legumepole

So I have an unknown variety that originated in Guatemala, but has been spread arround Woodland and Davis, CA for the last decade or so.
It is relativly cold hardy and seems well adapted here.

Mine is pushing a flag leaf today!
The psudo stem is ~ 8 ft tall and the thing is about to flower.

I had hoped it wouldnt flower untill next spring.

How long do fruit take to ripen from the time of flowering?
Do I have even a remote chance of ripening fruit that are bieng produced on a flower at the end of august?

I usually get my first frost in mid to late December (but it can hapen earlier).

The plant is in a very sheltered spot, near the south facing wall of my house; I am tempted to build a tepe style greenhouse to protect the bunch into the winter...is it worth trying?

I am sure my neighbors would love a giant ugly PVC pipe, plastic drop cloth, and binder clip "greenhouse" in my front yard

If there is no hope of ripening them, i will plan to make fried "plantains" for thanksgiving dinner.

Your personal experiences and expert advice are aprecieated.

Thanks,

Jeff (Woodland, CA)

sunfish

My experience has been minimum 5 months