Gardeners' World- the fruit garden-part 3

Similarly, the banana tree is sheltering its crop beneath the shade of its big leaves.

In England we only ever see the larger bananas-which I understand all derive from one original plant.
In Guyana, I have seen a number of varieties on sale: small fruits, with each banana the length of a finger- and bunches looking like "hands", named as Custard bananas, Apple bananas, Pineapple bananas; and some larger varieties too.

Bananas in Guyana are always ripe when you buy, and last only a day or two before becoming over-ripe, soft and black skinned. They are beautifully sweet to eat.