I have been driving everyone mental for weeks over these bananas.
Do you think they are ready? Well, when are they ready? How do you know when they are ready? Here, look at these, are they ready? If you were me would you say they were ready? Should I cut them down now, are they ready?
Mental.
Today I was very excited as my parents were coming to visit. I would normally be excited about that anyway, but I was extra excited because I knew we could discuss the readiness of the bananas for quite some time.
Upon their arrival my obliging father allowed himself to be propelled towards the window to view the bananas.
"Do you think they're ready dad?"
"Well, why don't you cut the bottom hand off and see if they ripen up okay?"
What a champion. Thanks dad.
I was in my element... I do so adore a bit of chopping down. Even when the photo is taken after the fact.
Everyone gathered to watch.
And down they came... one hand from the bottom of the bunch.
We cut down 16 bananas, and they weighed 1.5kg. They seem ready, they look exactly like any banana I've ever seen anyway. I've no idea how they'll go, but don't worry, I will not let you miss out on any of it!
I'm not sure we'll win any prizes for them, but I am about as chuffed as I get.
23 comments:
Nice one, Ali! You look very cute up that tree, you little Monkey.
Presumably you haven't eaten any of them yet, or you would have told us whether they are / were any good... I suppose you have to ripen them indoors now. [I just hate that term that supermarkets use for unripe fruit: "for Home Ripening"]
BTW: I sent you an email yesterday - have you seen it?
Hee hee, I am posing Hazel :) Like most people I don't really like photographs of myself, but that one's far enough away to be okay!
Mark at the deli counter in supermarkets here they label fish, "thawed for your convenience". Got to love the wording.
I will ripen them off the tree, and I will let some ripen on there. I have heard that they are not as sweet if left to ripen on the tree, and so I thought I'd see for myself.
I am also am afraid the bats will decimate them overnight, I've no idea how quickly they ripen, but have heard that once it starts it's quite quick... putting all that aside though, I just couldn't wait any longer to play a bit more with them!
An email hey... how blooming exciting, I will go and take a look right now!
They look good champion gardener, see you Thursday x
Jodie you gorgeous young thing, if you'd been around I would have been sticking those bananas right under your nose!
Do you think it was okay to cut some down?
Wow, I've just found your blog via Mark's Veg Plot in Hampshire. What a delight! We have spent years trying to grow bananas in the UK. Not for eating of course, but for fun, and I think I will now have to persuade my husband to emigrate?
Really enjoying looking at your photos, and I am developing serious lifestyle envy.
reapwhatyougrow
all my research (yes i reseached bananas..its not that crazy really) said that when the ridges have filled out or softened over) then they are ready..yours look done....being the rest of australia is going to pay somewhere round 10 to 13 a kilo soon yours are like gold and you do look cute up that tree :)
FarmGirl, Elaine (who comments here regularly) told me that too, lol you are good for doing research, I am lazy and post about it hoping someone will tell me what to do!
My parents actually brought me up some lovely bananas from a side of the road seller on the Gold Coast, he has great bananas, good prices too. Anyway, some of the bananas they brought me are green, just a little yellow at the ends, and mine look pretty much the same, without the yellow.
I agree with you that prices are going to skyrocket. I remember the same thing happening around 4-5 years ago, and paying a fortune for them. I feel so grateful that it looks as though I will be lucky enough to have my own little supply.
It will also give me a little thrill to share them around. Finally an abundance from my garden!
ReapWhatYouGrow, thank you so much for your lovely comment :) I saw a banana plant growing in England on tv a little while ago, and I must admit I was quite surprised! So how do they do there? And why for fun and not for fruit? Do they not fruit at all?
Your bananas definitely look mature enough to ripen nicely. I always leave mine until a few of the bananas turn yellow. Then I either cut off hands as I need them, or cut the whole stalk and allow to ripen inside. Either way, home-grown bananas are great!
I love that bananas Ali! Im waiting for mine to flower first. Your photos are excellent! Im awarding you an award Ali, just some fun thing, the Stylish Blogger Award, do get it from my blog if you have time.
It's snowing here again in the US so it's nice to see anything green! Your bananas look lovely! I can't wait to get the final verdict.
Judy
I wish I had a banana tree too! it must be great having them around. I am sure yours will be delicious
Fer they are easily the most exciting thing that I have grown. The dramatic way they emerge and then the fun of chopping them down is just wonderful! And thank you for visiting my blog, I've been a long time lurker on yours :)
Fullfreezer, I get very excited with all the snow photos, but I would imagine that on your side the green is even more appealing with all that cold!
p3chandan, thank you so much for my award! I am off to work today, but I would love to stop by and pick it up this evening. Thank you :)
Jim I have a few more trees with bananas on them, I will try to wait until they start yellowing to pick them. I thought I'd try all sorts of methods and see what works best.
Ha, I was even less brave than you Ali... I picked one lone banana from the bottom of the bunch and it is sitting in my fruit bowl with another very ripe banana to *hopefully* ripen (hubby wanted to eat the other banana but he's not allowed lol).
Oh Donna that is the funniest thing I have every heard, One!! I thought I was being so cautious, but it seems there are those even more so than me :) Let me know how it goes, isn't it exciting!!! You'll have to post some photos on BLF too, I'd love to see them.
Oh I truly have banana-envy Ali. It must be wonderful to have those bunches growing right outside your window too!
Can understand why you're ever so slightly excited!!LOL!! :D)
Ali - I think the bananas look gorgeous - lovely and plump with no markings on them. Those green ones of ours cut last week are now ripe and edible. I'll be doing some baking today if its not too hot. Good idea to cut down just one hand at a time tho - hadn't thought of that. Because they do tend to ripen all at once. We tend to cut down the bunch and hang it on the back verandah - hand out to friends and neighbours as they ripen .... but with the price of bananas now being like gold...
You look ready to save the world with your trusty hand saw. ;)
If must be great to have bananas growing outside your window! I have only seen bananas in supermarkets and they were all yellow. So I can't tell anything about these ones...
Vrtlarica ana, it is fabulous with them right outside the windows as they provide really nice shade from the harsh afternoon sun. And of course it makes it easy to keep an eye on the bananas.
Kat, do you like my pose! I felt like a bit of a numbnut, but how could I not have one of me with my saw when the opportunity presented itself :)
Wendy that's good to know yours took a week to ripen, I have been checking mine approximately every 10 minutes, no signs of ripening yet though.
Susan, I am so glad you are up there with me in terms of excitement :) Just wait until one ripens! I am going to photograph every second of their development!
Oh your soooo lucky to be able to grow banana's up there gosh tassie weather would never allow that oh well i guess we can grow good Apples ;-)
Bananas are ready for picking when the ridges have smoothed out and the fruit becomes rounded and the little flowers on the end rub off easliy.
Anonymous, check, check and check!! They are ripening!!! One of the ones I cut down is yellow, the rest seem to be on there way.
And frugal mumma, very good apples at that I hear :)
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