I've just eaten
the first banana from one of the trees in my own yard. It was small to
middle sized, sweet and delicious. I live on the side of Volcan Baru,
the tallest mountain in Panama. I'm at 4,700 ft. ASL and the top of the
mountain is 11,400 ft.
It is really too
high and cool to grow bananas at my place. However, a part-time worker
transplanted five banana trees 3 or 4 years ago. The first tree to
produce was blown down by a gust from a freak wind storm before the
fruit could mature. The second bunch has been hanging on another tree
for several months. It takes a long time for them to mature, especially
at higher altitudes.
Two and one-half
weeks ago a local friend pronounced this bunch ready and cut it off of
the tree. I hung the stalk on the back porch. They were very green and
I thought that they would never ripen. However, today I noticed that
many are showing some yellow. There are over 40 bananas on the stalk.
The question now is; what do I do with so many? Anyone want to come
down and make a banana creme pie? Fried bananas? Banana pudding? A
banana and peanut butter sandwich? A banana split? Ideas ??
I don't think
that my 4 dogs will be able to help, so come on down. I'll even meet you
at the airport in David, Panama; 45 miles from here. Oh, and bring your camera because you'll hate yourself if you forget it.
