Bananas

It never ceases to amaze me how bananas grow. They are a fast growing plant which grows from a tiny little two leaf plant to a ten foot beautiful, leafy tree in about 12 to 14 months. I have about a dozen trees at present and ten of them should have fruit  within the month.

Almost like a miracle this tree shows no sign of producing other than it is healthy when overnight this very large and dense branch crops out of the center of the tree. Within two days a purple enlarged flower is produced and tiny bananas show from beneath each purple leaf. This process may take several days or two weeks but the result is a bunch of bananas held by the center stock hanging upside down. The bananas grow in hands. From under each purple leaf there is a hand of small fruit. These bunches are called hands and may have as many as twenty bananas in each hand.

Some stocks hold up to 25 hands so you end up with several hundred bananas in each stock. These bananas are called by many names but the ones we have are called apple bananas. These bananas are less than half the size of regular bananas but are twice as sweet. To take full advantage of the fruit you may pick a few hands at a time. Last year when my son was here they all appeared and ripened at the same time. You then share with friends and neighbors.

Banana trees have a cruel fate. After they produce bunch of bananas they die but not before sprouts appear at the base of the mature tree.I look forward to eating some of this sweet fruit by April and seeing the new trees beginning to show a new generation of the best bananas in the world.

Today was a good garden day as our butter lettuce was ready for eating and our yellow beans and tomatoes began to flower. Growing in Florida is a pleasure.