Passion fruit planting location

mullenium · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192

I just picked up a 3.5gal passion fruit Frederick from home depot, it was the last one and has a bit of cold damage, ia know these guys are pretty hardy and it will come back so I asked if they can discount it for me so they gave it to me for half off

The damage isn't bad, just some of the leaves have a yellowish tint and a couple vines are dead on the tips... I was debating on where to plant it though and is now a good time or should I wait closer to spring?

My 2 ideal locations are either on the east side of the house which has limited sunlight due to the two story next to me.. Probably 3-4 hrs sunlight.. Or in the backyard along my western wall which will help shade it during later afternoon when the sun starts to set behind it.. The only problem with this spot I guess is the winters, I assume being next to the house would be more ideal for frost protection...ESP. Here in Maricopa.

Thanks for the input

phoenixtropicals2 · Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 1

I have mine on the eastern side of a wall on the west side of my yard and it does great there. However, you are right that it would be more frost protected during the winter next to the house.

Either way you'll end up needing to cover it during cold snaps, so maybe just go for the wall. You'll get more fruit with more sunshine.

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:06 pm Post subject:

Have you ever thought about planting a mulberry? You wouldn't have to worry about it freezing and the fruit can be amazing. The white one tastes like a really sweet white nectarine.

http://www.raintreenursery.com/catalog/producttype.cfm?producttype=MULB

mullenium · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192

I would.. but it's against my HOA's rules, its like the only fruit tree not allowed.. but I wonder if there were a mulberry that grows as like a bush or hedge that I could keep low key?

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:53 pm Post subject:

It's interesting you should say that because I just ordered the Geraldi Dwarf variety from Raintree. It's only 6 feet tall. It evidently has lush big leaves. I don't think anyone would ever know it was a mulberry.

mullenium · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192

I have a spot in my yard just begging to have something planted there, but the only prob is that it gets sun during summer, but during winter when the sun shifts south my house shades 100% of the area..

would this mulberry grow alright there?

mullenium · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192

let me know when you get it, maybe you can upload a photo of it

when is it supposed to arrive?

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:00 pm Post subject:

I don't know if mulberries need a great deal of sunshine. They grow in Illinois and we all know its not very sunny there. I'll post a photo when I get the tree. I don't know how long it will be until it arrives. Raintree likes to ship their bare root trees at the time they deem is right. It could be a month or more.

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:00 pm Post subject:

The nursery just emailed me and told me they were out of the Geraldi Dwarf so I am going to try the weeping mulberry instead. I believe I can keep that one from getting too big through pruning. I'd like to keep it under 12 feet. There is a beautiful example of a weeping one on ASU's campus. Its next to the stairs on the old "Normal" school building. I don't know if that one fruits or not. I'll have to get a photo of it and post it sometime.

mullenium · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192

I found another nursery in OR with a few garardi's available.. plant + shipping = $40

not too bad, although their website says they are in 1gal containers.. sounds kind of small dont you think?

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 7:02 pm Post subject:

One gallon sounds good. With our long growing seasons it should reach a decent size within a couple of years. Although, it is a dwarf so it might be a slow grower.