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Timely Tendings: the best of bananas and avocados

 
Published Oct. 25, 2014

Good bananas all about the details

Many banana trees have large stalks of fruit now. It takes from 2 1/2 to 6 months for the bananas to mature depending upon temperatures, cultivar and cultural practices. The individual fruit should be plump with no distinct ridges. Mature fruit will turn pale green. Harvest and allow to fully ripen before eating. Bananas need fertile conditions with plenty of water for best growth and fruit production. They also require plenty of potassium. For more information on growing bananas, go to edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg040.

Time for avocados to reach maturity

Several varieties of avocado mature during the fall and winter months. Booth, Monroe, Hall, Lula, Taylor and Choquette avocados are harvested from October through February.

Avocado fruits don't ripen on the tree. Mature fruit ripens in three to eight days after it is picked. They ripen best at temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees. Cold storage can delay ripening. For more information on growing avocados, go to edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg213.