week, but, will they not ripen from the top down while still on the plant?

Does this mean that once the bananas are full and green from the bottom, and not angular as such, that I should start cutting off my needs individually? Being in Brisbane, I'm not in the tropics, more the sub-tropics.

I suspect that once the top start to yellow that I may have to cut the whole bunch off - does this make sense?

Also, I have an open shed if I need be to hang a bunch, but that is not my preferred option at this point to extend the harvest.

I have a family of five and can give some away if need be.

I do have 3 other bunches on the way, but not as advanced as this current one. (Tops are full and green but they are still green and angular at the bottom)

John Mc - I have the bunch covered with the blue/silver plastic bags you can get from greenharvest. So I suspect cutting from the top will be a pain in the butt and putting the bag back on afterwards.

Thanks for the advice so far and any further advice provided.

Time: 11th December 2012 8:07pm

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Original Post was last edited: 11th December 2012 8:14pm

About the Author wazzamcg
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Mike says...
wazzamcg the difference in ripening time between a hand picked and left on the bunch can be quite a few weeks especially in the sub tropics.The shape is less important than the sequence of ripening and taking them from the top can speed ripening of those 'below' any damage inflicted.Once they start you should pick the whole bunch straight away.Take a single banana at a time to test if they are mature enough to ripen if you are not sure.

Time: 11th December 2012 8:36pm

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