To: "'North American Fruit Explorers'" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Good tasting banana for a container
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2006 07:24:41 -0500
Title: Message
Doreen,
I can
lay the plant on its side in a dark basement. What happens if the bananas are
still on the tree and not quite ready to pick? Thanks
Randy
-----Original Message----- From: Doreen Howard
[mailto:gardendiva@charter.net] Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2006
10:24 PM To: North American Fruit Explorers Subject: Re:
[NAFEX] Good tasting banana for a container
Raji Puri. It grows 6-8 feet, is fairly
cold-hardy (down to 15F) and fruits in 8 months. It's the sweetest,
best-tasting banana I've ever grown. I don't grow them now, as I live on
the Wisconsin-Illinois border, but I spent a decade on the Texas Gulf Coast
(zone 9) where bananas dotted the landscape. I've tried over a dozen
varieties and like Raji Puri the best for taste. Don't bother with Dwarf
Cavendish. The fruit is touted as the grocery store banana, but in
reality, what you grow doesn't taste as good. And, avoid the cold-hardy
bananas, as they are very starchy--almost plantains.
BTW, don't cut off the banana top when you bring
it indoors. You want it to shut down gradually and drop its leaves if
you are storing it in a dark area such as a basement. Lay it on its
side, if height is the issue. Bananas are like celery. They grow
from the center.