What Is in the Center of Ripe Bananas?

Flowers

• The banana fruit growth begins with the appearance of an inflorescence from the plant's center. The inflorescence is initially an oval-shaped, tapered, purple bud that reveals rows of nectar-filled, tubular, toothed, white flowers upon opening. The flowers in the five to 15 rows are female. Other rows contain sterile flowers and normal staminate ones containing abortive ovaries. All flowers except the female ones drop as fruit develops, and these comprise the ripe fruit's center.

Fruit Development

• The ovaries in the female flower rapidly develop into fruit clusters referred to as hands. Fruit size ranges between 2-½ to 12 inches with a width of ¾ to 2 inches depending on variety. When the ripe fruit is cut lengthwise in half, there are dark brown specks visible in the center. These are the remainders of ovules from the female flowers. Bananas do not contain any seeds. However, the cross-pollination of cultivated bananas with wild varieties sometimes results in seeds in fruit center.

Fruit Growth Stages

• Bananas stalks start developing during summer and continue through fall and winter. The fruit starts plumping at a fast rate during March and is often ready for harvest in April. Depending on weather conditions, fruit stalks sometimes develop during early summer and are ready for harvest before winter. Ripeness is indicated by moderate green color and well-plumped fruit. Place green bananas in a cool, shaded spot for complete ripening, indicated by yellow skin color and soft flesh.

Storage Suggestions

• Avoid exposing bananas to very hot or cold temperatures, as the fruit is very fragile. Do not place unripe, green bananas in the refrigerator, as this disrupts the ripening process. Fruit later returned to room temperature often fail to ripen. Let the fruit ripen before storing in the fridge. This affects the skin color, causing it to darken, but does not affect the flavor or texture of the fruit itself.