Effect of Time of Planting on Yields and Processing Characteristics of Plantains

Research was conducted to determine the feasibility of spreading plantain production for processing purposes throughout the year by establishing monthly plantings. The experiments were established at the Corozal Substation using a Maricongo-type commercial cultivar. The results obtained showed that when monthly plantings were established beginning in April 1967, the plantings established during the first six months started to bloom within a period of 76 days, reaching peak production during the summer. The fruit reached the proper stage for harvesting in about 90 days after shooting, irrespective of the time of planting. The processing quality of the fruit was not affected by the time of planting and harvesting. A sensory evaluation of frozen plantain slices prepared from fruit harvested during the entire year showed that the quality of the processed frozen plantain slices was acceptable throughout a 12-month harvesting period, provided the fruit was harvested when its pulp content approximated 60 percent. Variations in processing yields due to variations in the weight of the fruit and the number of fruits per bunch, which in turn resulted from seasonal effects, were within the limits considered normal for commercially-harvested fruit. The study suggests the possibility of spreading plantain production by scheduling the plantings to avoid the summer production peak.