Gold Finger Banana
Musa sp.
Gold Finger Banana
‘Gold Finger’ Bananas are delicious cold hardy bananas that produce well for me in my marginal climate. Bananas will grow in a variety of climates, yet producing fruit is the hard part. In parts of Southern California people are successfully growing a multitude of varieties, yet in central and northern California it’s more difficult due to our colder and wetter winters. The fruits tend to ripen in the Winter which means they are getting the least heat of the year during their ripening window. This is where Gold Finger has stood out for me so far. The fruits ripen in the winter properly and taste fantastic, giving me a nice winter crop of bananas to hold me over for a few weeks. It’s hard to beat fresh home grown Bananas and Gold Finger bananas bring that to the table. Definitely worth growing if you are somewhere a little marginal for growing Bananas.
Family: Musaceae
Name: Musa acuminata x Musa balbisiana
Common Name / Native Name: ‘Gold Finger’ Banana
Range: Developed in Cultivation
Sun: Full sun/part shade
Height: 10 feet
Width: 10 feet
Foliage: Beautiful large green banana leaves
Flower: Small yellow flowers amongst a giant Banana infloresence
Fruit: Medium-small sized bananas in large racks 50lbs+
Soil Type/ pH: Tolerates higher pH soils
USDA Climate Zones: 9b+
Cold Hardiness: Very frost tolerant, yet production in cold climates is limited
Edibility: Very good tasting fruit when yellow and richer (not ferment-y) flavor when fruits reach a dark brown color. The fruits are sweet but not as sweet as grocery store bananas, yet having a more floral and complex taste.
Age to maturity: 2 years
Sources:
Wildlands Farm and Nursery
Wikipedia