Bananas

[PlantSwap]

I just enjoyed a smoothie with 3 small bananas that I harvested from the banana trees in the back yard. I inherited the banana pups from Johnny T. (local plant swap veterans know who she is) a few years ago at one of the first plant swaps I ever attended.

This was my first edible banana harvest (previous years, the bananas set too late and got killed by winter's first cold snap).

I was surprised that the bananas were really sweet and not soapy at all. They were just like store bought bananas except about 1/3 the size.

[Sunny]

Did you harvest the bananas when they were yellow? I have a stalk of them that I am not sure are old enough to pick. I am afraid the cold coming in will get them. I know you can pick the stalk when it is green and the bananas will ripen on it. I just don't know at what green stage they will be ready to pick.

[PlantSwap]

They were still green, but the bananas had stopped growing (in length) and had been hanging there for a while. Once the stalk was cut, the bananas turned yellow within a day or so.

[Sunny]

Were they real hard when you picked them?

[PlantSwap]

Yes, they were still hard when we cut them down.

[Sunny]

Good. I think with the cold coming in I will cut them down Wednesday. Thanks for all of your help.

[Gram18]

WOW I am green with envy!! Fresh bananas!! That sounds delightful, the smoothie, mmmmmm can almost taste it. hahahaha

[PlantSwap]

Yes, they were surprisingly good. Sunny, I've also got another bunch that I've got to cut down Wednesday (before the cold snap comes on Thursday).

[weddy]

The inner leaves of the banana blossom are creamy white in color and are the part eaten. I like to compare banana flowers to artichokes. They have a similar taste, and like artichokes, you end up discarding a lot of the banana bud before you get to the edible part.
To be in Thailand When the Bananas are Blossoming

I haven't tried this, but found it interesting. I am guessing it has to be from a banana tree that's edible (I didn't know there were inedible banana trees until recently).

I've also heard some people have eaten sunflower heads, before the seeds develop, and say they taste like artichoke. I can't find that article again though. I haven't tried this one either.

[lcosden]

Those of you in Texas are so lucky to be able to grow banana's outdoors. I live in NY and have to keep my banana indoors during the winter. It's difficult to keep it moist and humid in the winter with the our forced air heater. And the fact that we travel almost full-time for work doesn't help the plant either.. Wish it was warm enough for me to leave the banana plant out.