This exciting new short season banana, ‘Kokopo’ goes from planting to fruiting in just 7-8 short months, much faster than most other banana varieties. If planted in the spring, it should produce fruit by fall. This is a game changer for northern gardeners who grow in containers. The bloom to harvest time is only 5-6 weeks, and fruiting begins once the plant is at least 3’ tall. ‘Kokopo’ has orange-tinted fruit that’s high in vitamin A and beta carotene. It can be eaten fresh when ripe or used in cooking. People report that ‘Kokopo’ has gourmet tasting fruit. Originating in Papua, New Guinea, the tree is fairly thin and lightweight, an added bonus for gardeners growing in containers. Grow in full sun with lots of water and fertilizer.
