Expert: C.L. Fornari - 9/21/2002

Question
We live in Kentucky and have planted banana trees for fun. This year we have a huge pod that has produced little bananas. The bananas are about 6 inches long and there are about 36 of them. We understand that the season will not allow them to mature, however, my husband wants to cut them and hang them. Do you know if there is anything we might do to ripen them? Will they be any good?
Thank you.... Anita....  

Answer
Anita,
I am assuming that the Banana is in the ground, not in a pot.  I have two banana trees in pots, and I bring them indoors for the winter and they do just fine.  Kind of lends a jungle look to the dining room...

If the plant is in the ground, leave the string of bananas on as long as possible.  You will need to pick it before hard frost, and I would probably pick it once the night temps start droping close to 40 degrees.  If you put it in a cardboard box with a couple of apples they will help the bananas ripen.  (Apples give off a gas that helps other fruit get ripe.)  It is hard to know if they will be good or not, because it depends on how far along in their development they are before you have to pick them.  But what have you got to lose? The worst that will happen is that they won't taste good and you can put them in your compost.  Bananas make great compost ingredients!  My grandmother used to bury her banana skins around her roses and swore by it!

all the best,
C.L. Fornari