Ice Cream Banana Harvest!!! | How to Harvest and Store Backyard Bananas

A year and a half after planting, it's time for our "Ice Cream" Banana Harvest! "Ice Cream" banana (AKA "blue java") put out its banana flower about 5 months ago, and is just now ready to harvest. This usually takes just 2-3 months, so it's possible the cold weather delayed it. In this video, I bring you along for our Ice Cream banana harvest, and show you how to store the banana once you've gotten the bunch off of the stalk.
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[@TheBusyGardener]

What types of bananas have you grown and harvested? Any tips you've got? Affiliate link to the Corona saw I used to cut this down. Good for tree branches up to 7 inches: amzn.to/37qW5WG

[@historyfan-cg3zp]

Banana apple tree/ apple banana tree (the bananas have a hint of apple)

[@hwatkinsiv]

I believe mine are goldfinger variety, that are fruiting right now. Last year I received pups from a friend that have red pseudostems with leaves that are variegated green with dark red stripes and solid red underneath. I am wondering if these are the ornamental red banana or a fruiting redskin variety?

[@lifeontheborderline1522]

I would love any ideas on how to identify what kind of bananas you have if you don’t already know 😅

[@NJCALI]

Wow we learn something new everyday great content

[@Danfoodforest]

Nice rack of bananas Will be some good eats

[@theaussie7160]

i once had two bunches of bananas grow from the one plant i got 24 hands

[@GardenloveHomestead]

This was a great video. Thanks for sharing. Cant wait to get bananas in my orchard 🤗🤗🤗

[@TheBusyGardener]

Thanks, Diana! You've got so many more options in your new space

[@jennifercdiva1]

Great video . I have started planting bananas in my yard and I saw your video and learned a lot . Thanks . Your plants are beautiful btw

[@BBN358]

Great video buddy..Thank you...🙏😎

[@SurfSedona]

excellent basics

[@TheBusyGardener]

Thanks for watching!!

[@pauliewalnuts2007]

Love your videos as always 😉

[@TheBusyGardener]

You're the best!

[@kimwilliams7051]

Good videos

[@TheBusyGardener]

Glad you think so, Kim!😀

[@organicgrow4440]

Awesome very well done! I just watched my first video on your channel when you planted the java banana, nice to see it being harvested. I’m hoping my ice cream flowers this summer here in Syd, Aus too. 🌱 🍌

[@TheBusyGardener]

Thanks so much! Just today I ate the MOST delectable banana shake, which was just 6 frozen bananas, a cup of milk, and a few ice cubes. Crazy how tasty

[@ellena858]

Nice info. I’m wondering when to cut off the flower. The University of Florida says to hang the rack by the flower stem.

[@butterlite100]

I never knew bananas are berries!! And I never knew they were called “hands” ! Thanks for an awesome video and for not cutting off my hands! 😂

[@TheBusyGardener]

Isn't that crazy?!?

[@lifeontheborderline1522]

Just started living on a farm with several banana stands, very interested in how to care for them. This video was so great! Love your personality and appreciate having several ways to do each of the steps. We have a stand that is precariously close to a creek bed, making harvesting with a ladder difficult. Your solution to cut at the base will help a lot, and save a BUNCH of bananas! 🍌 Many thanks!

[@TheBusyGardener]

I appreciate the encouragement! Thanks for watching

[@naamansalas]

It looked a little sketchy when you tied that noose in your garage lol. Great video!

[@TheBusyGardener]

Right?? 😬😂 I actually reshot the intro to that because I was talking about "hanging" the bunch, and thought it would be a distraction.

[@kibsnick]

now i want a blue banana tree...😊

[@SmileySunrise]

So interesting! We had some kind of a banana tree in our backyard in Anaheim when I was growing up. I am remembering we only got fruit about every three years, and it wasn't a big bunch like you got. Maybe they were plantains? I hope you give a follow up on the ripening process. Thanks for sharing! :-)

[@TheBusyGardener]

These bananas didn't last long enough in our house to shoot that, lol! I post stuff to my IG that shows some of this stuff, and recently shared some stories where I was showing the bananas. instagram.com/thebusygardeners/

[@Cheezitnator]

Lol I just had to cut my entire banana bunch down because the plant is withering already. It was bend down just enough didn't need a ladder.

[@hwatkinsiv]

@thebusygardener my bunch down here in Palm Bay, FL is starting to lighten in color but also with some dark striating along the length of the finger peels.. should I start to harvest or wait? Current I have 5 rather large hands in my whole bunch.

[@spacematerial2]

we use a bread knife to cut ours. works awesome

[@TheBusyGardener]

That's great! Long blade and can cut through the fibers

[@kuinagel]

Nice vid. I love me bananas. I hang the stalk up side down. Just so the fruit, I mean berry hangs down. Less stress on the hands especially if you have like two or three stalks hanging around and bananas are ripening faster than you can eat them. They last a lil longer on the stalk.

[@TheBusyGardener]

That's a great tip! We've got many here who like ripe banana, so probably never need to slow it down, but once we're getting multiple bunches, we'll know what to do!

[@richardburnaii5165]

My Blue Java Banana tree has finally bloomed.

[@TheBusyGardener]

A wonderful moment!

[@JasonEngman]

My limited experience suggestions for others is to cut the stock a little higher up for easier hanging. Some of mine have been really straight near the fruit and can slip off a knot when you have a lot of banana weight.

[@TheBusyGardener]

Good call! I was originally going to wrap it beneath the first hand of bananas, but think your option makes a ton of sense

[@daryld.johnsonartist2179]

Thank you for this excellent video. I have an ice cream banana tree that is fruiting. Just moved to New Orleans from New Hampshire and don't know ANYTHING about tropical plants. I need all the help I can get!

[@TheBusyGardener]

We all start somewhere! Nice work on getting some fruit 💪

[@naumikaur7459]

Hi , fabulous video again, so nice seeing the whole bunch of Bananas.what variety of Banana was it please? Was this plant outside and planted through one winter or over wintered indoors please ? As it’s about 18 months old, guessing has been through a winter. Unripe Bananas ( Plantains ) are great as vegetable for cooking. Thanks

[@TheBusyGardener]

Thanks for watching! These are our "Nam Wah" bananas and only ever planted outside straight into the ground. We see a little leaf die-back, but have always survived

[@Steve-ps6qw]

It gets that cold in SoCal? We moved from Miami, FL (zone 10) to Ocala, FL (zone 9) and we just bought an ice cream banana tree today!! Thanks for the video!

[@SeraphimKensai]

They should work well in Ocala just be careful for any frosts in the winter. If it happens the leaves will turn brown and fall around the pseudostem. Don't cut them off until mid March and your banana plant should be producing new leaves. I have about 10 of these things in my backyard over in Palm Coast, with 2 actively fruiting.

[@williamsapeh1669]

Wow

[@TheBusyGardener]

Probably the most fun fruit growing in the orchard right now!

[@peterstevens6555]

My banana tree here in Auckland, New Zealand has just started signs of giving me bananas but it still Winter here and Spring wouldn't get here till about September ...do I have to put a black plastic bag around the bananas to keep them warm?!

[@TheBusyGardener]

I think it depends on what type of Banana you've got and what low temps you see! The danger of cold is any part of the stalk or leaves being killed off by cold as well as the bananas themselves.

[@LeverActionLarry]

Learned a lot! Thanks! The nerd edit haha

[@TheBusyGardener]

Glad you enjoyed it! Plant nerds, UNITE! 😂

[@practicingpreparedness100]

I have extrem clay soil, how should I prepare it? How far down to dig

[@organicgrow4440]

Are you in Aus? Same issue for me in Syd, bananas don’t really have a deep root, just build the soil & thick mulch it, plant it high on top not too deep in & drop grass clippings all around it will compost, build & feed the soil/plant.

[@mariavontrapp4632]

Any tips for finding a reputable source for getting ice cream bananas? Looking forward to planting some but I want to make sure I get the real deal.

[@TheBusyGardener]

Great question! I think any seller that acknowledges that it's confirmed Ice Cream banana and indicates they know there's a difference is a good start. Or getting one from someone who already has grown plants and has confirmed it. Otherwise, it's hard to tell

[@DaveTheBigTomato]

Mmm. I have a few ice creams. If you cut up the "tree" into small pieces and spread them around, as well as the smaller leaves, it will fertilize your next batch. That's what we do here in Punta Gorda...

[@TheBusyGardener]

We do it! Natural mulch and feed 🙌

[@penny6798]

You forgot to add what to do with the pseudo-stem after harvesting the bananas.In many countries they eat the flower and inner stalk sections too. My experience is to run the stem through a mulcher or chop down small and compost under the other pseudo-stems along with a good amount of compost (home mix here - general house and garden waste, chicken manure and wood ash) oh and your banana peels of course.

[@TheBusyGardener]

Good call, Penny! We chop up and put the spent stalks and leaves at the base of the plants like they do in commercial groves. We'll probably get to a point where we're utilizing the stalk and flower as food, but for now it's banana plant food

[@arnoldsmit1978]

Hello thnx 4 the vid ! Why not let the fruits ripe on the tree ? Aren't they become not sweeter when riping on the tree? Greetz from Holland

[@TheBusyGardener]

Hi Arnold! Bananas ripen off the tree, so they're more than ready to cut off as soon as they begin turning a little yellow.

[@Gina-yy5fe]

They do become sweeter the longer left on tree

[@ramiroaandrade729]

Where you able to eat them? I harvested some early March and it seems like they are not ready. The flower buds came out mid August.

[@TheBusyGardener]

Yeah, we were able to eat them and they were tasty! The Nam Wah bananas ended up needing to be almost uniformly dark brown before they were ripe, unlike store bought bananas

[@Bonasita2]

I am about to harvest our first batch of ice cream bananas. We are in Central Florida and it is still quite hot here. Do I need to store these indoors to ripen if the temps are still around 90? I have a covered, screened in patio and would love to hang them out there if possible. Thanks!

[@TheBusyGardener]

You can hang them out there in the shade. Congrats on the harvest!

[@Bonasita2]

@@TheBusyGardener thanks!

[@jenniferscott3176]

thank u I love ur stand way better then the plastic 2x4 I use. so I had a large amount of bananas growing I used to farm my little backyard well had everything I always grew papaya with my bananas but I was in a accident lost half my brain and can't remember why I also can't remember what I used to do my youngest son said that I used to wrap the hands it's been 6 years since I've been able to get to my back yard as I was disabled from the accident and have finally gotten to walk again I wanted to gets my plants back to the way they were I have a helper who comes but I can't remember what to do my bananas seem to be ripening on the outside but the inside is hard like inside so only the outside seems to be soft do u have any idea what I'm doing wrong my son swears I wrapped the ends of the hands up but we just tried with the last batch we took off and that didn't work either unfortunately I never wrote anything down I also worry that they are not treated as they used to be I used to have chickens that would spend the middle of the day cooling off in the bananas area they were great at mixing up the ground around them leaving Fertilizer and eating all the pesky bugs around them and keeping from having pudding water that grew mosquitoes but I'm not well enough to take care of chickens as much as I need to in order to keep them as I live in a big city and the rules are no smell it was a full time job back in the day after my accident my family took all my farm animals to auction as I wasn't able to milk the goats 2times a day clean the pens compost everything it was all a working system that worked together and even my 20 bee hives that thrived so much I was able to have 3 supers a box all swarmed and some died out no one was able to care for them as I did as I didn't use any pesticides for anything my son was born with allergies so I had to grow everything for him to survive he can't have milk other then goat sheep he is so allergic so I was able to give him a normal life before any that stuff existed now days he can buy that at special stores but I used to make him ice cream yogurt cheese make sure his eggs were pure he would have reaction with store bought even had quail which he did better with luckily my accident was when he was grown enough and the world changed enough for him to survive but I would really like to figure out what I used to do to make the bananas good again they used to be way better then store bought ones but I can't seem to get the texture to ripe correctly any advice would be greatly appreciated. my son is coming back from college to live with me and to take over the house so I can live at home as long as I can I currently have a assist helper who comes everyday to help me and around my home and knows nothing of gardening the automated systems seems to still be in working order just need to be cleaned up and replanted.

[@TheBusyGardener]

Is it possible you're not letting the hands ripen long enough? Wrapping them might be causing the issue

[@Pbirks24]

I watched another video and they suggested hanging them up the other way around . Bananas Hanging down . Does it matter which way you hang it ?? I am just about to harvest mine… and have never done it before so I am trawling videos 😄

[@TheBusyGardener]

I've hung them in this orientation for my 3 bunches, and they've all ripened up correctly! I'm not aware of any difference with either method. You've got this!

[@davidwelty9763]

28 degrees will frost the leaves but will not kill the tree.

[@TheBusyGardener]

I know the plant is hardy down to those temps, but didn't know how it would affect the fruit stalk tissue. We ended up having some leaf die-back that week from the cold temps.

[@gravediggy]

Was that a bong in the garage on the shelve ?

[@TheBusyGardener]

Lol!! It's a hand blown glass "float"

[@leynadbra1610]

U gotta show if they really became blue when the days goes on !!! I'm curious about the blue colour !!

[@TheBusyGardener]

"Blue Java" are blue before they begin ripening!

[@realMysta]

Did you keep these going? Btw I think you have Namwa bananas - they're a little different than blue java.

[@TheBusyGardener]

They're going strong! And they're a totally Namwah. 😂

[@currentsitguy]

We're in Zone 6a, been growing this Blue Java now for 3 years. Every spring we plant it, and every winter we dig it up and bring it into our living room. Today we just got tiny little bananas, yea!! It's the end of August and I know they're not going to be ready before winter. Any thoughts or advice about bringing this in and not losing the bananas?

[@TheBusyGardener]

Congrats on the bananas! Try to avoid disturbing the roots as little as possible. You can always pick the bunch when they aren't full ripe, and allow them to ripen off the stalk. Let me know how it goes! 😊 🍌

[@timgallantree]

Great vid, thanks. I also hang my bananas in the garage - my partner says it will absorb the fumes from paints and chemicals?!?! I notice however your bananas are really clean and plump, mine are tiny, and full of block marks, black ends and some attached by birds - how do you avoid that?

[@TheBusyGardener]

I haven't done much to specifically avoid any issues with my bananas except for cutting off leaves that are tattered or dead. Birds haven't found my fruit yet! But then again I don't wait till mine are yellow to pick, so that might help

[@Akitten84]

I just watched your banana vid from 11mos ago, with the choco taco story, and when I hit play on this one I got a drumstick ice cream ad.. they’re watching you 👀 Ok shhh I’m gonna watch this banana video now. Edit: Aww man, I thought you’d end it with eating one. How were they?!

[@Gina-yy5fe]

The core of the stalk can be eaten. So can the flower.

[@morgancari76]

I harvested mine when they were green and they tasted Chalkie. I think I harvested too early. Can I wait until they turn yellow to harvest?

[@Gina-yy5fe]

Yes you can

[@nathangoodfellow5260]

Fast Question: after hanging the bunch from a rope how long does it usually take to ripen ?

[@TheBusyGardener]

Depends on a few issues: 1) How ripe they were prior to harvest 2) how warm the storage environment is (warmer is faster). Generally speaking, it's taking a couple weeks-ish or so for us, but very variable

[@Gina-yy5fe]

It ripens super fast where I live!

[@Steve-ps6qw]

lol, i love the nerd alert!

[@adriannaendres2259]

I just harvested my bananas, I only got 2 racks from her. She started in June and I just cut them I wanted to give them time but they never turned yellow so I just snipped ‘em so I’m hopeful

[@MARS-GREENH0USE]

4:55😅😅

[@TheBusyGardener]

😂

[@daytonoreilly1754]

how do you get this in the uk

[@TheBusyGardener]

Check your local nursery and ask them to special order. It's possible these won't grow well, depending on your temps

[@growingcrazy4481]

How did they taste?

[@TheBusyGardener]

Tasted great! Much more dense than store bought Cavendish, and they're not ripe till they are fully brown

[@maximusjoseppi5904]

What exactly are the signs of ripening? You don't wait until they're yellow to cut them? I have an ice cream banana tree and the banana bunch is about 3 months old now, chubby green bananas, I'm just not sure when to cut them down like you did

[@TheBusyGardener]

I waited till I saw a little yellowing in the bunch to cut them down. That gave me enough of an indicator that they were probably mature enough. It worked!

[@maximusjoseppi5904]

@@TheBusyGardener oh great, thank you very much!

[@Okorokanze2000]

Damn girl, you got some big racks on you. What Beverly Hills doctor did your racks job. “Girl, this ain’t no Dr. Beverly Hills, I got this from the. Busy gardener. “ lol Congrats, looks like your pole is holding up. It’s time for that patent. “Where’s Shark tank cast when you need one. “

[@innerjon]

So are they herbs or berries?

[@TheBusyGardener]

Herbaceous berries! 😂

[@joshuahoyer1279]

Was this a true blue java? I keep hearing lately that many "blue java" ice cream bananas are actually Namwa variety, and were either mislabeled by suppliers, or outright misrepresented as blue java. We just got one, so now I'm moderately curious if ours could be one of those unfortunate bait and switches. But since it's such a tiny plant, we won't know for probably three years up here near Salem, OR!

[@TheBusyGardener]

Nope! It's definitely part of the "ice cream"/Namwah mixup. But the Namwah are great!

[@turbopete7794]

Where do you live in So Cal? It’s not that cold in OC

[@TheBusyGardener]

The foothills of Rancho Cucamonga. Much less temperate than the OC. You guys have really stable temps

[@turbopete7794]

@@TheBusyGardener we do but I wish they were less stable. Want more chill hours!

[@TheBusyGardener]

@@turbopete7794 I know it! We're spoiled in being able to plant whenever we want, but the tradeoff is it's not cold enough, for long enough, when we want it to be! We get around 300-400 chill hours here typically. Though, there are a bunch of normally "high chill" apples performing well in OC! Have you seen Dave Wilson Nursery's videos on this test in Irvine?

[@turbopete7794]

@@TheBusyGardener yep I have. My apples seem to do fine. I’m worried about some of my stone fruit not waking up this year. I think we’re at 250 hour here but hope to get some more. Peaches/nectarines are waking up now but not plums/pluots/apricots. That heat wave last month may have messed up the trees. Anyways I enjoy watching your videos.

[@matthewfarrell317]

@@TheBusyGardener The more I see people talk about things like chill hours, and not having enough, the more blessed I feel about my growing space, we get 800-1000 chill hours and yet only have 3 maybe 4 nights below 0C. I have a northern highbush blueberry growing under a mango.

[@mangofever4681]

My dwarf banana tree's banana is long like the Chiquita brand banana and its easier to maintain. To me banana taste like banana, but I would be able to tell if they came from my ice cream, apple or long banana in a blind taste test. My apple banana has more tang then my ice cream banana and my long banana has no tang. Furthermore, a fully ripe yellow ice cream banana taste different than a 3/4 ripe one. In its fully ripe stage it taste creamier and sweeter. My dwarf banana tree fruit cluster is bigger and heavier than my other trees, but they take longer to reach the eating stage.

[@TheBusyGardener]

It's amazing how much flavor and texture variety there is between banana cultivars!

[@mannygi1977]

Can you sell me a pup or a hand from your ice cream banana? I planted a cavendish banana but it is still small. Looks good Cameron.

[@TheBusyGardener]

Manny, it's not even an ice cream banana after all. It's a "Nam Wah" because of a huge mixup at the nursery that originally propagated them. How long ago did you plant your cavendish? You're welcome to a pup! Email me at [e-mail] and we'll set it up.

[@benjaminbroudy2982]

Where can I get blue java bananas? I live in san diego

[@TheBusyGardener]

I saw some in stock at Home Depot the other day here in Upland, CA. Check there or your local retail nursery for options

[@benjaminbroudy2982]

@@TheBusyGardener Ok guess who is going to be calling their local home depot once a week like it is some sort of religious ritual

[@benjaminbroudy2982]

@@TheBusyGardener I had looked at the home depot website (using both upland, CA locations) and I couldnt find it, so I am assuming it is one of those things where they just have it sometimes, I know it sounds like I am joking about calling them once a week but I am actually going to be putting it in my google calendar, I really would like one of these and would be fine making myself look like an insane person to my local home depot if it means getting one of them

[@TheBusyGardener]

@@benjaminbroudy2982 North Upland location had at least two a few days ago! Call their nursery department. Heads up though, it's likely "Nam Wah" and NOT "Blue Java/ Ice Cream", as there was a tissue culture mixup at the nursery that propgates these things, and has caused a major issue. My own was bought as "Ice Cream", but turns out to be "Nam Wah" (which most report to be better).

[@benjaminbroudy2982]

@@TheBusyGardener wait so the one in this video is NOT ice cream it is actually Nam Wah? Also I would totally drive up, but I am 15 and dont have a drivers license and I highly doubt my parents want to drive up 2 hours to go to home depot lol

[@bilaalmanselljones10]

Are you sure those bananas aren't Namwah bananas?

[@TheBusyGardener]

They are Namwah! I checked the fruit and it's totally not "Ice Cream". 😢 although Namwah is considered a better tasting cultivar.

[@nattelatte1100]

I kinda got a little concerned when I saw you tie the bananas. 😬

[@TheBusyGardener]

Agreed, not the best look! 😮😬

[@jkj1459]

Talk talk talk

[@TheBusyGardener]

Talk talk talk talk talk talk talk 😂

[@mu99ins]

The selfie mode is not for men. Girls, yes, women maybe, men.....no. Do I need to explain why? I will if you can't figure it out.

[@TheBusyGardener]

You know what... I'm gonna selfie EVEN HARDER...

[@RyosukeTakahashiRX7]

Did you ever grow actual Blue Javas? I only ever see Namwahs :/

[@TheBusyGardener]

Never got blue Java 😢. But the Nam Wah is GOOOOOD, so I'm not crying over here