Giant granadilla will not set fruit (forum)

John starts with ...
We have a giant granadilla approximately 2 years old. Although it has lots of flowers there is very little fruit despite hand pollination. Could anyone give any hints - ie is there are a particular time of the day to pollinate, or are some temperatures better than others for the fruit to set.
Thank you.


Time: 16th February 2012 10:10am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author John50
Far North Queensland
#UserID: 6561
Posts: 5
View All John50's Edible Fruit Trees

John says...
Thank you for the reply, are you saying I can pollinate the large granadilla with a smaller passionfruit? Thank you. John


Time: 16th February 2012 1:53pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author John50
Far North Queensland
#UserID: 6561
Posts: 5
View All John50's Edible Fruit Trees

Mike says...
John most of the time they are grown on their own and seem self-fertile enough producing fruit in way less than a year.In the past when I grew them I didn't think the common yellows pollinated them.P.alata crosses freely with it and hybrids taste pretty good but don't have edible flesh.
They need to have enough nutrients besides N to fruit properly so make sure you give it fertiliser (40cm away from stem) with P,K,Mg and micronutrients rather than just B&B or DL.They are more prone to being mis-shapen and getting woody virus than most species.
They are getting less common these days and are often the most prized of the group costing $5-$10 each when rusty's get them.You can stew the flesh and pour the pulp over it.Some of the smaller (less than 25cm) strains seem to be a bit sweeter.

Time: 16th February 2012 5:21pm

Reply | Edit | LIKE this Answer(1) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
People who Like this Answer: Dave20
About the Author
Cairns
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees

John says...
Thank you Mike, will try the fertiliser and just hope it self pollinates as we want to eat the flesh as well as the pulp. Regards, John


Time: 16th February 2012 6:07pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author John50
Far North Queensland
#UserID: 6561
Posts: 5
View All John50's Edible Fruit Trees

Mike says...
John sorry I was confusing about pollination.It doesn't matter what compatable pollen fertlises flowers. Fruit are maternal and only the next generation of plants can show hybrid traits.

Time: 16th February 2012 6:21pm

Reply | Edit | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author
Cairns
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees

John says...
Thank you Mike. Regards - John

Time: 17th February 2012 5:09pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author John50
Far North Queensland
#UserID: 6561
Posts: 5
View All John50's Edible Fruit Trees

coastie says...
Hi, I have grown granadillas here on the coast[Tweed] with quite good results, but the pulp was dissappointing.The fruit grows very large and the idea is to leave them on the vine till they drop, then they are sweet, we tried every way but they were bland and uninteresting, we believed they were the best thing ever, but not true.They have beautiful flowers, which I pollinated with a cottonbud from one to the other.No other vine in vicinity.We had almost 100 percent success... with the ones we could reach of course.The vine was very rampant and strong, the vine itself is square, denoting that it needs to be strong to be able to support the fruit[quad meaning 4].I have included some photos which the quality is poor but you can get an idea of the size of fruit and vine, the vine grew from ground level up 20ft to the verandah and then spread out to flower.Photos 4yrs ago.
I now have golden passionfruit growing in the same place, producing literally 100's and very very sweet too.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4

Time: 17th February 2012 8:31pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author coastie
 
#UserID: 6800
Posts: 59
View All coastie's Edible Fruit Trees

Mike says...
Coastie that is interesting and the fruitin the picture look good.I presume by pulp you mean the seedy mass and juice in the middle as opposed to the flesh on the outside.I have always found them aromatic with flesh mild like honeydew and the pulp very sweet and nice.Sometimes the flesh is a bit bland like a plain honeydew.
I wonder if it is not warm or humid enough to bring out their full taste in the tweed area or it is a nutrition thing.African yellows and Panama yellows are more intense with sweeter,oranger pulp than panama reds or the blacks and their crosses.I suppose whatever goes best and taste good in your area is the way to go.

Time: 17th February 2012 9:15pm

Reply | Edit | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author
Cairns
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees

coastie says...
Yes Mike it was like honeydew, pretty bland, but an interesting exercise, and the flowers were spectacular.I now have tamarillos and grapes in the same location, all sweet and well behaved[dont tell the cockatoos].

Time: 17th February 2012 9:37pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author coastie
 
#UserID: 6800
Posts: 59
View All coastie's Edible Fruit Trees

John says...
Thank you for the photos and the information. I have been trying to polinate with a paintbrush, might try a cotton bud. Thanks for the photos. Did you water them at all and if so do they require a lot?

Thanks - John




Time: 18th February 2012 4:05pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author John50
Far North Queensland
#UserID: 6561
Posts: 5
View All John50's Edible Fruit Trees

coastie says...
Hi John, I gave extra water when they had fruit otherwise no more than any other passionfruit vine...about once a week they get a good watering, let the hose run slowly at the foot of the plant so the water soaks in and does not run off.
Good luck!

Time: 18th February 2012 6:00pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author coastie
 
#UserID: 6800
Posts: 59
View All coastie's Edible Fruit Trees

Peter Sunshine Coast says...
I had same problem but if you wait until mid morning to pollinate the flowers you will have far more success. The polen seems to release arond that time on the Sunshine Coast.

Time: 25th May 2014 11:02am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Peter Sunshine Coast
Wurtulla
#UserID: 9978
Posts: 1
View All Peter Sunshine Coast's Edible Fruit Trees