Good solution! They'll continue to ripen after you pick them won't they?

I'm going to leave them on the plant and pick them one at a time as they ripen. I'm not sure what pulling the plant over will do, but the roots are still in the ground, so I'm hoping they will continue to mature and ripen.

Good news is that my neighbors and I are talking tomorrow about me gardening in their courtyard too, because it has more sun and we could grow veggies enough for both of us. I didn't want to do it at first, but now I'm sort of excited about it.

This year, mine started leaning over on its own and the bananas continued to ripen just fine. I did as you are thinking. and picked them as they ripened. The clump has been growing for about 9 years. This was the first year I have gotten to taste the bananas. Delicious! The most I had at one time was 21 and that was right around Christmas so, I was able to share! The previous year's stalk broke off too early and the bananas never became edible :(.

That is great news about having a second court yard to garden in!

@meg_w I'd like to maybe get a dwarf banana if I could. That way, I could reach them a lot better.

@SMC - I don't know if it will work out. The guy is o.k., but his GF is a real control freak and can get nasty when she doesn't get her way. I proposed it to them like I wanted to "borrow" their yard for my garden and pay them in veggies, but she is already saying they want this and that, so we'll see.

DG, have you considered leasing a plot at UF organic gardens?

I did for a couple of years and when visiting my kids (both went to UF) I would get a bit of exercise and garden fellowship, neat place to visit and see what other gardeners grow. in Ganiesville. It may be better than getting involved with a PITA neighbor...

https://sites.google.com/site/uforganicgardens/

https://communitygarden.org/find-a-garden/gardens/university-of-florida-organic-garden-cooperative/

@Ben Yes, I have contacted them, got on the waiting list, and I will have to wait until September most likely. I did tell them that if someone is leaving for the summer and is willing to let me use their plot, to let me know.

They have "work hours" required for the LESSEES, usually on Saturday, check their schedule. I would make a few hours available and just show up to volunteer and in your case. show them a little of your experience... and if memory serves me right, this may speed things up for you... BTW, a September lease entails a lot that is most likely been ignored all summer, and weeds that are 5-7 feet tall... that was what I found when I got my lot... am just saying..

BTW, there is a large prickly pear cactus (originally from Sicily) that I planted a few years ago at the UF gardens on the south side fence line, looks like many gardeners have taken pads and placed in various spots on their lease. These are the quality edible and sweet prickly pears... in case you like them. II have planted a bunch iin my property.

@Ben - I told her I would be willing to tend someone's plot for the summer if they wanted me to. Figure I could at least get some southern peas and okra in.

That prickly pear must be the same kind they have at McCrorie garden downtown. Probably someone brought it there from the UF garden. Everybody takes a piece of it for their yard or their plot, plus they transplant all the mint and sweet potato volunteers into their plots. That's where I got my red sweet potatoes and my spearmint.

ETA: When I got my plot at McCrory, it had been taken over with Oxalis. Never did get all of it out.