Re: 9 months minimum?, flower to mature fruit?
I'm in San Jose, CA. We get a few nights a year in the 20s. I wrote an article for our California Rare Fruit Growers newsletter about Veinte Cohol two years ago, after interviewing one of the researchers.
There were actually other bananas mentioned n that research. I planted most of them in huge containers on my balconies, which aren't enclosed but are a few degrees warmer than the outside air due to wind protection and heat leakage from the house. Interestingly, VC was the least vigorous grower of the group! Maybe it's because we have very dry heat here.
The others were Kandarian (getting ready to bloom for me), Sweetheart, Dwarf Orin., Ice Cream, Dwarf Namwah and Goldfinger. In my experience, these are much more rapid growers here. They might also work for you, as they are on the cold hardy side.
Lisa
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