Passion fruit fines

heidiplants · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 32

Hi all,
Was wondering if anyone has had experience with growing passion fruits in Arizona? We have 2 fines I am afraid they aren't doing that great.

WE planted them in March in North Chandler.

About 2 months ago it started looking yellow. WE added some bone meal and some blood meal but it is still getting worst. And some new compost around the base. We are flood watering it with 5 gallons every two days. About 1 month ago we were watering it 2 gallons every two days.

Please look at photos

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:05 am Post subject:

Mine look the same way every summer. The scalding you see on the leaves is caused by the heat. Your vines actually look relatively good. As soon as it gets cooler they'll start to look better again. If we don't get hammered by any hard freezes this winter you are likely to get flowers next spring followed by fruit. You might even get some flowers this Fall. The only problem with flowers in the Fall is that the fruit ripen very slowly over the winter.

If you plants get frozen to the ground they will likely recover from their roots, so don't give up on them.

Also, the paleness you see is partly caused by the heat, but could also be lack of nitrogen. Try some fish emulsion 5-1-1. Passionfruit can also handle stronger chemical fertilizers but you need to be extra conservative with it when its really hot out.

Let us know how it goes.

heidiplants · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 32

So I have finally got my first flower! It opened up and I used a soft paintbrush to help to ensure that it got pollinated. My question is, how long until I would see signs of fruit? How long for it to become ripe!

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:25 pm Post subject:

It's only a couple of months from flower to fruit if I recall correctly. Congratulations! Keep in mind, the fruit aren't really ripe until they drop.

heidiplants · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 32

one week after passion fruit flower opened

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:50 pm Post subject:

Looking good.

heidiplants · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 32

so the 2 vines have been flowering like mad the last couple of weeks. Yesterday we got 5 flowers, today 4 flowers. Seems like we get atleast one flower a day the only thing is the only signs of fruit was the first one. Approx 3 weeks ago it flowered. The others are just not taking. I have hand pollinated them all. Is it too hot? Or do we stand a chance of getting more fruit. It was obvious the first one was fruiting at one week.

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:19 pm Post subject:

I doubt its too hot. You'll probably get some more fruit I'd guess.

heidiplants · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 32

OK, last week we probably got about 70 flowers between the 2 vines. I can count at least 20 fruits forming. Quite a few of the fruits are already a lot bigger than the original one. Hope they turn out good.

Thinking on, I have read that you are suppose to cut back the vine as soon as all the fruit drop. Is this true?

thanks

heidiplants · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 32

its fruiting

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:35 pm Post subject:

Your fruit looks great!

No, I wouldn't cut them back. I never have. Besides in the middle of summer they will get baked back some anyways, so its better have some coverage, and in the winter a thicker plant will tolerate frost better.

heidiplants · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 32

I am just wondering if there will be some kind of sign that they are about to drop off and be ready such as a color change or something. Its been almost 2 months since the first flower

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 9:45 pm Post subject:

They'll start changing to a purple color.

heidiplants · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 32

still waiting for the fruit to ripen. First fruit started to form March 25th. Flowered and seem to produce fruit for a bout 6 weeks. The vines must have approx 70 fruit on them.

No sign of colour change yet. Some of the fruit are started to get soft to squeeze hope they start changing colour soon.

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:08 pm Post subject:

The true sign they are ripe is when they drop. The color change is variable. So, make sure you go out to check in the morning and evening to see if any have dropped. You can also just cradle them in your hand and move your hand a little bit. If they fall off they are ready.