Difference between revisions of "Passiflora edulis"

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{{Taxobox
+
{{SPlantbox
−
| color = lightgreen
+
|familia=Passifloraceae
−
| name = Passion fruit
+
|genus=Passiflora
−
| image = Maracuyá.jpg
+
|species=edulis
−
| image_width = 250px
+
|common_name=Passionfruit, Passion fruit, Granadilla
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| image_caption = Ripe yellow passion fruit, or "maracuyá"
+
|habit=vine-climber
−
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
+
|origin=Brazil to Paraguay to N Argentina
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| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
+
|lifespan=perennial
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
+
|exposure=sun
−
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
+
|water=moist, moderate
−
| familia = [[Passifloraceae]]
+
|features=evergreen, flowers, edible, fruit
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| genus = [[Passiflora]]
+
|Temp Metric=°F
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| species = '''''P. edulis'''''
+
|sunset_zones=15-17, 21-25, 27
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| binomial = ''Passiflora edulis''
+
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
−
| binomial_authority = [[John Sims|Sims]]
+
|image=Maracuyá.jpg
 +
|image_width=240
 +
|image_caption=Ripe yellow passion fruit, or "maracuyá"
 
}}
 
}}
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:''For the German pop group, see [[Passion Fruit (band)]].''
+
[[Image:Markisaflower.jpg|right|thumb|Passion Fruit vine]]
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'''''Passiflora edulis''''' or '''passion fruit''' is cultivated commercially for its [[fruit]] in northwestern [[South America]], [[India]], the [[Caribbean]], [[Brazil]], southern [[Florida]], [[Hawaii]], [[Australia]], [[East Africa]], [[Israel]] and [[South Africa]] (where it is known as a [[grenadilla]] or [[granadilla]]). The passion fruit is round to oval, yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds. The fruit can be grown to eat or for its juice, which is often added to other fruit juices to enhance aroma.  
+
'''''Passiflora edulis''''' is a vine species of [[passion flower]] that is native to [[Paraguay]], [[Brazil]] and northeastern [[Argentina]].<ref name="GRIN"/> It is cultivated commercially in frost-free areas for its [[fruit]] and is widely grown. The passion fruit is round to oval, either yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds. The fruit can be grown to eat or for its juice, which is often added to other fruit juices to enhance the aroma. The fruit shown are mature for juicing and culinary use. For eating right out of the fruit, the fruit should be allowed to wrinkle for a few days to raise the sugar levels and enhance the flavor.
  
−
The two types of passion fruit have greatly different exterior appearances. The bright yellow variety of passion fruit, which is also known as the Golden Passionfruit, can grow up to the size of a [[grapefruit]], has a smooth, glossy, light and airy rind, and has been used as a [[rootstock]] for the purple passion fruit in Australia.<ref name="garden">{{cite news
+
The two types of passion fruit have clearly differing exterior appearances. The bright yellow variety of passion fruit, which is also known as the Golden Passion Fruit, can grow up to the size of a [[grapefruit]], has a smooth, glossy, light and airy rind, and has been used as a [[rootstock]] for the Purple Passion Fruit in Australia.<ref name="garden">{{cite news
 
   | last = Reynhardt
 
   | last = Reynhardt
 
   | first = Debbie
 
   | first = Debbie
Line 26: Line 28:
 
   | date = 8 February 2003
 
   | date = 8 February 2003
 
   | url = http://www.dispatch.co.za/2003/02/08/features/GARDEN.HTM
 
   | url = http://www.dispatch.co.za/2003/02/08/features/GARDEN.HTM
−
   | accessdate = 2006-11-20 }}</ref> The dark purple passion fruit (for example, in Kenya) is smaller than a [[lemon]], with a dry, wrinkled rind at maturity.
+
   | accessdate = 2006-11-20 }}</ref> The dark purple passion fruit is smaller than a [[lemon]], though it is less acidic than the yellow passion fruit, and has a richer aroma and flavor.<ref>http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/passionfruit.html</ref>
  
−
The purple varieties of the fruit reportedly have traces of [[cyanogenic]] [[glycoside]]s in the skin, and hence are mildly poisonous. However, the thick, hard skin is hardly edible, and if boiled (to make [[jam]]), the [[cyanide]] molecules are destroyed at high temperatures.
+
Adaptation: The purple passion fruit is subtropical and prefers a frost-free climate. However, there are cultivars that can take temperatures into the upper 20's (°F) without serious damage. The plant is widely grown in California as far north as San Jose, the Monterey Bay Area and the San Franciso Bay Area. The vines may lose some of their leaves in cool winters. The roots often resprout even if the top is killed. The plant does not grow well in intense summer heat. The yellow passion fruit is tropical or near-tropical and is much more intolerant of frost. Both forms need protection from the wind. Generally, annual rainfall should be at least 35 inches. Passion fruit vines make good container specimens but require maintenance. They perform well indoors.  
  
−
==Names==
+
Growth Habit: The passion fruit is a vigorous, climbing vine that clings by tendrils to almost any support. It can grow 15 to 20 ft. per year once established and must have strong support. It is generally short-lived (5 to 7 years).
−
*In the [[Dominican Republic]] the fruit is knowm as '''Chinola'''
 
−
*In [[Brazil]] and [[Portugal]] the fruit is known as '''maracujá'''.
 
−
*In [[Colombia]], it is known as '''maracuyá''' (yellow variety) or '''gulupa''' (purple variety).  
 
−
*In [[Jamaica]] it is called '''sweet cup'''.
 
−
*In [[Nicaragua]] it is known as '''calala''', a sweet-tasting [[juice]] is made when the fruit is cut in half and boiled in water.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Nicaraguan Fruits: Passion Fruit | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.vianica.com/go/specials/14-nicaraguan-fruits.html | work =ViaNica | pages = | accessdate = 2007-07-13 | language = }}</ref>
 
−
*In [[Costa Rica]], [[Panama]], [[Ecuador]], [[Mexico]], [[Honduras]] and [[Peru]], it is called '''Maracuyá'''.
 
−
*In [[Puerto Rico]], the fruit is called '''parcha'''.
 
−
*In [[South Africa]] the purple variety is called a '''granadilla''' whereas the golden/yellow variety is called '''guavadilla'''.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/conservation/scientific/ff/alien_biota/layout.pdf|title = Alien invasive plants in the Kruger National Park|format = PDF|pages = 28}}</ref>
 
−
*In [[Venezuela]], it is called '''parchita'''.  
 
  
−
The distinctive flower of the passion fruit plant is called [[Passion flower]] or Passionflower, and is noted for its unusual visual characteristics. The leaves and roots of the plant have medicinal uses and are also called [[Passion flower]].  
+
Foliage: The evergreen leaves of passion fruit are alternate, deeply 3-lobed when mature and finely toothed. They are 3 to 8 inches long, deep green and glossy above, paler and dull beneath and, like the young stems and tendrils, tinged with red or purple, specially in the yellow form.
  
−
Early European explorers gave the plant its common name because the flower's complex structure and pattern reminded them of symbols associated with the [[Passion (Christianity)|passion of Christ]]. It was said that the flower contained the lashes received by Christ, the crown of thorns, the column, the five wounds and the three nails.<ref> {{cite book| last = Coe| first = Sophie D.| title = America's first cuisines| year = 1994| isbn = 0-292-71159-X| pages = p. 187}}</ref>
+
Flowers: A single, fragrant flower, 2 to 3 inches wide, is born at each node on the new growth. The bloom, clasped by 3 large, green, lifelike bracts, consists of 5 greenish-white sepals, 5 white petals and a fringelike corona of straight, white-tipped rays, rich purple at the base. It also has 5 stamens with large anthers, the ovary and triple-branched style forming a prominent central structure. Purple passion fruit is self-fruitful, but pollination is best under humid conditions. The flowers of the yellow form are perfect but self-sterile. Carpenter bees are the most efficient pollinator, much more so than honey bees. Wind is ineffective because of the heaviness and stickiness of the pollen. The flowers can also be hand pollinated.
  
−
==Uses==
+
Fruit: The nearly round or ovoid fruit, 1-1/2 to 3 inches wide, has a tough rind that is smooth and waxy and ranging in hue from dark purple with faint, fine white specks, to light yellow or pumpkin-color. Within is a cavity more or less filled with an aromatic mass of double walled, membranous sacs containing orange-colored, pulpy juice and as many as 250 small, hard, dark brown or black, pitted seeds. The unique flavor is appealing, musky, guava-like and sweet/tart to tart. The yellow form has generally larger fruit than the purple, but the pulp of the purple is less acid, richer in aroma and flavor, and has a higher proportion of juice (35-38%). Numerous hybrids have been made between purple and the yellow passion fruit, often yielding colors and other characteristic intermediate between the two forms. The vine, especially the yellow form, is fast-growing and will begin to bear in 1 to 3 years. Ripening occurs 70 to 80 days after pollination.  
−
[[Image:Passionfruitjuice2.jpg|thumb|right|230px|A glass of passion fruit juice]]
 
−
*In Australia, passion fruit is the most common topping for the [[Pavlova (food)|pavlova]] (a [[meringue]] cake) and the vanilla slice. It is also used to flavour soft drinks such as [[Passiona]].
 
  
−
*In Puerto Rico, it is widely believed to lower [[blood pressure]].
+
==Cultivation==
 +
Location: Plant passion fruit vines in full sun except in very hot areas where partial shade is preferable. The vine can be rather rampant, so it is important to plant it next to a chain link fence or install a strong trellis before planting. The plants can also be trained into an attractive arbor.
  
−
*In Brazil passion fruit mousse is a common dessert, and passion fruit seeds are routinely used to decorate the tops of certain cakes. Passion fruit juice is also very common.  
+
Soil: Passion fruit vines grow on many soil types but light to heavy sandy loams with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 are the most suitable. Excellent drainage is absolutely necessary. Also, the soil should be rich in organic matter and low in salts. If the soil is too acid, lime must be applied. Because the vines are shallow-rooted, they will benefit from a thick layer of organic mulch.
  
−
*In the [[Dominican Republic]] it is commonly used as an ingredient in a fruit drink containing strained passionfruit juice, sugar and water. It is also eaten fresh and used to flavor things from hard candies to popsicles.
+
Irrigation: Regular watering will keep a vine flowering and fruiting almost continuously. Water requirement is high when fruits are approaching maturity. If the soil is dry, fruits may shrivel and fall prematurely.
  
−
*In [[Indonesia]] it is eaten straight as a fruit. Nevertheless, it is common to strain the passionfruit for its juice and cook it with sugar to make some sort of thick syrup. It is then mixed with water and ice to be drunk.
+
Fertilization: Passion fruit vines are vigorous growers and require regular fertilizing. A good choice is 10-5-20 NPK applied at the rate of 3 pounds per plant 4 times a year. Too much nitrogen results in vigorous foliage growth at the expense of flowering. Passion fruit vines should always be watched for deficiencies, particularly in potassium and calcium, and of less importance, magnesium. Plants that have been damaged by frost should receive a generous fertilizing after the weather has warmed
  
−
*In [[Hawaii]] it is normally eaten raw. Lilikoi flavored syrup is a popular topping for [[shave ice]]. [[Ice cream]] and [[mochi]] are also flavored with lilikoi, as well as many other desserts. Lilikoi fruits are not widely available in stores, so most of the fruit eaten comes from backyard gardens or wild groves.
+
Pruning: Pruning is necessary to keep the vines within bounds, to make harvest easier and to keep the plants productive by maintaining vigorous growth. In warm winter climates prune immediately after harvest. In areas with cool winters prune in early spring. As a a general rule remove all weak growth and cut back vigorous growth by at least one third. In very hot climates allow a thick canopy of foliage to grow around the fruit to prevent sunburn.
  
−
==See also==
+
Frost Protection: Because of their mass, passion fruit vines are difficult to cover when freezes threaten, but the layers of leaves help protect the inner branches from frost damage. The plant will also usually come back even when frozen to the ground. The best strategy is to grow the vines against a wall or deck or in a patio. Any kind of overhead protection provides additional benefits.
−
*[[Giant granadilla]]
+
 
−
*[[Sweet granadilla]]
+
Harvest: The fruit will quickly turn from green to deep purple (or yellow) when ripe and then fall to the ground within a few days. They can either be picked when they change color or gathered from the ground each day. To store passion fruit, wash and dry them gently and place them in bags. They should last 2 to 3 weeks at 50° F. The fruit is sweetest when slightly shriveled. Both the fruit and the juice freeze well. The flavor of passion fruit blends well with citrus and many other fruit flavors, and is quickly appreciated by many people as they become familiar with it.
−
*[[Granadilla]]
+
 
−
*[[Grenadilla]]
+
===Propagation===
 +
Passion fruit vines are usually grown from seeds. With the yellow form seedling variation provides cross-pollination and helps overcome the problem of self-sterility. Seed planted soon after removal from the fruit will germinate in 10 to 20 days. Cleaned and stored seeds have a lower and slower rate of germination. Seeds should be planted 1/2 to 1 inch deep in beds, and seedlings may be transplanted when 10 inches high. If taller (up to 3 feet), the tops should be cut back and the plants heavily watered.
 +
 
 +
Plants can also be propagated by layers or cuttings of matured wood with 3 to 4 nodes. Rooting may be hastened by hormone treatment. Cuttings should be well rooted and ready for setting out in 90 days. Grafting is an important means of perpetuating hybrids and reducing nematode damage and diseases by utilizing the resistant yellow passion fruit rootstock. Scions of healthy young plants are grafted to seedlings, making sure the diameter of the scion matches that of the rootstock. Either a cleft graft, whip graft or side-wedge graft may be made.
 +
 
 +
===Pests and diseases===
 +
In tropical areas passion fruit vines are attacked by a host of pests and diseases. In these areas the purple passion fruit is particularly susceptible to nematodes, while the yellow passion fruit is more nematode resistant. In California the problems are much less severe, although the plants can be afflicted with nematodes and viruses as well as Fusarium and other diseases that thrive in cool soils. Nematodes are partially responsible for the short life of many passion fruit vines. Snails can also be a serious problem in California, often completely stripping a vine of leaves and bark, killing young plants or predisposing them to disease.
 +
 
 +
==Cultivars==
 +
 
 +
'''Purple form'''
 +
 
 +
*'''Black Knight''' - Developed in Massacusetts for pot culture by Patrick Worley. Fragrant, dark purple-black fruit, the size and shape of large egg. Flavor excellent. Vigorous, compact vine, self-fertile, very fruitful. Handsome glossy foliage. Excellent for containers.
 +
*'''Edgehill''' - Originated in Vista, Calif. Similar to Black Knight, but more vigorous, larger growing and with larger purple fruit. One of the best outdoor cultivars for Southern California.
 +
*'''Frederick''' - Originated in Lincoln Acres, Calif. by Patrick Worley. Kahuna X Brazilian Golden. Large, nearly oval fruit, greenish-purple with reddish cast. Slightly tart flavor. Good for eating out of hand, excellent for juicing. Extremely vigorous, self-fruitful vine. Very productive, more compact than P. edulis flavicarpa.
 +
*'''Kahuna''' - Very large, medium purple fruit. Sweet, subacid flavor. Good for juicing. Vigorous, productive self-fertile vine. Produces over a long season. Large, attractive foliage.
 +
*'''Nancy Garrison''' - Cold hardier than most.
 +
*'''Paul Ecke''' - Originated in Encinitas, Calif. Medium-sized purple fruit of very good quality. Suitable for juicing and eating out of hand. Compact, very productive vine.
 +
*'''Purple Giant''' - Very large fruit, dark purple when mature.
 +
*'''Red Rover''' - Originated in Lincoln Acres, Calif. by Patrick Worley. Kahuna X Brazilian Golden. Medium to large, roundish fruit. Rind an attractive clear red color. Sweet, notably rich flavor with tart overtones,. Good for eating out of hand or juicing. Vine very vigorous, compact and self-fertile.
 +
 
 +
'''Yellow form'''
  
−
==References==
+
*'''Brazilian Golden''' - Large, golden-yellow fruits, larger than standard forms. Flavor somewhat tart. Extremely vigorous vine, requiring cross-pollination. Extra large, fragrant flowers, white with a dark center, blooming during mid-summer. Produces one large crop beginning in late August or early September.
−
<references  />
+
*'''Golden Giant''' - A large yellow-fruited cultivar that originated in Australia.
  
−
== External links ==
+
==Gallery==
−
{{commons|Passiflora edulis}}
+
{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->
−
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/passionfruit.html Fruits of Warm Climates: Passionfruit]
 
−
* [http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/passionfruit.html California Rare Fruit Growers: Passion Fruit Fruit Facts]
 
−
* [http://www.passiflora.org/ Passiflora Society International]
 
−
* [http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/fruit%20pages/passionfruit.htm Australian Passionfruit Varieties]
 
−
* [http://www.phytochemicals.info/passion-fruit.php Phytochemicals in Passion Fruit]
 
−
* [http://www.passionflow.co.uk/ Passiflora Online]
 
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Line 84: Line 91:
 
Image:Passionfruit comparision.jpg|Yellow and purple passion fruits, side by side
 
Image:Passionfruit comparision.jpg|Yellow and purple passion fruits, side by side
 
Image:Passionfruitvine.jpg|Passion fruit still on the vine
 
Image:Passionfruitvine.jpg|Passion fruit still on the vine
 +
Image:Passionfruitjuice2.jpg|A glass of passion fruit juice
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
==References==
 +
* [http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/passionfruit.html California Rare Fruit Growers: Passion Fruit Fruit Facts]
 +
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
 +
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
 +
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
  
−
</gallery>
+
==See also==
 +
*[[Giant granadilla]]
 +
*[[Sweet granadilla]]
 +
*[[Granadilla]]
 +
 
 +
==External links==
 +
*{{wplink}}
 +
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/passionfruit.html Fruits of Warm Climates: Passionfruit]
 +
* [http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/fruit%20pages/passionfruit.htm Australian Passionfruit Varieties]
 +
* [http://www.passionflow.co.uk/ Passiflora Online]
  
−
[[Category:Fruit]]
+
__NOTOC__
−
[[Category:Passifloraceae]]
 
−
[[Category:Tropical agriculture]]
 
−
[[Category:Flora of the Maldives]]
 

Latest revision as of 19:17, 14 April 2011


Ripe yellow passion fruit, or "maracuyá"


Plant Characteristics
Habit   vine-climber

Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Origin: ✈ Brazil to Paraguay to N Argentina
Cultivation
Exposure: ☼ sun
Water: ◍ moist, moderate
Features: ✓ evergreen, flowers, edible, fruit
Sunset Zones: 15-17, 21-25, 27
Scientific Names

Passifloraceae >

Passiflora >

edulis >


If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!


Passion Fruit vine

Passiflora edulis is a vine species of passion flower that is native to Paraguay, Brazil and northeastern Argentina.[1] It is cultivated commercially in frost-free areas for its fruit and is widely grown. The passion fruit is round to oval, either yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds. The fruit can be grown to eat or for its juice, which is often added to other fruit juices to enhance the aroma. The fruit shown are mature for juicing and culinary use. For eating right out of the fruit, the fruit should be allowed to wrinkle for a few days to raise the sugar levels and enhance the flavor.

The two types of passion fruit have clearly differing exterior appearances. The bright yellow variety of passion fruit, which is also known as the Golden Passion Fruit, can grow up to the size of a grapefruit, has a smooth, glossy, light and airy rind, and has been used as a rootstock for the Purple Passion Fruit in Australia.[2] The dark purple passion fruit is smaller than a lemon, though it is less acidic than the yellow passion fruit, and has a richer aroma and flavor.[3]

Adaptation: The purple passion fruit is subtropical and prefers a frost-free climate. However, there are cultivars that can take temperatures into the upper 20's (°F) without serious damage. The plant is widely grown in California as far north as San Jose, the Monterey Bay Area and the San Franciso Bay Area. The vines may lose some of their leaves in cool winters. The roots often resprout even if the top is killed. The plant does not grow well in intense summer heat. The yellow passion fruit is tropical or near-tropical and is much more intolerant of frost. Both forms need protection from the wind. Generally, annual rainfall should be at least 35 inches. Passion fruit vines make good container specimens but require maintenance. They perform well indoors.

Growth Habit: The passion fruit is a vigorous, climbing vine that clings by tendrils to almost any support. It can grow 15 to 20 ft. per year once established and must have strong support. It is generally short-lived (5 to 7 years).

Foliage: The evergreen leaves of passion fruit are alternate, deeply 3-lobed when mature and finely toothed. They are 3 to 8 inches long, deep green and glossy above, paler and dull beneath and, like the young stems and tendrils, tinged with red or purple, specially in the yellow form.

Flowers: A single, fragrant flower, 2 to 3 inches wide, is born at each node on the new growth. The bloom, clasped by 3 large, green, lifelike bracts, consists of 5 greenish-white sepals, 5 white petals and a fringelike corona of straight, white-tipped rays, rich purple at the base. It also has 5 stamens with large anthers, the ovary and triple-branched style forming a prominent central structure. Purple passion fruit is self-fruitful, but pollination is best under humid conditions. The flowers of the yellow form are perfect but self-sterile. Carpenter bees are the most efficient pollinator, much more so than honey bees. Wind is ineffective because of the heaviness and stickiness of the pollen. The flowers can also be hand pollinated.

Fruit: The nearly round or ovoid fruit, 1-1/2 to 3 inches wide, has a tough rind that is smooth and waxy and ranging in hue from dark purple with faint, fine white specks, to light yellow or pumpkin-color. Within is a cavity more or less filled with an aromatic mass of double walled, membranous sacs containing orange-colored, pulpy juice and as many as 250 small, hard, dark brown or black, pitted seeds. The unique flavor is appealing, musky, guava-like and sweet/tart to tart. The yellow form has generally larger fruit than the purple, but the pulp of the purple is less acid, richer in aroma and flavor, and has a higher proportion of juice (35-38%). Numerous hybrids have been made between purple and the yellow passion fruit, often yielding colors and other characteristic intermediate between the two forms. The vine, especially the yellow form, is fast-growing and will begin to bear in 1 to 3 years. Ripening occurs 70 to 80 days after pollination.

Cultivation

Location: Plant passion fruit vines in full sun except in very hot areas where partial shade is preferable. The vine can be rather rampant, so it is important to plant it next to a chain link fence or install a strong trellis before planting. The plants can also be trained into an attractive arbor.

Soil: Passion fruit vines grow on many soil types but light to heavy sandy loams with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 are the most suitable. Excellent drainage is absolutely necessary. Also, the soil should be rich in organic matter and low in salts. If the soil is too acid, lime must be applied. Because the vines are shallow-rooted, they will benefit from a thick layer of organic mulch.

Irrigation: Regular watering will keep a vine flowering and fruiting almost continuously. Water requirement is high when fruits are approaching maturity. If the soil is dry, fruits may shrivel and fall prematurely.

Fertilization: Passion fruit vines are vigorous growers and require regular fertilizing. A good choice is 10-5-20 NPK applied at the rate of 3 pounds per plant 4 times a year. Too much nitrogen results in vigorous foliage growth at the expense of flowering. Passion fruit vines should always be watched for deficiencies, particularly in potassium and calcium, and of less importance, magnesium. Plants that have been damaged by frost should receive a generous fertilizing after the weather has warmed

Pruning: Pruning is necessary to keep the vines within bounds, to make harvest easier and to keep the plants productive by maintaining vigorous growth. In warm winter climates prune immediately after harvest. In areas with cool winters prune in early spring. As a a general rule remove all weak growth and cut back vigorous growth by at least one third. In very hot climates allow a thick canopy of foliage to grow around the fruit to prevent sunburn.

Frost Protection: Because of their mass, passion fruit vines are difficult to cover when freezes threaten, but the layers of leaves help protect the inner branches from frost damage. The plant will also usually come back even when frozen to the ground. The best strategy is to grow the vines against a wall or deck or in a patio. Any kind of overhead protection provides additional benefits.

Harvest: The fruit will quickly turn from green to deep purple (or yellow) when ripe and then fall to the ground within a few days. They can either be picked when they change color or gathered from the ground each day. To store passion fruit, wash and dry them gently and place them in bags. They should last 2 to 3 weeks at 50° F. The fruit is sweetest when slightly shriveled. Both the fruit and the juice freeze well. The flavor of passion fruit blends well with citrus and many other fruit flavors, and is quickly appreciated by many people as they become familiar with it.

Propagation

Passion fruit vines are usually grown from seeds. With the yellow form seedling variation provides cross-pollination and helps overcome the problem of self-sterility. Seed planted soon after removal from the fruit will germinate in 10 to 20 days. Cleaned and stored seeds have a lower and slower rate of germination. Seeds should be planted 1/2 to 1 inch deep in beds, and seedlings may be transplanted when 10 inches high. If taller (up to 3 feet), the tops should be cut back and the plants heavily watered.

Plants can also be propagated by layers or cuttings of matured wood with 3 to 4 nodes. Rooting may be hastened by hormone treatment. Cuttings should be well rooted and ready for setting out in 90 days. Grafting is an important means of perpetuating hybrids and reducing nematode damage and diseases by utilizing the resistant yellow passion fruit rootstock. Scions of healthy young plants are grafted to seedlings, making sure the diameter of the scion matches that of the rootstock. Either a cleft graft, whip graft or side-wedge graft may be made.

Pests and diseases

In tropical areas passion fruit vines are attacked by a host of pests and diseases. In these areas the purple passion fruit is particularly susceptible to nematodes, while the yellow passion fruit is more nematode resistant. In California the problems are much less severe, although the plants can be afflicted with nematodes and viruses as well as Fusarium and other diseases that thrive in cool soils. Nematodes are partially responsible for the short life of many passion fruit vines. Snails can also be a serious problem in California, often completely stripping a vine of leaves and bark, killing young plants or predisposing them to disease.

Cultivars

Purple form

  • Black Knight - Developed in Massacusetts for pot culture by Patrick Worley. Fragrant, dark purple-black fruit, the size and shape of large egg. Flavor excellent. Vigorous, compact vine, self-fertile, very fruitful. Handsome glossy foliage. Excellent for containers.
  • Edgehill - Originated in Vista, Calif. Similar to Black Knight, but more vigorous, larger growing and with larger purple fruit. One of the best outdoor cultivars for Southern California.
  • Frederick - Originated in Lincoln Acres, Calif. by Patrick Worley. Kahuna X Brazilian Golden. Large, nearly oval fruit, greenish-purple with reddish cast. Slightly tart flavor. Good for eating out of hand, excellent for juicing. Extremely vigorous, self-fruitful vine. Very productive, more compact than P. edulis flavicarpa.
  • Kahuna - Very large, medium purple fruit. Sweet, subacid flavor. Good for juicing. Vigorous, productive self-fertile vine. Produces over a long season. Large, attractive foliage.
  • Nancy Garrison - Cold hardier than most.
  • Paul Ecke - Originated in Encinitas, Calif. Medium-sized purple fruit of very good quality. Suitable for juicing and eating out of hand. Compact, very productive vine.
  • Purple Giant - Very large fruit, dark purple when mature.
  • Red Rover - Originated in Lincoln Acres, Calif. by Patrick Worley. Kahuna X Brazilian Golden. Medium to large, roundish fruit. Rind an attractive clear red color. Sweet, notably rich flavor with tart overtones,. Good for eating out of hand or juicing. Vine very vigorous, compact and self-fertile.

Yellow form

  • Brazilian Golden - Large, golden-yellow fruits, larger than standard forms. Flavor somewhat tart. Extremely vigorous vine, requiring cross-pollination. Extra large, fragrant flowers, white with a dark center, blooming during mid-summer. Produces one large crop beginning in late August or early September.
  • Golden Giant - A large yellow-fruited cultivar that originated in Australia.

Gallery

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  • Purple passion fruit, which in Colombia is called "gulupa", to distinguish it from the yellow maracuyá

  • Ripe purple passion fruit

  • Yellow passion fruits for sale

  • Passion fruits on sale

  • Yellow and purple passion fruits, side by side

  • Passion fruit still on the vine

  • A glass of passion fruit juice

References

See also

External links


  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GRIN
  2. ↑ Template:Cite news
  3. ↑ http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/passionfruit.html
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