Pruning Passionfruit (forum)

Henry starts with ...
Could someone please explain what it means by 'major thinning should be carried out to encourage new fruiting wood.' How much of the old vine should I take off?
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Time: 29th December 2008 2:23pm

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About the Author Henry
Blacktown
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Leah says...
HI,

It's best to cut your passionfruit at the end of winter/begining of spring before it's start it's new growth. If you need to prune it now, DO NOT remove more than a third of the vine. It will take the vine too long to recover and will possible give you no fruit this year. Or in my father-in-laws case die.

Sorry if i am a bit vague on terms, but you need to try and cut back on the thinner vines and leave the main/thicker/older ones alone as much as possible.

Try and pick the ones that you want to cut and follow them back to a point and pull them out. If you just cut willy nilly you will end up with dead and hard bits that can become trapped. And a lesson that i learn is that they will poke out at you just when you are not expecting it.

Also any vines that look a bit tired/yellow just find your end bit and follow it back to a starting point where it joins an older bit of vine.

Them give it a bit of blood and bone/dynamic lifter/ cow manure etc to restart some new grow for the vine to produce fruit.

If you need to cut more wait until it stops producing fruit and you can cut back 2/3rds. Mine vines usually produce 2 crops, so the end of winter/ start of spring is when i get in and do it. But you could also at the end of autumn.

I hope this helps.



Time: 29th December 2008 3:54pm

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About the Author Leah
Melbourne
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Henry says...
Thanks Leah, much appreciated. As you can see from my picture, the growth is quite dense, hence my dilemma. Last year I only had two passionfruit while this year, there are 8 already. Thanks again.


Time: 29th December 2008 4:25pm

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About the Author Henry
Blacktown
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reg says...
My nelly kelly leaves are pale green rather than dark green, keeps dropping fruit and the fruit tastes sour and therefore uneatable.

Does any one know what I need to do to fix these three problems

Time: 9th August 2009 5:38pm

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About the Author reg1
croydon, melbourne
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amanda says...
Hi Reg, firstly - what's the pH of your soil?

Time: 9th August 2009 8:40pm

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reg says...
Oh dear - don't know the PH Amanda but we have clay soil and is known to be acidic in our area.

Time: 15th August 2009 12:18pm

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About the Author reg1
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amanda says...
Hi Reg... I'm sorry - but I don't 'do' clay...Maybe someone else?
(my soil sandy n quite different...although for what it's worth u may not get very sweet fruit at this time of the year...it's too cold! It sounds like the vine needs feeding - can u post a photo?)

Time: 15th August 2009 6:29pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Cathie says...
My passionfruit vine is about 8 years old and had a good prune 1 year ago and produced heaps of fruit this year but during end of fruiting the branches started dying and now it looks dead. Has it run it's course? I have no idea of life span. It is in the front garden and trails around the front verandah so has good natural drainage and sunlight. Should I give up on it as if I prune all dead branches it will be basically left with just the main branch>

Time: 6th September 2009 1:33pm

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About the Author Cathie
Cannington,Perth
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Barry says...
Do you need to plant two passionfruit trees or will one do for getting a good crop? I have just one plant growing and I heard that you need two plants. Is this correct? Thank you for your reply.

Time: 26th September 2009 10:00am

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About the Author Barry9
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amanda says...
Hi Barry - u only need one.

Time: 27th September 2009 10:21am

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Julie says...
Cathie, you are lucky to have had 8 years from your vine. Usually they don't go beyond 5 or 6,so I would say it has reached the end of its life.

Time to plant another one!

Time: 27th September 2009 3:39pm

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amanda says...
8 yrs is amazing! BTW - my vines have started flowering madly this week! The purple/black Nellie Kellie has the most so far (shock horror!) I might keep it after all ;)

Time: 27th September 2009 4:55pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Vin says...
Hi all need some good tips on how to keep snails from eating my young Passion fruit vines?. They seem to leave the bate and go for the juicy leaves.

Vin

Time: 29th September 2009 10:04pm

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About the Author vince
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Jantina says...
Hi Vin, try some beer in bowls set in the ground, slugs and snails love it and drown.

Time: 30th September 2009 10:47am

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About the Author Jantina
Mt. Gambier S.A.
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Vin says...
Thanks Jantina,I will do that and report back.

Vin

Time: 1st October 2009 8:01pm

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About the Author vince
Melbourne
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Cathie says...
I kinda thought that 8 years was a good life span but my hubby kept saying I had killed it so glad to hear that it had just run its natural life span. I have put some nice hanging baskets in its place for now until a new plant can take its place.
thank you for the advice.

Time: 8th October 2009 1:13am

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About the Author Cathie
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scottnkez says...
I put in a small Panama red passionfruit vine about 15 months ago but as of yet there is still no sign of flowers or fruit. It is at the back of my herb garden on my western wall. I think it really only gets the morning sun. Should I expect fruit any time soon. Thanks for any help!
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Time: 10th October 2009 10:30am

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About the Author scottnkez
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Michael says...
Hi All,
Can you grow more than 1 type of passion fruit on the same trellis ?


Time: 13th October 2009 1:00pm

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About the Author Michael
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amanda says...
Yes u can Michael - but make sure your trellis is strong and wide enuf' for 2.

Time: 13th October 2009 8:55pm

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Michael says...
Thanks Amanda

Time: 14th October 2009 12:49pm

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Brendan says...
Hi scottnkez,
Try giving your passionfruit vine some 'Sulphate of Potash'.

To speed things up, spray the vine with a very weak solution of Condys crystals plus a wetting agent, say twice a week for 4 weeks, then once a month.

You can now buy liquid potash, give that a go.

I'd give it a good dressing of gypsum and mulch well, keeping it clear of the stem. Remember not to overwater it.

Time: 18th October 2009 7:49am

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About the Author Brendan
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scottnkez says...
Thanks Brendan - I'll give it a try as I need to get some Suphate of Potash for my tomatoes. I would never of thought of Condys though. After reading your comments re overwatering I am thinking maybe I should replant it out of my herb garden as I do need to water them frequently. Thanks again!

Time: 24th October 2009 12:46pm

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About the Author scottnkez
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willyno1 says...
When would passion fruit set fruit?? Mine are just the nelly kelly type.
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Time: 20th March 2010 3:35pm

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Araich says...
My Nellie Kelly black grafted, less than 1 yr old, is flowering and setting fruit now willyno1. It has about 6 fruit so far, some 2 months old.

Time: 22nd March 2010 8:02am

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About the Author Araich
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kellygirl says...
hi there, I am having problems with my passionfruit vine, it has flowered and fruited however the fruit is yellow and is falling off the vine, only 2 really small passionfruit went purple.

The yellow passionfruit is very bitter.

Any help would be appreciated

Time: 23rd July 2010 8:48pm

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About the Author kellygirl
brisbane
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neilbal says...
After cutting back my passion fruit vine, the cut stems have been dripping water. This has been happening for two days non stop, the plant must be losing a lot of water. I'm afraid it will now die.

Does anyone know if these stems should be plugged somehow?

Time: 10th August 2010 11:43am

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Brendan says...
Hi kellygirl & neilbal,
Try spraying the vine with 'liquid potash', that will harden up the tissue of the vine and also help it fruit.
Don't forget to add a wetting agent to the liquid potash.
To sweeten passionfruit, apply epsom salts around the root area, a handful per sq. metre and water in.
I'd apply some (extra) sulphate of potash fertilizer and mulch as well.
They like wood ash too :-)

Time: 13th August 2010 7:42am

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farmer pat says...
have to cut back passionfruit hard as support trellis has sagged very overgrown bush this year, in its second year. how much & when do I cut back.

Time: 23rd May 2011 6:21pm

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snottiegobble says...
farmer pat, cut back in the winter when it is least active then feed well in the spring with blood n bone & old manure.

Time: 23rd May 2011 7:55pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
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Chris says...
Actually it would be rather risky pruning back hard in winter. Given that they are very frost tender, pruning back now would leave the vine vulnerable. I'd wait til early Spring at the earliest depending on your climate.
Grafted varieties are more cold hardy too.
My vine is still carrying fruit so i won't be pruning until it's finished cropping.


Time: 23rd May 2011 9:43pm

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Original Post was last edited: 23rd May 2011 9:45pm

About the Author Chris
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amanda says...
Depends where Bairnsdale is I guess...?and sometimes u have to sacrifice fruit when pruning :-(
I have a MONSTER passionfruit vine that has just put out at least 200 fruit in the last month...it's a heartache to think of pruning it now - but it really needs it - as it's taken over an area at least 3 times what it should have...

I had no idea it would get so incredibly huge - it's got to the point that I can't find the fruit any more - it falls down in amoung the branches and goes rotten - cos it can't fall to the ground now.
I have not been able to find a seasonal 'gap' in which to prune it.

Interstingly - I have/had 3 seedling vines and 4 grafted vines for the last 3 yrs.

3 of the 4 grafted vines (2 varieties) dropped dead this summer (and the other one has a virus and is useless)

3 out of 3 seedling vines (all different varieties) and powering along and loaded with fruit...

So much for Nellie Kellies..? ;-)

Time: 23rd May 2011 10:13pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Chris says...
Nelly Kelly are grafted on cold tolerant, not drought tolerant rootstock.

Time: 23rd May 2011 10:39pm

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amanda says...
I think it was nematodes acutally Chris...either way I am not convinced (like many others) that there is an advantage with grafted passionfruit - and certainly my vines (all irrigated) bear that truth out at least..it wasn't drought that killed the grafted vines at all.

Time: 24th May 2011 1:36am

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snottiegobble says...
All I got from Nelly kelly was a rootstock invasion of a totally different vine, pretty flowers but no fruit!

Time: 24th May 2011 11:34pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
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farmer pat says...
thanks to all replies on passionfruit. Amanda sounds like we have a pigeon pair in our vines as this is exactly what I am experiencing. Just for the records Bairnsdale is in East Gippsland between sale & lakes entrance. Beautiful part of victoria.

Time: 27th May 2011 9:35pm

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amanda says...
Well - keep some seed for the next generation farmer pat! I know I am with mine :) it's less than a week from winter here and it's still flowering madly and setting dozens of fruit...I am not complaining - but I have a masonary wall that won't break It's jsut taking over the BBQ - hubby not happy LOL!)

It's up to you really. Maybe get a seedling going - ready to replace on a new strong trellis - and/or strengthen your other trellis in the meantime...


Time: 27th May 2011 9:59pm

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Original Post was last edited: 27th May 2011 10:02pm

About the Author amanda19
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peter says...
hi amanda,
what variety of passionfruit is the
one that you have mentioned above.

Time: 28th May 2011 8:12am

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amanda says...
Hi adelaide peter:) It's that panama red seedling growing on the limestone wall (did I send u seed from it? - can't remember now)
I have seedlings popping up everywhere now - so I am going to try them in the orchard to see if it's the plant or the wall that is doing this?
It's an insane vine :-O

I also have that Big Red (seedling) - which turned out to be a big yellow (but sour) and it is in the orchard - it's also still flowering and is loaded with fruit - it cops a heap of wind and is still super vigorous and tough - it's a shame the fruit is sour.

I am really bummed about my grafted NK's (3 purples and 3 golds - all dead now...) it must be something the graft is not immune to - as they get treated just the same as the 3 seedling vines.....what do u think?

Time: 28th May 2011 12:33pm

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peter says...
hi amanda,
no i didnt get seed from the panama red
just the sunshine special which is in
a large pot and doing ok.
i have a seedling panama red and gold
so hope they go ok in my climate.
couldnt say what is going on with the
grafted nk but i have planted about
30 of them about 4 months ago so
am hoping for the best.

Time: 28th May 2011 6:05pm

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amanda says...
Oh that's good to hear peter! Still have sunshine specials ripening and picked a doz 2day :)
30 vines! you will tonnes of fruit if u are selling them. My soil very sandy and prone to nematodes. Could have been crown rot too - I haven't really had a good look yet - but the dead trunks were pretty easy to pull out of the ground. The last one is barely hanging in so I might dissect it next week. I'd really like to know now.
It can get quite cold here a night in winter around 4-6 oC and my panamas haven't suffered.
All the best with your vines peter! :)

Time: 28th May 2011 8:44pm

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farmer pat says...
hi to all. have bitten the bullet & cut back some growth, more than i thought until i started to pull out the long branches will see how i go. Amenda mine is a nelly kelly graft on a north facing wall. Recall growing one facing same way bewteen tank & wall grew enormous same way. Also some years a ago had a go at trying to grow some vines on side of hill to harvest commercially, had quite a wet season & lost all of them, so think it is luck of the draw.

Time: 29th May 2011 9:28pm

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snottiegobble says...
farmer pat,you should do well with a north facing wall. Maybe if you can hang clear plastic sheeting over the vine during winter & early spring it will give it more chance of a good start next season. Bunnings sell builders plastic sheeting called "grunt" in 2 metre widths X any length you like! There are also black graphite spring clamps of all sizes ( I would be lost without them now) ideal for hanging & holding in place.

Time: 30th May 2011 12:40am

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kondoo says...
big
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Time: 11th August 2011 10:38pm

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About the Author kondoo
kisumu.kenya
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amanda says...
Nice going kondoo...gee your soil looks very dry and bare! (a bit like mine sometimes) You should get some organic matter (manure, wood chip etc) onto it - if you have access to it...

Time: 12th August 2011 3:27pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Wazzbat says...
Fingers crossed I get some fruit this year. I planted a Nelly Kelly Black and a Sunshine Special Black lat year. They are growing well so far. Got a few flowers on the Sunshine Special last year but no fruit.

Also planted two Pink Cheek plants a few months back but they are competing with a bottlebrush from the neighbours so don't expect them to do so well.

Time: 12th August 2011 10:17pm

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About the Author Wazzbat
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amanda says...
Is no one curious why kondoo is growing passionfruit (of all things) in Kenya? A poor, starving nation. Just look at the pic. How hard is that gig guys? Growing them up sticks in impoverished soil...god knows where the water is coming from when there is no fresh water for the people to drink even...

Kind of puts thing into perspective, no?

Time: 13th August 2011 1:49am

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Wazzbat says...
I was wondering that myself. I'd like to here the story behind it. He is obviously not growing them just for himself.

Time: 13th August 2011 7:18am

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kondoo says...
look at my passion fruit,kenya is not a starving nation,its only small part of it but most of these pple r somali refugees
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Time: 13th August 2011 4:43pm

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About the Author kondoo
kisumu.kenya
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amanda says...
I am amazed kondoo - they are doing well in what looks like just sand!? What are feeding them?

What are your hottest summer temperatures? And - what type of passionfruit are they?

Time: 14th August 2011 11:01am

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snottiegobble says...
I am also curious kondoo about your irrigation methods, & because of the fact that most passionfruit are vines do they end up scrambling over each other & back onto the ground??

Time: 17th August 2011 1:20am

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kondoo says...
no

Time: 26th August 2011 5:03pm

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About the Author kondoo
kisumu.kenya
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Mike says...
In the markets in Kenya I saw plenty of passionfruit but not many as sweet as the yellow ones in Australia.People in thje markets said passionfruit are spreading and getting more popular, is that true kondoo?

Time: 26th August 2011 6:32pm

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kondoo says...
amanda these r purple passion fruit,and my question is,a friend of myn has 3 months old purple grafted and they have started flowering and some have small balls,are they doing fine?

Time: 27th August 2011 1:13am

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Brendan says...
Geez kondoo,
Your passionfruit certainly like growing 'on the dry side of moist'.

Time: 27th August 2011 7:50am

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amanda says...
Sure they are fine kondoo. It would be better if they didn't carry fruit at such a young age - then they could concentrate on growing a bigger vine (to support the next seasons fruit - as there will be much more then)

3 months is incredibly young for fruit! Your friend must be very happy :)

Time: 27th August 2011 11:44am

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About the Author amanda19
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Dot says...
I am just about to prune my vine, and was browsing the site and saw your note. My Panama red is great I planted it with a large peice of fresh liver and the vine apparently likes to get all day sun, so the trellis runs north-south

Time: 28th August 2011 5:13pm

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kondoo says...
the leaves of my passion fruit is turning yellow,r hey dying?


Time: 8th September 2011 5:15pm

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About the Author kondoo
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Brendan says...
Hi kondoo,
That vine in pic 1 (on the left), sure looks like it's dying. Probably time to replace it. You should be feeding & mulching those vines as well. Don't use too much Nitrogen fertilizer, but use more Phosphorus (P) & Potassium (K), & Epsom salts.

Have a look at this site: http://www.nelliekelly.com.au/faqs-about-passionfruit-vines.html

Time: 10th September 2011 7:52am

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Melissa says...
Forgive my ignorance but what exactly are nemotodes?

Melissa

Time: 29th October 2011 5:34pm

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North Curl Curl NSW
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Brendan says...
Hi Melissa,
Nematodes are very tiny worms that attack the roots of plants causing swelling. They can starve the plant of nutrients.
The chemical cure is Nemacur.
The organic cure is a cup of molasses to 4 litres of water, and drench the soil. Treacle can be used instead of molasses.

Time: 2nd November 2011 9:09am

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snottiegobble says...
Brendan, would the molasses work with tomatoes as well?

Time: 3rd November 2011 12:46am

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Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
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Brendan says...
G'day SG, certainly would. Adding 'organic matter' & compost helps breed the 'good' bugs that eat the nematodes as well.

Time: 3rd November 2011 7:22am

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kerry says...
hello
do passion fruit benefit from foliar feeding?

Time: 5th November 2011 11:15pm

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mid north coast nsw
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Brendan says...
Certainly do kerry. Liquid Potash or a 'pinch' of Condys Crystals in 9 L of water sprayed twice a week will do wonders. Needs a wetting agent as well.

Seasol helps too.

Time: 6th November 2011 8:22am

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snottiegobble says...
My previously sick N.kelly seedling is growing well & covered in flowers & young fruit, but the "big red' ( passiflora cinnabarina) next to it has nothing but tendrils. I think there is is an obvious temperature requirement difference, but nothing on the label mentions it except for "thrives in full sun & protect from frost"
Maybe someone like Amanda would know?



Time: 8th November 2011 4:32pm

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amanda says...
Hey SG - my "Big Red" didn't turn out to be a big red - but a round yellow!? So I don't know if my experience with it will be the same therefore...?
It's a tough vine (whatever it is) and fruits prolifically in an exposed spot in my garden.
Bloody shame the fruits are too sour to eat out of hand as they are jam packed with juicy pulp...boo hoo!

Time: 8th November 2011 6:06pm

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snottiegobble says...
Oh dear Amanda,( better expletive not allowed!) Do you make jam or anything with the fruit?
How`s this for stupidity? All the guava seedlings I told you about that germinated look very like either eggplants or capsicums & I suppose thats because they are! You see I made up my own seed raising mix using some of the worm farm soil! Go on say it, I can take it!!!

Time: 9th November 2011 8:08pm

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amanda says...
Haha! I think we have all done that at some stage SG!? Can't remember how many times I have dumped a planted seedling mix in a huff after waiting months for germination - only to find the damn seed decides to germinate right where i have dumped it? :D

I mix the sour p'fruit with some goodies, add low GI sugar and freeze them into ice blocks/icy poles..and enjoy them anyway!

I don't enjoy raising slow seedlings myself...that 'damping off' thing gets me everytime??

Time: 10th November 2011 12:28am

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Peter says...
Hi everyone,

I need some advice and information as I'm stuck and disappointed with Pink cheeks passionfruit vine I planted last year or should say 2 years ago.

I live in Eagleby, it's halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Queensland.

I have planted pink cheeks variety of passionfruit in the front yard and has been growing well. The soil was nutrient deficiency but was built up and the profile was clay or claysih so I added Gypsum to break the clay down

I have fertlised the vine using various plant foods and trace elements.

The first year it produced 24 flowers and they all fell off. I assumed this was natural as all of its' energy was being used to grow.

This year, yes it has grown..resulting in 42 flowers, some flowering late. Problem is that they are not setting fruit, the flowers still drop off.

I have applied liquid potash and still seems to be not affective.

I have noticed a lot of black ants racing along the vine day in and day out. I also noticed a lot of red spider mites so I began spraying with wettable sulphur to control redmites.

Leaves look different to what they were and still get the occassional yellowing of the leaves.

Can anyone provide me with advice on how to get my vine to produce fruit. I don't want to pull the vine out of the ground unless really necessary. It will cause me great pain after all the nuturing it has been given.

Peter

Time: 13th November 2011 9:55pm

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Wazzbat says...
I have heard that just neglecting it will result in fruit? Also, maybe the flowers need pollinating. I also read somewhere that some varieties need another plant to pollinate with?

I have planted a Pink Cheek last year so I hope mine doesn't have the same outcome as yours? Good luck with it.


Time: 13th November 2011 11:34pm

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Vic Park WA
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Brendan says...
G'day Peter,
To help passionfruit vines bear fruit, give it extra Sulphate of Potash fertilizer.
To speed things up, mix a 'pinch' of Condys Crystals in 9 litres water with a 'good' wetting agent, spray the vine twice a week for 3 or 4 weeks.

Time: 14th November 2011 8:19am

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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

It's all new to me growing passionfruits. there is so many variables that can go wrong hey!

I too wish you luck on Pink cheeks

Time: 15th November 2011 11:14pm

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Peter says...
Thanks for your information, I'll be doing just that tomorrow.

Problem is now, most, if not all of the flowers are starting to fall off.

I've also notice those pesky small black ants all over the flowers, I can only assume these buggers might be eating the pollen. Is there any spray I can use to deter these buggers.

Peter


Time: 15th November 2011 11:22pm

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coastie says...
Good morning Peter, dont worry about the ants, they are helping with pollination, moving pollen from one flower to another.

Time: 16th November 2011 7:23am

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Brendan says...
G'day Peter, the potash fert will help the flowers stay on the vine, but will take 10 to 15 days to 'kick in'.
If you must spray, use pyrethrum with a 'good' wetter.

Time: 16th November 2011 7:31am

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Wazzbat says...
I really have to find some time to get some Potash on my vines. I also have ants. I thought they'd do more harm than good though Coastie? Starting to see lots more Bees around now too. Hopefully I get my first crop of fruit this year on my blacks?

Time: 16th November 2011 7:47am

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Vic Park WA
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amanda says...
Hi Peter, the red spider mites are a concern....I get them here but never, ever on my passionfruit vines. They like dry conditions. Are u sure your vine is getting enough water?
Passionfruit have shallow roots and I find they prefer a couple of shorter waterings rather than less frequent deep soaking.

Maybe you are giving it too much nitrogen - what fertilisers are u using on it?

Can u post a pic of some leaves at all?

Time: 16th November 2011 10:12am

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Melissa says...
Hey Brendan; What do you use as a wetting agent?

I'm still having no luck with the Misty Gem, it has loads of flowers though only a few set fruit.

The grafted Nelly Kelly Black is going berserk; has what looks like 100's of fruit; still getting 10-20 flowers a day and though not hand pollinating every day; busy with work, when I get to them it is still setting baby fruit. Will post some pic's when I can.

Melissa

Time: 16th November 2011 4:59pm

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North Curl Curl NSW
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Melissa says...
Misty Gem Vine
Lonely fruit; few and far between

Time: 16th November 2011 5:15pm

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Melissa says...
Misty Gem Vine
Lonely fruit; few and far between
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 16th November 2011 5:21pm

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Melissa says...
Grafted Nelly Kelly Black
Pic #10: Vine growing under pergola
Pic #9: Vine growing along brick wall to the left of the garden bed
Pic #8: Vine growing above main trunk and outside edge of pergola
Pic #1 - 7, : Various close up shots of maturing fruit

Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4
Picture: 5
Picture: 6
Picture: 7
Picture: 8
Picture: 9
Picture: 10

Time: 16th November 2011 5:27pm

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au0rey says...
Melissa, great shots and great vine, so healthy! Ae there more than one plant? What is the metal mesh you use to let it climb in pic 9? Is it stainless steel? Iron? Or galvanized metal?

How big is the area the vine is occupying in pic 10? Is it partially in shade? How old is this vine?

Time: 16th November 2011 7:16pm

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melbourne
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Peter says...
Coastie,

I'm not sure about black ants being pollinators, I know they like milking the red spider mites that were on the vine, I sprayed the vine with a red mite treatment.

Time: 16th November 2011 10:50pm

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Peter says...
Hello Brendan,

Thanks, but now you have confused me. I noticed you suggested I should use a good "wetting" agent with a pinch of "condies crystals" - Potassium Permagenate in 9 litres of water and spray the foilage.

Now you suggest Pyrethrum!! Hmmmm, what do you suggest is a good wetting agent ?

Peter

Time: 16th November 2011 10:55pm

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Thanks for your comments. I give the vine a soaking of water in early morning and again in the evening.

I have used various fertilisers and trace elements, I'll check the garage and will write the names of those fertlisers I use.

I have also used liquid potash of late.

Still getting some leaves yellowing, some leaves seem to have shrunk instead of being large.

I'll take a few photos and will post them up here by Friday.

I may have over fertilised them or over watered. Where I plated the passionfruit vine the soil was clayish so I dug gypsum into it to help break the clay. Have been nuturing this vine for 2 years now.

Peter

Time: 16th November 2011 11:03pm

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Pauline says...
Hi everyone, so interested in all your posts. I have had a problem with my passionfruit plant for the last two seasons. Both years it has flowered well but the flowers are being eaten and then fall off. Have sprayed with Mavrik but don't want to spray the flowers too much because of the bees. Any suggestions. Vine is growing really well and would be lots of fruit if they would stay on. Im getting desperate! Thanks Pauline

Time: 17th November 2011 8:05am

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Whangarei, New Zealand
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Melissa says...
Hi Au0rey,

The Nelly Kelly (the second lot of photos is all one vine) I'll take some more photos and post later; I actually thought I'd killed it with kindness last year..... and removing too many leaves! but it's come back.

I've trained it along a north facing brick wall with timber battens, attached to the battens is plastic mesh (bought from Bunnings) I wouldn't go with mesh again if doing over as the vine grows in behind and gets tangled and is hard to prune. I've tried to stop the branches from growing behind the mesh and keep it in front to make yearly tidying easier.

I planted the Misty Gem - it only gets a small space on the garden wall; it is to the right of the kids swings A frame in the first lot of photos. It's runners got away from me over the autumn/winter period and had merged/migrated into the Nelly Kelly's domain, in Spring (late September) I took to it and pruned it back, and all its growth across the Nelly Kelly - their was no fruit; It doesn't like being hand pollinated; I can't work out how to get the Misty Gem to set fruit; as it has tonnes of flowers and still growing more buds to date. I've tried hand pollinating with the same paint brush I use on the Nelly Kelly; the flowers wither and die; I've tried removing the [things with pollen on them - can't remember the proper name] and wiping them on the other bits - can't remember that name either LOL and it doesn't seem to like that either; there is a couple of fruit on the vine, I don't know how they've set as we do not have any bees.

The section under the pergola is trained along fencing wire thread through "vine eyes" again bought from Bunnings. There is a couple of rows of wire and one on the outside edge of the pergola. It grows fine under the shaded roof - although the branches at the very top get a bit burnt from the heat of the roof, but most of them now hang down.

I'm not really sure how old the vine is, possibly 3-5 yrs old, last year was the first year I took over tending to it and was a bit to loving and thought I'd done too much! Though last year was also the first year we got a decent amount of fruit; hand pollinating help with that.

When we planted this vine, we planted 2 or 3 others and they never grew so they were removed last year. It is a grafted vine and this one has never put out any suckers; one of the others did but I just used to pull them out and I haven't had any since removed the other "dead" vines last spring.

Melissa

Time: 17th November 2011 9:12am

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

As promised in my previous reply to you, here are the photos.

Numbered #1 through to #10.

There are some flower buds still forming and others have dropped off after flowering. I should have about 160 passionfruit on that vine but not to be...Also noticed not one bee, only ants.

Some leaves on the bottom of the vine are now smaller and larger leaves are at top of vine.

Maybe there is a bug on that plant that I can't see or some other mineral or trace element difficiency?

Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4
Picture: 5
Picture: 6
Picture: 7
Picture: 8
Picture: 9
Picture: 10

Time: 17th November 2011 10:54pm

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Brendan says...
Hi Peter,
Sorry 'bout that. The Condys spray/wetter is to help the vine produce fruit. The Pyrethrum spray/wetter was to get rid of the ants, if you wanted to :-)

There's heaps of good 'wetters' out there: Kenwet, Spreadmax, Agral, Activator (what I use).

By the look of your vine it has been getting too much Nitrogen, try giving it some extra Sulphate of Potash, old manure and mulch. Keep the mulch away from the vine.

Time: 18th November 2011 7:40am

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amanda says...
That's interesting Peter. I would have thought the vine would be heaps bigger for 2yrs old - but maybe it's the variety - I have not heard anything about Pink cheeks before. eg: my 2yr old vines are easily 2m high by 6m wide (4 varieties) in full sun.

Which way is the vine facing? (eg: does the carport run east/west?) Is getting sun all day?
It certainly looks healthy so I doubt it's a fertiliser problem - and you have given it trace elements so it should be ok. It doesn't look like it is suffering from red spider mite - are u happy that's what they are? Are they just on the lower leaves?

I would be tempted to clear away a lot more of that grass out and along the vine and dump some good manure there, a little potash - and then stop feeding it for awhile - just water it. It shouldn't need watering twice a day - every couple of days should be good (although yours seems happy enough) P'fruit hate being waterlogged...but it would have died if it was unhappy.

Have u tried hand pollinating? Bees usually adore passionfruit flowers. Maybe plant some lavender or rosemary, Thai basil or such near it - to attract the bees into your garden.

Apparently some vines may be a bit self sterile - some folk have had problems with Big Boppa for eg. I don't know how this works and it shouldn't really happen with everyday passionfruit - it's a rip off. Too inbred maybe?! :D

You might have more luck when the weather starts to warm up more though. Not sure what your temps are (although I still get pollination over winter with my sunshine special - but I have tonnes of bees)

I'd give hand pollination a go (on fresh flowers) and see if it even works?

You may need to look at a different variety if all else fails :-( I have not been able to get the regular purple passionfruit (Nellie Kellie) going here at all - it's just too hot for it. But I have great success with panamas and some other more tropical varieties (so it's not me! lol)

Let us know how u go..? (and manure is low nitrogen - but don't use chook poo)



Time: 18th November 2011 10:39am

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Jason says...
You guys must be pro passionfruit growers, mines about the size of Peters after 10 years :S

Time: 18th November 2011 1:22pm

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Portland
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BJ says...
Peter, are you able to create a little garden bed along the edge of your carport, underyour PF vine? If you plant bee attracting plants there, you'll increase the chances of pollination. I've never had much luck growing them on smaller trellises. Mine grow up a big crepe myrtle, which attracts the pollinators. The height also puts it into the flight path of many flying insects. You'll have to entice them down to your vine.

Time: 18th November 2011 1:30pm

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amanda says...
Well I have to get in on the picture act too now! ;D here are my pride and joys...

Pic 1 is Panama Gold (3.7m high fence) - it has been a bit sick but coming good now it has an extra dripper added.

Pic 2 is Sunshine special - there are two grape vines in there somewhere (oops!) about 1.5m H but 10m long (maybe the birds won't find the grapes this year!?)

Pic 3 is Big Red on the 3.7m fence - she's off over the side now...

Pic 4 is my beloved Pan Red - all three sides (2m high wall) although she has covered up my water fountain, picture windows, honeysuckles et all and is threatening to take over the BBQ (so hubby is itching to hack into her..lol)

(ps - I pinch out the growing tips on the longer vines when the vine is young)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4
Picture: 5
Picture: 6

Time: 18th November 2011 3:33pm

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amanda says...
My best tip for passionfruit is sun, sun, sun :) Especially if u don't live in the tropics or where the ambient temps are warm.

They are warmth/sun lovers so they will always head to the sun - which is annoying if it's on your neighbours side of the fence or your carport roof top - cos that's where the most fruit will end up being :-(

Love your pics Melissa - u are dedicated! :) That misty gem sounds a bit like the Big boppa and Pink cheeks maybe? With all that effort I would have thought u would have had some success - especially as u already have with your others. I wonder if others are having the same problems..?

P'fruit perform beautifully on an overhead pergola - they get max sun and the fruit hangs down underneath. A good option for cooler climates.
It's tricky tho - as many modern suburban blocks don't have enuf room for a vine that's cranking..

Peter - I have never heard of ants milking red spider mites.....? Is it worth taking an example down to your local nursery and getting it checked out maybe? Ants usually milk scale and aphids.

Time: 18th November 2011 8:12pm

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amanda says...
PS : Just took a pic of the root system of a healthy P'fruit vine - this is only 1cm below the soil and about 1.5 m out from the trunk..! So very shallow and very spreading - that gives lots of clues as to how to feed and water them..?

Head in the sun, feet in the shade too..
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 18th November 2011 9:27pm

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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Ok, I'll see how it goes. I'll source a bottle of wetting agent from one of the local nurseries where I reside.

I'll use more liquid potash and definetly need to get a measuring cup as last time I may have used too much concentration of liquid potash.

I always keep mulch away from the roots

I took some leaves to uni to check under the microscope and yep , found some dead red spider mites. I'll upload some images on here. My apologies if they are not clearer.

Peter

Time: 19th November 2011 11:39pm

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Wazzbat says...
Peter - Wetting agent is cheaper at your local supermarket. I have seen it in Coles and IGA stores. The brand is Earth Choice. It's a washing up liquid that is Grey Water safe and I have had good results (No plant damage). Get the small bottles which are the concentrate ones. I find they are better than the bigger (non concentrated) ones. I reckon it works better than the nursery/hardware stocked products and it works out cheaper!


Time: 19th November 2011 11:46pm

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Vic Park WA
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Yep, well I'll be doing that, that is clearing the grass from the area. Yes, the carport does run east to west.

The passionfruit vine does get sun but could ot say if its full 8 hours or so. There are some large trees on the nature strip and also on the western side of the fence line, this could have a bearing on sunlight.

Yes, I did have heaps of red spider mite but killed most of them with a suphur based solution for mites.

There use to be a woodlands accross the road where I am that had lots of bees but now its a retirement village of sorts.

I'm going to dig the ground and place more gypsum in and plants some bee attracting flowers / herbs as you suggested. Also going to get some cow manure from the bush out west, past Beaudesert or take a run to east Toowoomba and see a cow cockey.

Peter

Time: 19th November 2011 11:48pm

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Peter says...
BJ,

Sorry, but no can do placing anything on the otherside of the vine as its all cement. the old bloke does not want anything that creeps up walls as such.

I'll see how I go with bee attracting flowers.

Peter

Time: 19th November 2011 11:51pm

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

yeah I'm going to do that on Sunday (tomorrow) so they can have a look.

I'll take a photo of the root system, The root is mainly one trunk and also shallow, i might have disrurbed it when airing the soil when mixing in the fertliser and trace elements a few weeks ago. Peter

Time: 20th November 2011 12:08am

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amanda says...
So Peter - is the carport roof on the North or south side of the vine..?

Time: 20th November 2011 5:56pm

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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

I managed to obtain a small bottle of Searles Spredmax for $10.00. I'll go to Coles and Woolies to check out that Earth Choice diswashing liquid.

Probably is cheaper. Thanks for the tip.

Peter



Time: 20th November 2011 10:15pm

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Peter says...
Amanda,

The carport roof?

The vine is on the Northern side of the carport, cant shift it as it's permanent.

I found 3 flowers opened so I used a cotton bud to pollinate the stigma since there are no bees around.

I have already lost a lot of flowers, they have opened, closed and wilted and dropped of the vine.

I've dug the soil with a weeding fork to aerate and additional fertiliser as well as trace elements and watered it in.

Peter

Time: 20th November 2011 10:21pm

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amanda says...
Peter - maybe u could chuck a couple of posts/star pickets in the lawn and run some mesh out to them for the vine to scramble over..? (horizontally, and then also away from the car port) It would get heaps more sun and have lots more room. The posts can be easily removed if u move.

As the sun shifts higher for summer the vine may get even less sun...

Your vine looks really healthy - it's not indicating it lacks anything.

I am actually quite slack with mine, to be honest. I put a lot of my success down to full sun and tough love :) You shouldn't need to fuss over them too much.

Personally I don't agree with some of the literature on how to raise passionfruit. I think they quote far too much Nitrogen.
I have never used the high level of Nitrogen quoted in some texts.

Time: 20th November 2011 10:57pm

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Melissa says...
Hey Peter,

Don't disturb the root system too much; they don't like it....

Just clear a garden bed for your vine; I don't have anything planted in the garden bed my vines are growing in apart from a Gum Tree in the corner; which was there before I planted the second vine last year.

I've got a good inch or two of mulch; I put down Dynamic Lifter Fruit & Flower under the mulch & then just water in my soluble fertilisers (Seasol & Sulphate of Potash)

Don't be disheartened over the flowers you've lost; I recon I've lost over 100; and I'd say Ive got approx 100-150 fruit now on the vine, and its still setting.

When you are hand pollinating you won't get 100% success but you should start to see fruit setting, as early as the 2nd day.

If you don't get success with and pollinating maybe it's like my Misty Gem; it doesn't like being hand pollinated; atleast not with the paint brush I use on the Nelly Kelly Black.

Let us know how you go.

Melissa

Time: 20th November 2011 11:15pm

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amanda says...
Have a look at pic 5 above..that's a fig tree growing with my vine - it hasn't slowed either of them down a bit ;-)
The fig helps to keep the P'fruit vine root run cool and shady. I even leave all the weeds around my big red for the same reason...(pic 3) I get literally 100's of great fruit off these vines.

Don't spoil them too much..
(that's my 2 cents worth now.. :)

Time: 21st November 2011 12:13am

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Melissa says...
Hey Amanda,

I wasn't saying that growing anything was bad; I just don't so I can find the fruit and that when I fertilise it goes to the passionfruit vine and not weeds etc....

I was more trying to point out that disturbing the roots by forking in the fertiliser isn't a very good idea as they don't like that very much.

M

Time: 21st November 2011 6:07am

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amanda says...
Agree Melissa :) The roots are very fine and shallow aren't they. Breaking them may invite disease also :-(

Time: 21st November 2011 10:42am

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Peter says...
Hmmm, I hope I have not disturbed the roots too much

Time: 21st November 2011 3:04pm

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Peter says...
I hand pollinated three flowers today, too much wind so dont know if the transfer worked. I noticed those pesky black ants going around the flower and looked like taking away the pollen to be consumed.

Sprayed the ground and surrounding area with Surface Spray "Baygon" to control those black ants.

I have a sneak suspicion the reason why some of my leaves are curling and turning yellowish is due to spraying the leaves with water mixed with penetrator plus pinch of condies crystals (Potassium Permanganate)on a hot day and not late in the evening or pre dawn.

Peter

Time: 21st November 2011 10:09pm

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Brendan says...
Hi Peter, when you say 'penetrator', do you mean a 'wetter'? Please do not use any soap based product with Condys. Yes, best to spray in the evening :-)

Time: 22nd November 2011 7:50am

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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

I think I have caused damage to my vine. Unfortunately I purchased the wrong product. I used Searles Penetraide RE WETTING LIQUID mixed with water and pinch of Condys crystals.

I applied this to the vine during the day instead of evening.

I have taken a few leaves off the vine and have scanned them for your perusal.

I have only just purcahsed spreadwell and have nt used it yet.

They are discoloured and looked like ready to die.

Let know what reckon.

Cheers, Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4
Picture: 5
Picture: 6

Time: 22nd November 2011 11:27pm

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Brendan says...
G'day Peter,
Doesn't look good, I'd say the wrong wetting agent caused it.
I can see tiny whitish spots on your leaves, they're not bugs are they?
Have a look at this site: http://www.annettemcfarlane.com/diseaseID.htm
Btw, too much Condys is not good either. It just has to colour the water.
I'd spray with Seasol now to help the vine, and give it some gypsum around the root system. That should help.
Another site to look at http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2010/06/30/2940831.htm
Amanda might have some ideas as well.
Just Googled Searles Penetraide, it's a soil wetter, not a wetting agent :-(
http://www.searle.com.au/Watermanagement.html

Time: 23rd November 2011 7:41am

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Wazzbat says...
Hopefully some regular water and a bit of seasol should bring it back to life?

I just hand pollinated some flowers yesterday. It's the first season I should get fruit (young vines) but I didn't want to leave it to the bees just in case they don't do the job. I want to give them every chance I can.

They are due for a drink of Potash and Seasol I think?


Time: 23rd November 2011 8:14am

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amanda says...
Now that the hot weather has arrived I am expecting my panama vines to commence their serious flowering. The sunshine special has been already at it for about 2 months now (it has cooler climate purple genes in it, I would guess)

Peter - your vine is going to become plethoric if you keep mucking about with it.. :-( Get some bags of good manure and get that onto the ground - it will go a long way to fixing/buffering any damage u have done.
There is no point adding gypsum to clay based soils if u aren't prepared to add organic matter also. Both are needed to improve clayish soils.

Clay based soils have better levels of potassium than sands - so maybe ease up on this for now - you have likely added enough for the time being.
Seasol would be good.

Can u bang in the star pickets like I mentioned above...?

If u spray Baygon on the ground u can expect to lose your good soil bugs too.

I am on sandy loam which retains potassium poorly and I only give my vines potash twice a year!
They get the rest from some rooster booster and manure - these are slow release fert's which suit the vine very well - and with less risk of burning.

I hope this helps - and the vine should recover from the burning provided u don't put anything more on it (as it's stressed now - so be gentle with it) :)

Time: 23rd November 2011 10:55am

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amanda says...
PS Peter - this is a leaf I just picked off my most prolific vine - if it gives u any reassurance!? :)

It's an older leaf and I will get around to doing something about it when I get a chance. The vine is flowering and setting fruit no problems...but it will really get going further into summer cos it's a Panama. (it's the vine in my pics 4,5 and 6 above..?)

I am not bothered by this deficiency much - it happens every year...the vine is in very active growth and I know the organic matter already present in the soil will eventually supply what the vine needs, in due course.

As I am a bit slack and I will likely just give it some trace elements - it will need them soon enough anyway. It's a "mobile" element deficiency - as the vine is taking from the old leaves to give to the new growth - and the flowers :) ...so it's not urgent that I address it. If it were a potassium deficiency - then yes - that's more pressing. Your vine does not have a potassium deficiency - trust me :)

Once the crop has 'set' then I will feed the vine/s with some more manure and a little potash. Then just lots and lots of water to fill the fruit! (and because the vines are so huge now - they have a massive leaf area to transpire thru too..) I have never pruned them so that part is my own fault. But I reckon - more new growth = more fruit at least?! yum.

I accidentally left the sprinkler going on it all night a cupla weeks ago...(about 10hrs) so I have likely flushed some goodies away! oops....

They are so much tougher than what people give them credit for sometimes.

I will be really interested to know if yours picks up the flowering pace this summer - and then - if it can pollinate naturally (and if not - thru hand pollination) If it can't do these things then I would actually dump it and get a variety that is a known performer for your area.

I would not get pollination on my white sapotes without ants. Bush flies pollinate my capulin cherry! All sorts of insects are attracted to flowers - and yes I get ants on my passionfruit flowers sometimes too. Moths pollinate dragon fruit....Keep an open mind ;-)

I have now exhausted all my passionfruit growing knowledge for u now Peter! lol. I adore these fruit so I have really studied them over most of my life! :)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Time: 23rd November 2011 9:21pm

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Julie says...
amanda, that looks very like magnesium deficiency. Then again, manganese def can look quite similiar.

Time: 23rd November 2011 9:46pm

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amanda says...
Yea Julie - I am thinking manganese cos it's growing in and around a limestone wall...? I usually need to give it some iron sulphate in winter too. It certainly doesn't hold the vine back in any real way!

I suspect my vines grow so well cos they know just how much love them! ;-)

Time: 23rd November 2011 10:18pm

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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Yep, sure did make a big error, it's a learning curve which I wont repeat.

I've got Seasol, will be applying that tonight

Tiny white spots? I dont think they are bugs, might be residue from red spider mite I was treating with a mitecide at the time from a nursery, contains wettable sulphate.

I'll check uner a strong micrscope at uni tomorrow and see if I can get a clear picture and upload it here.

I'll spray it with seasol as well as give it a drink in seasol.

Also will be adding manure to the area during next few days. See how it goes,.

Thanks fo the links, I'll check it out. Peter

Time: 23rd November 2011 10:56pm

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Thanks for your advice and yes I will be using Seasol tonight and will be placing manure around the roots of the vine in the next day or two.

As well as additional gypsum.

I did not spray baygon on the ground where the vine roots are, I sprayed on the concrete paths and support columns of the carport

Unfortunately no can do with Star pickets, old bloke said let it grow on the roof. I'll consult with him a bit more about this later this week.

I have seen your leaf and still looks more healthier than mine due to my stuff up.

As I said to Brendan, its all a learning curve. Peter

Time: 23rd November 2011 11:04pm

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amanda says...
It looks like it wants to go to the roof Peter :-O That's not what u want tho. It will likey fry up there and any fruit will be hard to get to.

I tried to grow a vine over my corrugated iron shed twice - it fried and died every summer! So yea - it's a learning curve 4 sure..

No offence - but it's common problem with folk planting these vines in a less than ideal spot - have done it myself :) And they must have lots of room when they are on the boil - or be pruned to contain them.

Other than extending something out from the posts..? Maybe one of those wall clothes lines..??

I sympathise tho - it's hard when u are renting.

Time: 23rd November 2011 11:35pm

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Yes I know what you mean, it's not ideal going to the top of the roof.

I'll have a chat with the old bloke and see if I can get a consensus.

Wall clothes lines, el-cheapo brand might be the shot also.

What would be the ideal good manure to use on the vine?

Peter



Time: 24th November 2011 7:32am

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Brendan says...
Hi Peter,
Composted cow manure is hard to beat. Chicken manure contains too much nitrogen and makes your vine grow like mad, but can actually hinder it fruiting.

Time: 24th November 2011 7:44am

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Julie says...
Brendan, what is the difference between a soil wetter and a wetting agent? They sound the same to me.

Time: 24th November 2011 8:07pm

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Peter says...
Thanks Brendan,

I've uploaded images taken via a camera microscope of the underside of my passionfruit leaf.

Ist images are of the red spider mite with eggs

The second set is of recent. The white dots that may have looked like eggs or bugs is residue from a bug wash I had applied some time ago.

Amanda, I have spoken to the old bloke and I'll be placing 3 star pickets about 5 ft out from the carport and will use a roll of thinwire from Bunnings it has large square mesh to allow the fruit to hang down from above.

The star pickets are long but will be about 7ft tall once firmly driven with additional support welded in position.

I dont know whether thin wire would be ok as I'm trying to reduce surface and radiant temperature spread. Maybe large square plastic might be appropriate.

Here are the photos.

Cheers, Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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

Time: 24th November 2011 10:38pm

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amanda says...
Great pics Peter! Wire should be ok - mine grow over ringlock fencing wire no prob's. If u use plastic just make sure it's not going to sag with the weight of your revitalised vine!? :)

Agree with Brendan - cow poo good. I am really surprised about the mites...bugs love the weak, sappy growth that comes from over feeding with nitrogen - and will also attack plants under stress more readily too. I get these mites on my Cape Goosberries (only) they are a pain. I use a strong jet of water to wash them off.

There is Naturasoap (Yates) and Neem that can help with them - and they are safe.

What kind of lab do u work in?

Time: 24th November 2011 11:14pm

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Wazzbat says...
Fold out washing line? What a good idea. Just need to make sure the lines are nice and tight. Not sure how much they cost? Might be cheaper to buy some pipe and a welder? Will have to have a think about that?

Time: 25th November 2011 8:02am

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Brendan says...
Hi Julie, wetting agents are specifically made to help garden sprays stick to the plants foliage, as some/most are very hard to 'wet'.

Soil wetter helps plant roots grow by removing the surface tension of the soil, allowing water and the roots of plants to penetrate the soil easier. It also means less watering is required.

They should NEVER be switched. Soil wetter, if sprayed on plant foliage, can damage plants.

Time: 25th November 2011 9:01am

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amanda says...
Very close in names tho aren't they..? Personally I never use wetting agents in foliar feeding - only with glyphosate (round up) I just use a little bit of molasses as a sticking agent for foliar feeds...

Time: 25th November 2011 11:58am

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Yes, nice imagery hey!

I was looking at some wire at Bunnings a bit costly for a 10 metre roll so I'll be sourcing wire roll from another place...shop around as they say.

I'll be welding some support rods up top of the starpickets for the wire to secure itself...bit like an arch but not an arch. maybe 4 or 5 foot out from the carport support column .

I've studied marine biology at Uni, completed honours in 2008. Have been doing some field work at Wivenhoe Dam (Icthyoplankton sampling)for SEQWater.

Yes, I have also purchased Neem and will only use that if the need arises.

Will be placing cow manure around the vine tomorrow (Saturday).

Cheers, Peter

Time: 25th November 2011 11:48pm

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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

Retractable Clothes line might not be viable for what I will be doing. Star picket posts ,light metal boxing for top support and possible side to secure wire.

Meal box will be welded in situ. I've got a portable Gas Mig Welder , only good for welding metal up to 5mm thick.

Cheers, Peter

Time: 26th November 2011 9:27am

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Wazzbat says...
It's a pity you're in Brisbane Peter. If you lived close by, I'd have to get you around to weld some kind of frame up for me ;-) I might have to rig something up for my vines I think?


Time: 26th November 2011 3:44pm

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amanda says...
Sounds good Peter! Lets hope this vine rewards u soon! :)

Time: 26th November 2011 8:35pm

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Peter says...
Hi Wazzbat,

Would give you a hand if I could.

Amanda and Brendan,

I went to the nursery this arvo and had my soil's pH tested. I went down 10 - 15cm to get some soil to hand in.

The soil is acidic where my vine is growing, it shows the pH as 4.5.

I was told the pH for passionfruits should be 6.5

Maybe that might be a reason for some of the leaves turing yellowish and lack of pollinators for fruit.

I have sprinkled 2 cups of garden lime and watered in. It takes 6 weeks for the effect to take place.

Boron might also be needed to assist in holding the flower on the stem more longer for fruit development.

I don't know if there is any truth to this but just what I've been told this arvo.

Soil pH is a concern.

Any thoughts on the above?

Peter

Time: 26th November 2011 10:17pm

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Wazzbat says...
Had a few flowers fall off already :-(

Haven't seen any signs of setting fruit yet. Fingers crossed still though. Looks like there are a heap more flowers on there way yet! Especially on the Sunshine Special.



Time: 26th November 2011 10:39pm

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Brendan says...
Yes Peter, 4.5 pH is way too low. Pity you used lime, as Dolomite would've been better, it contains calcium & magnesium. Magnesium helps leaves stay green.
Have you given it any sulphate of potash? That will help harden up the tissue of the plant.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 27th November 2011 7:55am

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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Good photo of the flower and leaf. Would that be a Nellie Kellie?

I was having thoughts between using Garden Lime or Dolomite. Garden Lime might act a bit quicker but will apply Dolomite on Mondsy.

I have not applied Sulfate of Potash (Liquid Potash) as yet but will doing so later this evening.

What frequency and dosage would you recommend?

I have the star pickets in the ground, will be placing top frame for wire support over the next few days and will then train or divert the vine to grow onto it instead of the carport roof.

Peter

Time: 27th November 2011 8:27am

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Brendan says...
Hello Peter,
No, not Nellie Kellie, just one that the birds / possums have grown for me:-) There's heaps of wierd passionfruit growing in the bush here.

I'd use powdered sulphate of potash myself, but the liquid Potash is very good, but CAN be overdone. Please follow the instructions on the bottle :-)
Has you vine picked up a bit?

Time: 27th November 2011 8:40am

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amanda says...
It was a pretty healthy looking vine for pH 4.5 Peter. From earlier posts you say you have given it liquid potash, gypsum, fertilisers and trace elements. All of these things are acidic. Potassium permangenate is a strong oxidiser, in addition.

It would be interesting to see what the pH of some virgin soil nearby is - as all the amendments you have added has likely altered the pH of the soil around your vine now.

Now you are adding lime and dolomite to try and fix this. Your poor vine!?

My advice was to give it lots of manure and more sun. It still is :)




Time: 27th November 2011 11:10am

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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Still having yellow leaves, seems more so. I'll know in about another 2 weeks or so.

Amanda,

Lime and Dolomite should correct the acidity pH back to 6.5.

Nothing has ever grown in that spot accept a horrible Bouganvilea (very sharp and long needle thorns) The thorns even stay sharp when the branch is dead. The only way to fix that is to burn it.

The soil has always been poor

Cant give it any more sun unless one removes the very big trees outside the fence boundary (Council's domain)

Gypsum is needed to break up the clay. Clay is approx 25cm below the soil surface.

Roots of the vine dont like to be waterlogged otherwise they die.

Vine also has a good layer of cow manure on the surface and well watered.

However some of the leading leaves are crinkly. I'll pick a couple tomorrow sometime and scan it and upload it here.

I've never seen anything like it before. It might recover yet.

There does not seem to be much known about the pH specifics for "Pink Cheeks".

From what I have read they are suppose to be self pollinating.

I've seen the stamen covered in pollen when the flower opened only to finf no pollen afterwards and after the flower shrivels up, the sigma looks black and dark brown. definitely something wrong with the one I have.

Peter

Time: 27th November 2011 10:34pm

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amanda says...
Yes lime will do this Peter - but with these kind of sudden pH changes it can be quite detrimental to the plant. It doesn't quite work that simplistically.

All the best with your vine :)

Time: 27th November 2011 11:20pm

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Peter says...
Yes Amanda I thought it might so I'm going to plant another cultivar. Maybe Nellie Kellie or Panama Gold, whichever is sweeter and has more pulp than rind.

Here are the latest photo's of leafs.

Young Leaf is relatively fresh but has signs of stress. Leaf #4 and #5 is the resultant from spraying water mixed with Penetraide and bit more of a pinch of condies crystals..Potassium Permanganate

Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3

Time: 28th November 2011 10:28pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Panama Gold is a fabulous cultivar - in its first year it clambered fifteen feet into a Paulownia tree and must have dropped a couple of hundred of the most delicious sweet fruit at our feet. There is so much juice you need to cut the top off like a boiled egg instead of cutting in half so as not to waste any. Interestingly the pulp drops straight out without adhering to the rind, just like an egg.

Time: 28th November 2011 11:01pm

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Peter says...
Hi Phil,

Panama Gold, Yes, I have heard of it being so but wasn't sure about the pulp.

I might plant that one in amongst the trees. Is there any special care or needs required for that particular cultivar?

Peter

Time: 29th November 2011 7:42am

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amanda says...
Hmnnn...I agree with Phil..panama gold is lovely! A proven variety too Peter :) No special care needed and should fruit well for u in Brisbane.

I also love my sunshine special - it's like a cross between a panama and a purple (to me) it still has a lot of that intense passionfruit flavour of a purple - but is sweeter (not as sweet as a pan gold though) They both bear really well for me over here too - so that's a good sign.

ps - sorry to see your latest pics :-( You could always cut the vine back, keep the water up to it, and see if recovers...? If the roots are not 'burnt' then it may be ok.

Time: 29th November 2011 10:34am

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BJ says...
Peter, if you have a nice tree to grow it up, go for that. I have my PG growing up a large crepe myrtle. I rarely give it anything and it fruits more than I could have imagined. Beware though - after eating a few hundred and turning more into jam, marmelade, sauce and cordial, you will probably start to get a bit tired of them. You probably wont have enough friends to give them to. At this stage a number will find their way into mulch/compost/chookfeed heaps and will later come up like weeds.

A testiment to their hardyness is that I've had a seedling PG pop up in utter crap dust in an absolute rain shaddow.

Time: 29th November 2011 10:59am

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
And best of all, it is particularly self-fertile. I started hand pollinating the first few flowers but then it set huge crops without any help from me. Some of the branches drooped down out of the tree towards the ground laden with fruit, easily accessed and they drop at the perfect moment of ripeness. It is also easy to grow from cuttings, I have been amazed at how quickly some excess side shoots take root.

Time: 29th November 2011 11:09am

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Peter says...
Hi BJ, Amanda and Phil.

Well, I'm going for broke and have purchased both Panama Gold and Panama Red.

Just to be safe I'll dig in some gypsum and mix the clay soil together so it wont shock the roots when they reach that section and wont touch it , apart from good fertiliser and water and some mulch around the main root.

Just have to erect the frame proper, been letting it lapse as its been too hot to weld outdoors, might wait until it cools down a bit this arvo.

Only using 8mm rod to act as top support for placing plastic coated thin wire and half way down the sides.

I'll take a photo of it and upload when it's done. Cheers, Peter

Time: 29th November 2011 12:33pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
OK don't forget to stand back - they'll take off before your eyes.

Time: 29th November 2011 12:48pm

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amanda says...
hehe Phil :D Peter might need to invest in a machete with both a pan red and gold...? Hope u have a bit room there Peter!?

Time: 29th November 2011 1:56pm

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

I'm all for the challenge.

I just done a bounce test on the rod I was going to use for the roof (Top) and decided to upgrade it to a concrete Reo-bar 12mm thick, a few welds and then the wire. It should not fall with all that lovely fruit :)

I'll have the room to let it profuse :)

Still seem to get a few more yellow spotty leaves on the other vine. Hmmm, very disheartening.

How often do I need to reapply lime and sulfate of potash for?

Peter





Time: 29th November 2011 10:36pm

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Melissa says...
Had my 2nd passionfruit ripen and fall from the vine :-P the first was just larger than a grape and had one seed in it LOL and the second was slightly larger; about the size of a walnut! But was full of seeds. Was a little tart but I like them like that. hopefully they'll sweeten a little as it gets a bit warmer. There growth must have been stunted when I did some "tidying"of the vine late September.... The rest are quite large. Most seem to have grown full size. When I get my first true (full sized) fruit; I'll take a photo and post it....

Melissa

Time: 29th November 2011 10:48pm

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Peter says...
Melissa,

That would be good to see.

Peter

Time: 30th November 2011 12:13pm

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amanda says...
Go Melissa! Is this the misty gem or NKellie?
Peter - if the vine is still looking really sick it might be best to give it a rest until you see it shooting new healthy growth..?

Are the leaves burnt all over, like in your last pics...?



Time: 30th November 2011 5:33pm

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda

Hmmm, the vine brings a bit of a tear to my eye.

There still appears to be some leaves that still have those burnt or see through spots on them.

It is still producing more flower like projectiles, leaves still seem a bit crinkly. I'm just giving it a bit of water on a daily basis.

I've welded some metal support frames over the star pickets , using 40mm x 40mm angle iron plus 12mm and 8mm rods at the sides.

I'll post a pic of it tomorrow when I get the chance. I purchased 5 rolls of plastic coated trellis wire to use for the top and sides. I left the ends open so you can walk through and allow the ride-on mower to cut the grass underneath.

I'll take another photo when the wire is placed and secured. another two holes to dig, this time I'll go a bit deeper and wider and ensure enough gypsum is used to assist in breaking up the clay based soil.

Peter

Time: 30th November 2011 11:05pm

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Wazzbat says...
Have you planted a replacement yet Peter? I have and will be planting at least one new vine every year so I will hopefully have PF for ever!!! That's the plan anyway but I haven't seen any fruit just yet?

Time: 1st December 2011 9:19am

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Melissa says...
Hey Peter; if I could do my passionfruit set up again :-) I would.

Google passionfruit trellis on the internet and have a look as some, better still on one of daley's forums there's a professional grower's pictures in (remind me Amanda) somewhere overseas.....

So if you can return the wire frames and get a roll of wire instead?

And you use posts on the ends in an A frame type set up but if the star pickets are well supported and one row of metal across the top, you train the vine up the the top bar and then nip out the growing tip and train two side laterals across the top wire, removing all other lower side laterals, this gives you a strong trunk and strong support at the top then you allow to grow from there: ie they grow and hang down by the weight of the fruit; much easier to prune when removing old growth.

I've had to put a wire at the top of my "plastic trellis" as it wasn't strong enough to support the weight of the vine, if I didn't have the trellis, my vine would grow behind it (as it is against a wall) - you wont' have that problem as yours is free standing.

I bought a roll of fencing wire from bunnings and used that - I went fairly heavy duty and my brother who I paid to do the "fix" for me - found it difficult to turn it back on itself at the ends but it is done.

I'll take some pictures this afternoon and post them.

Melissa

Time: 1st December 2011 9:37am

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Melissa says...
Hey Wazza; that's great to plant a new one every year if you've got the space :-) my yard is a big as you've seen in my pictures previously posted: ie the kids playground is in the middle of the yard; the steps up the the grass is also the middle. The passionfruit vine grows on the north facing fence and nothing grows on the south :-( as it is in shade most of the year. My yard is about the size of a postage stamp I wish I had more space to plant more passionfruit vines but if you look after the one you've got and it is productive it will serve you well; I planted the Misty Gem as a transition vine as I thought I'd killed by being too kind last year thou this hasn't happened. This year, the misty gem has produced hundreds of flowers but only set 3-4 fruit and doesn't like being hand pollinated in any way shape or form: will try again next year, it's still producing flowers but still not setting any.

The Nelly Kelly is going great guns and just about not flowering anymore, no new buds, few flowers opening, 7 days of rain last week didn't help thou. I've read that the vines will continue to flower till the vine is at capacity ie all the fruit set it can support (is this what you've experience Amanda).

The small ripe fruit I had was the Nelly Kelly.

I didn't go for another Nelly Kelly as my transition because of OP's (other peoples opinions) ie growing suckers from the graft.

I've never had suckers from this vine, in some of my photos I think from last year, one of the 3 other vines I pulled out cause they failed to grow (thrive) did grow suckers but I just used to pull them out; and since I pulled the whole vine last year I've not had another problem....

The vine isn't too pretty above the graft:- the wood is a bit soft and scarred:- I think it was a fungal infection, I've dusted with Mancozeb & (the green one ;-P Copper something) and have only one fruit this year with "fungal spots" where as last year nearly all the fruit had them.

Melissa

Time: 1st December 2011 9:49am

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amanda says...
I can imagine Peter :-( make sure u check the pH of the soil B4 you plant the next ones....? Let us know what it is?

It's really hard to tell what's going on with it - it could be the mites (are they dead yet?) or it could be the sprays/fert's...

Maybe when some new leaves come thru when can re-visit it, if they don't look healthy?

(I have noticed that mine produce those "empty" flower stalks just before the vine starts to really flower. Don't know why they do that tho...)

Can't remember that pic Melissa..? These threads are so huge now!? :-O

Time: 1st December 2011 10:11am

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Wazzbat says...
My Sunshine Special looks like it's about to go crazy with lots of flowers on the way! Yippee!


Time: 1st December 2011 11:17am

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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

I have purchased two cultivars but have not planted these into the ground as yet.

Melissa,

Yes, I hear what your'e saying but I'm on a shoe string budget these days, fence wire where I am costs a fortune.

5 metre plastic coasted wire will suffice at $10.00 per roll.

Frame is welded into place so I cant undo what's been done otherwise it's an expensive exercise.

Amanda,

The ground where I was going to plant the vine is hard as a rock, very dry underneath, as well as rocky and bit compacted type clay. I've already dug a whole.

I'll dig another hole tomorrow when there's more rain and check the soil's pH. I'll let you know what it will be.

Rain has prevented me from completing the frame. Wire needs to go on. I might build a wooden box 12" LxWxB and fill the bugger with good soil and cow manure.

Yes, this thread is getting big. Might have to start a new thread soon hey!!

Peter



Time: 1st December 2011 9:44pm

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Wazzbat says...
Interestingly, my little PF seed planting experiment is starting to produce results. I planted some seeds from a PF I bought from my local IGA back on the 11th Nov. In the last few days the seeds are starting to sprout and so far, it is even stevens between the ones I took the pulp off and the ones I left the pulp on. Will let everyone know how they go?

I'm not sure on the variety but if I had to have a guess, I'd say it was some kind of Panama? There are that many varieties now but it was smooth skinned with a light purple colour and almost silver coloured speckles through it. It was very sweet! I'm hoping I can get it to fruit in Perth?

Time: 3rd December 2011 9:34am

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amanda says...
I think it should Wazzbat? Really cold temps in Perth might make it look a little shabby in winter, if they persist, but I see no reason why it wouldn't fruit there...worth a try :) Sounds like a Panama Red from your description - it's all I have seen in the shops lately too...?

A friend planted some shop fruits and has two magnificent, prolific vines bearing a smallish, round yellow fruit - it's lovely and sweet and I have collected seed from that too :)
We have no idea if it's a 'variety' or not tho.


Time: 3rd December 2011 12:07pm

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Wazzbat says...
Yeah - I thought red but when I googled, all the pictures of the reds I found were, funnily enough - red! Just did another google though and on second thoughts - I think you are right.


Time: 3rd December 2011 3:25pm

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amanda says...
Hey wazzbat (and Peter - see last) - it was the silver speckle that made me think Pan red - it's quite distinctive isn't it?
In the threads on the other side of the main page there is a pic of my pan reds in the milk crates...if it helps.

Mine do vary a bit in colour - some are even a greyish pink/red..others a bit yellowy - depending on whether they ripened inside the canopy or not, maybe...?

Was just reading a comment Sabrina Hahn made - that some varieties can take 2yrs to produce fruit. (She also said feed well - as they live fast and die young!? lol...)

Time: 3rd December 2011 7:28pm

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda, Wazzbat, Brendan and Melissa and others.

Here is my frame I have buil for the new and old passionfruit vines to grow and seek the sun.

I had undertaken a pH test on the soil at 15cm deep and yep it's acidic pH is 4.5. The land I'm on has never been farmed and bacically not developed and poor soil so it appears.

I have invested in a large 50cm deep , round pot which I placed 16 Litres of potting mix, 1/2 a bag of broken down cow manure. This pot will have Panama Gold, the other pot will have panama red.

I too will seek out a couple of other varities of passionfruit, will try Sunshine Special and perhaps the odd Banana Passionfruit. I'm into sweet, not into tardy stuff these days.

Some of the leaves on the Pink Cheeks seem to be recovering but still too early to say.

My sister suggested to spray sulfate of potash mixed with water on the leaves and around the roots.

Don't know about that yet.

Any thoughts on this?

Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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

Time: 3rd December 2011 11:00pm

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amanda says...
Great job Peter! If you vine doesn't appreciate that then it deserves the sack! :D
That dirt is not very attractive is it..? Very poor in organic matter - the manure should help it a lot. Maybe some acidic clay folk can help here?

Personally I wouldn't spray anything on the leaves now if u can avoid it - except seasol/seaweed solution (which will help deter those mites etc)
Sulphate of potash is just potash (muriate potash is KCl - best avoided) Remember the sulphate will be acidic. Gypsum is calcium sulphate.

U have already added a lot of K+ - if u get some slow release fert like dynamic lifter (which has mid-level N) this will give your vine all it needs for awhile - with much less risk of burning.

Straw has very good levels of K+ - and is a handy mulch....? As it breaks down it will add OM to your soil and encourage microflora. Get some worms if u can....

Passionfruit love a good mulch - take it out 2m from the trunk - water and work this area. Then u can start working on getting that pH up a bit...fine Ag lime will work fastest.




Time: 4th December 2011 10:36am

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Peter says...
Thanks Amanda,

I tend to agree with you about the vine.

I wont take the risk of spraying anything on the vine accept seasol solution. I'll get some dynamic lifter over the next few days and a bag of cane mulch, cant get any "straw mulch" around my way.

Amanda, when you say straw mulch is that the same as hay or lucerne?

Fine Ag lime is not stocked locally in nurseries.

I'll have to find an agricultural produce place for that.

Thanks for the advice on spreading.

Yep, the soil is bad so I'm using two 50 litre pots for the other cultivars, Panama Gold and Panama Red with 65kg of premium potting mix and some cow manure added.

Probably will put mulch on the top away from the main root.

Peter

Time: 4th December 2011 10:14pm

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amanda says...
Hey Peter - sounds good :) Let us know how your Misty gem goes too? It's good to gather 'intelligence' on the varieties! :D
I can recommend a sunshine special - if your misty gem gives u no joy in the end.
Also this nice yellow my friend has - I will collect a heap of seeds from hers this season.

Time: 5th December 2011 6:30pm

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

I think you might have the wrong Peter, I don't have Misty Gem, only Pink Cheeks with two recent cultivars...Panama Gold and Panama Red.

Will also try sunshine special.

Managed to get Agricultural Lime 25kg bag, felt like 50kg and a bale of straw.

Bbeen very windy where I am , straw nearly went flying off the soil, might have to use some fine aviary wire temporarily to ensure mulch does not blow away.

Unseasonal weather. I'm halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Time: 5th December 2011 10:50pm

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amanda says...
oops Peter - make that the Pink Cheeks! :)
Or a cupla house bricks dotted around the straw might be easier..? It should settle with a few waterings and a bit of rotting....

Fingers crossed for u! I am interesting in seeing how these new varieties go too...

Time: 6th December 2011 11:43am

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Wazzbat says...
No flowers from my pink cheeks yet.

Time: 6th December 2011 4:33pm

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

No probs. all house bricks went long time ago, not even a besablock.

I've got some old fine wire mesh so will cut that to size to fit.

Pink Cheeks is still powering up, I've trained some of their growth onto the top frame, some new leaves look a bit healthier and have noticed some pre flowers starting to show.

There are quite a few precursor flower pods emerging so will see what happens this time.

Wazzbat,

Give it a bit more time, I think pink cheeks is very new cultivar and not much is known about it. Maybe the developers should have tested it a bit more before its' release to the public.

Peter

Time: 6th December 2011 9:58pm

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Wazzbat says...
Hi Peter

I've let my Pink Cheeks grow up my neighbour's bottlebrush tree. Hopefully it can smother that bloody thing to death cause it's draining the life outta my soil! Go the Pink Cheek!!! I can't wait till they produce me some fruit. I wasn't expecting any this year though but you never know???


Time: 6th December 2011 10:23pm

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Hurley says...
HI, I have a passion fruit vine which started from a seedling 3 years ago and has since taken over a bit. It went onto the fence first and i placed trelasses across my parking at 10ft up to the far fence. Last year it took over these and made a 15 foot shade area long 8 wide and we got about 300 hundred fruit, my problem is this year the vines have go so big they cross the trelasses and now have taken over a 15 year old tree flamboyant tree and a curry leaf tree next to it, fruit is coming out again (a lot) I wanted to know if i must kill the passion fruit vines now or wait for the fruit to finish and then cut it back 50% or more and make a new path for them onto new fences? Any ideas welcome. THanks all.


Time: 7th December 2011 12:35am

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Wazzbat says...
Maybe just cut back a little bit now and do the rest later on after fruiting? Another 300+ fruit sounds pretty good to me. Well done!


Time: 7th December 2011 8:31am

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Peter says...
Looks like the pink cheeks have recovered alittle at this stage. Leaves have stopped yellowing or not as much as previously, Been some good soaking rain last few days and have noticed more flowers starting to emerge.

We will see this time if the buggers bear fruit.

Peter

Time: 10th December 2011 10:05pm

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Wazza McG says...
I want to grow Sweet Granadilla, am I best to get a grafted variety or grow some true type from seed?

The area for growing is about 5 metres, how many plants do you recommend?

Do you have any other suggestions for me to consider before planting out?

Time: 11th December 2011 8:17am

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About the Author wazzamcg
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peter says...
hi warren,
iv never seen grafted ones.
daleys have them in production so you
should put an order in now.
only one plant for 5 metres.
make sure you have very well drained
soil.

Time: 11th December 2011 9:23am

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Peter says...
G'day Wazza,

Yeah, it will be nice to see this one.

Peter

Time: 11th December 2011 11:28pm

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Peter says...
Ok, Ants are back, some ants are small black and some have a whitish bum.

Have a few flowers opened and blossoming above in gloris sunshine and couple in the shadows.

I might spray some seasol on these later but not on a hot day and will be done in the cooler evening.

I have heard from an agriculturalist that ants are not pollinators but do bring in aphids and scales and tend to milk those.

I'll check for any red spider mites soon and use appropriate spray / chemical.

Maybe I might yield some pink cheek passionfruit after all.

Peter

Time: 15th December 2011 12:51am

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Wazzbat says...
Do you have any Bees around?

I finally got 4 fruits forming on my Blacks but I'm pretty sure they're the ones I have hand pollinated? It's worth a shot.

I would avoid deliberately wetting the flowers Peter. You can stuff the pollen up. My thoughts are that if the vine is looking healthy now and it's producing flowers then I wouldn't mess with it too much more. Just make sure it's got enough to drink and try pollinating by hand if there are no bees around. Try a few even if there are bees but tag the ones you pollinate. There is a pretty good vid on YouTube which shows how to hand pollinate!

I'm very interested to see how you go with the Pink Cheeks. I'm hoping you get a bumper crop and the fruits have an awesome flavour! That will give me something to look forward to.

Good Luck Peter!




Time: 15th December 2011 8:21am

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glenn says...
I have ants on the passionfruit atm also . I also let a heap of Blackberry nightshade grow and have an explosion of ladybugs . Hopefully they will keep the mites etc under control .



Time: 15th December 2011 8:21am

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Wazzbat says...
And I wouldn't worry too much about the ants. I have ants on my vines too.

Time: 15th December 2011 8:23am

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Hurley says...
Thanks Wazz i'll take that into account, will let you know how it goes after pruning for next season etc, my passion are bright yellow btw if that makes any difference to how you prune ..

Time: 15th December 2011 8:41pm

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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

Ok, I'll leave the spray alone unless I see red spider mites as they tend to sap the life out of foilage.

Most of the flowers are out of reach for me as they are on top of the new wire frame I built.

There may be one flower I could access and yes I did see the youtube video on hand pollination of passionfruit using cottonbuds.

I might use a fine paint brush on mine this time to see if they will set this time.

See how it goes and will keep you posted.

Peter

Time: 16th December 2011 11:49pm

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Wazzbat says...
I'm no expert by the way so you might be better off not listening to my advice =-)


Time: 17th December 2011 10:56am

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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

I'm no expert either but it's good to share information as to what works and what does not work and it's all trial and error on that Pink Cheeks.

Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year

Peter

Time: 17th December 2011 10:54pm

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Kevin M says...
Hi, Just a newcomer. Could anyone out there tell me what the problem is with these two passion-fruit. There is a bunch just further along which are normal.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 12th January 2012 2:15pm

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BJ says...
First thought was spotting bug, but second picture looks like scab.
http://www.annettemcfarlane.com/diseaseID.htm


Time: 12th January 2012 2:55pm

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amanda says...
I agree BJ.

Time: 13th January 2012 12:37am

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snottiegobble says...
Peter. that agriculturist is wrong! Any insect ( including ants) birds, mammals etc that travels from flower to flower of the same species for nectar is a pollinator.( providing the plant is not wind or rain pollinated say like sweetcorn! Yes, some species of ants will farm aphids & scale insects on plants, but not all!

Time: 13th January 2012 3:33pm

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Kevin M says...
Thanks for that, will attend to the problem.

Time: 13th January 2012 5:56pm

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Peter says...
Hello snottigobble,

Pink Cheeks is worse for wear, plenty of yellowing leaves, all flowers open and withered and has dropped off the vine.

The other two vines are kept in very large pots with their own potting mix, soil, hay and cow manure and are doing well...they are Panama Red and Panama Gold, Panama Gold seems to be outperforming Panama Red even though they have been planted both on the same day.

Vigerous v Non vigerous how odd .

Haveagoodweekend everyone

Peter

Time: 15th January 2012 9:37pm

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amanda says...
Has anyone else had red spider mites on their passionfruit vine?

I still find it odd your vine has red spider mites Peter...they must be taking advantage of a plant in poor condition perhaps? I have only found them to like more soft leaf plants like tomatoes, for eg.

Best keep your panamas growing strong and healthy so they don't get them too :-( they can be hard to control without nasty chemicals.

I'd be tempted to chop the pink cheeks back severely and bin the prunings, treat what's left of the plant and the soil around it and see if u can get it going again.

Time: 16th January 2012 9:11pm

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Brendan says...
Hi all, here's my latest passionfruit plantings. They came from a 'wild' passionfruit I found growing in the bush.
They should be nearly black with sweet orange flesh, yum.
I planted two because there's a long barbwire fence for the trellis.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 17th January 2012 8:22am

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amanda says...
Look at your lovely dirt Brendan! Im jealous! :D I have planted out a chance seedling that popped up in the old chook pen.
I have no idea what it will be - but thought I'd see - just for fun..?!

Time: 17th January 2012 12:09pm

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Brendan says...
Funny thing amanda, the dirt around my raised pot has 1 inch topsoil, then pure clay :-(
The dirt in the 'pot' is Searles Premium potting mix, some Super Growth fert and cow manure. You can tell there's probably too much Nitrogen in the mix, so I'll add some extra P & K fert later, when they grab the barb wire.

Time: 18th January 2012 8:43am

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amanda says...
thats a lot of clay Brendan - will the passionfruit be ok with it?

(I should have planted out my whole orchard with passionfruit - they $2.50 each in the shops now!? crazy)

Time: 18th January 2012 11:58am

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Peter says...
Greetings Amanda and Brendan,

Pink cheeks is no good, plent of ants but no bees, I even done hand pollination

Panama Gold and Red seem to be vigerous.

I have no idea as to how long it will take for them to flower. I'll take a few pics and post sometime next week.

I'm trying not to overwater. Panama Gold seems to be screaming ahead of Panama Red.

I found out from the old fella that he planted a passionfruit vine, kellie nellie and it died first year, defintely something in that soil, he neglects fertliser and admits he does not have a green thumb.

Cost of passionfruit in the shops is criminal hey.

Chow for now. Peter

Time: 18th January 2012 4:35pm

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Brendan says...
Hi amanda & Peter, have you got this Panama Perfection variety growing?
http://www.birdwoodnursery.com.au/passionfruit/

Looks pretty good.

Time: 19th January 2012 7:25am

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amanda says...
Never heard of Panama Perfection Brendan. Bunnings had "pink cheeks" and "maxi gold" in yesterday...seems the breeding is going into overdrive now..?

I think I am more inclined to grow from seed from a proven performer these days. Although - u don't really have to wait that long to find out if u have a dud or not. That's the beauty of these vines.

I have stopped planting Brendan - because of the block being on the market. Although I am itching to try these new varieties! :D

Time: 19th January 2012 1:02pm

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amanda says...
It's all your fault Brendan!! Have just come home with a pink cheeks (and some other suspects too)
Cant'. Stop. Buying. Plants.

Arggh! lol...

Time: 19th January 2012 6:20pm

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Wazzbat says...
Did you see the Big Boppas or the Bananas at Bunnings Amanda?

No sign of flowers on my Pink Cheeks yet? Nor my Maxi Gold? I ended up with about 1 dozen or so fruit on my NK and Sunshine Special and no more flowers in sight? All the fruit are quite big and feel heavy but are still very green. Hopefully I don't have to wait too much longer for them to ripen.



Time: 19th January 2012 7:43pm

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amanda says...
Yes Wazzbat - they had Big Boppa - but I passed based on the feedback on this forum. I should try it - it likely just needs a pollinator, from what I can tell.

I am curious about the Maxi Gold...do u think it may just be another name for a Panama Gold? I have dragged this one home too :D

It would be good if they gave an outline of the species name/breeding origin etc, at least. I might give the grower a call...they are usually really enthusiastic and helpful.

I honestly think/feel that the different types of passionfruit flower when they are good and ready (all other things being equal)

I have min 20oC+ overnight temps for awhile now, and hot days....still my panamas are dragging their heels Wazzbat. I am betting they will flower and fruit towards autumn (again!) making pruning a real pain cos they will be carrying a load of fruit - and it will kill me to chop it off...and as usual - I won't. Should have done them in spring.

Hence my pan red is out of control now. I will be ruthless and prune late winter this year - for the panama only tho.

New growth = fruit.

How old/in ground have your pink cheeks and maxi gold been in Wazzbat? I wouldn't expect any action until their 2nd summer for flowers...?





Time: 19th January 2012 8:47pm

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Peter says...
Hi Amanda, Brendan and Wazza,

I have not heard about the other variety mentioned Brendan.

At this stage I have not taken the axe or pruners to the Pink cheeks as yet, it's very disheartening to see it cut.

I have Panama Red and Gold climbing fast onto the wire trellis frame and yes it will start to intermingle with Pink Cheeks, I don't know if thats a good thing or not.

Yes, those two are a fast grower. I have placed straw (cut hay) as well as dolomite in the tub. I did read they require cow manure or sloe release fertliser to assist them through the growing period.

What type of slow release fertliser would be recommended?

I'll take some pics of the vines tomorrow and upload them.

With the Panama variety there are shoots / branches coming out and going wild, I have no ides if that's the way they grow or whether it needs to be pruned.

With the Panama Gold it stated fruit will come from new lateral shoots / branches. Question is does lateral mean growing horizontal or vertical?

I agree with you Amanda, I wish they had contact names on the cultivars to obtain furthr information about them, it would help greatly.

I really need a diagram to show me.

I would like someone to come over and see the problem I have with Pink Cheeks in person as its difficult to get a grasp on the problem just be describing it...does that make any sense.

Peter

Time: 19th January 2012 11:22pm

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amanda says...
Peter - blood and bone for pots plus 10% potash (= 100grms potash/1 kg of B&B) Some seasol/seaweed solution sprayed all over the plant and some in the pot ( = trace elements, growth promoter and mild insect deterrent)

Passionfruit flower on any new growth. Don't expect any action from your newbies until next summer - and then not a huge amount - by 3rd summer they should go gang busters.

Prune back the Pink cheeks - or suffer the possible consequences re: mite transmission. Be brave! :)

Time: 19th January 2012 11:52pm

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Peter says...
Amanda, Thanks for your advice on fertiliser. I'll prune back the pink cheeks before it gets out of control.

How far do I prune it back to?

I'm attaching pics of Pink Cheek flower, dodgey leaves and one with a bug spotted. Other pics are of Panama Gold and Panama Red.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4
Picture: 5
Picture: 6
Picture: 7
Picture: 8
Picture: 9

Time: 20th January 2012 1:45pm

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Wazzbat says...
My Pink Cheeks are rapidly making their way up my nieghbour's trees. They are looking quite healthy but no signs of flowers yet. They are still a bit young though.

My Maxi Gold is starting to take off too but I only planted it about 6 months ago I think? My guess is that it's a cultivar of the standard Gold but is probably very similar to the Panama Gold. I have no idea really? I wouldn't think that one company would be able to label the same cultivar as a different name to the exact same plant from a different company? A bit like the Sunshine Special and the Tutti Frutti for example? It is very hard to know without proper labeling though - I agree. I also find it very frustrating. It should be mandatory to at least label the plant's Family, Species and Genus names. And then maybe sub species, variety or cultivar along with any common names.


Time: 20th January 2012 7:07pm

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Wazzbat says...
Not sure if my Maxi will fruit at all without a cross pollinator? That's another thing that should be mandatory to label. I feel sorry for the average Jo Blow that doesn't get into gardening like some of us do and buy plants that will never produce on their own without knowing. It must turn some ppl off gardening? Growers should clearly label plants that need another plant to produce fruit!!!

Time: 20th January 2012 7:12pm

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Wazzbat says...
I also think it's up to the retailers to let their customers know of any requirements such as cross pollinators to get their plants to fruit before they buy them!

Time: 20th January 2012 7:14pm

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amanda says...
I am with u there Wazzbat! The lack of info on most plant labels is really annoying at times...

Time: 21st January 2012 10:59am

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Peter says...
I concur with u Wazzbat and Amanda.

Lack of proper labelling is wrong in my view. I wonder if there is a way of bringing this attention to some relevant authority to ensure the labelling can be complied with.

Peter



Time: 22nd January 2012 10:15am

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Annie says...
Hi Peter

I too have a Pink Cheeks Passionfruit vine. The label says you only need one vine. First year no flowers and no fruit! 2nd year started to get flowers, but frustratingly every flower just dropped off as the bees just weren't interested. So I started pollinating with a paint brush most of the flowers still dropped off. So I thought maybe there has been too much rain and not enough fertilizer. So I used citrus fertilizer and when I pollinated the flowers I tied a sandwich bag over each one for 2 - 3 days and bingo, when I removed the bags there was a small fruit growing. It seemed to work better when I used the pollen from a different flower. Now I have about 20 fruit developing on my vine and I'm ready with my brush and bags for the next batch of flowers to open! Now all i need is for that pesky possum to eat the fruit as it ripens!

Time: 12th February 2012 5:11pm

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Wazzbat says...
Great work Annie. Exciting stuff. You will have to keep us updated on your progress and let us know how they taste?

Time: 12th February 2012 7:30pm

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Mike says...
Passionfruit can experience the ultimate prune and bounce back.Vines that are years old can be sawn off at 30cm dug up quite easily and taken to a new spot.I have seen feral yellow ones relocated to houses several times this way and thick vines change address.They spring back and fruit quickly.I reckon soon after fruiting they should be hacked back to main branches less than 2m in length.Too much B & B or DL without P and K and perhaps Ca and Mg and they'll drag their backsides and take longer to flower,and fruit less prolifically.

Time: 12th February 2012 7:44pm

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Peter says...
Hi Annie,

Well, I'll be. Hmmm, I had another heap of flowers just do the saem thing. I'll try the plastic sandwhich bag thung like you have and see if there is any improvement in mine, I must have had close to 500 flowers, 300 have already dropped off. Peter

Time: 13th February 2012 2:28pm

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Wazzbat says...
Wouldn't a plastic sandwich bag kill the flower? I just assumed you meant a paper bag?

What is the idea of the bags anyway?

Time: 14th February 2012 6:03pm

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amanda says...
I was wondering about this too Wazzbat. Maybe the plastic bag allows some humidity for the pollen to it's job/set..?
Maybe U could achieve the same thing by watering the ground all around the vine each morning tho?

I can't be bothered with bagging flowers myself.
I will just plant more vines instead :D

My "Mutant" Big Red goes thru NONE of these problems at all...I am going to save it's seed and maybe one day I might be able to cross it with a sweeter fruit. It's incredibly robust. Such a shame the fruit is so sour. It's ultra-packed/heavy with pulp. Never seen a p/fruit like it, myself.

I am still a bit sceptical with the recent passionfruit breeding programs myself. Maybe it's time to hang on to some "old fashioned" seed.




Time: 14th February 2012 11:09pm

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Peter says...
Hello Amanda, Annie, Wazzbat and Mike, Brendon too if he is about.

I was wondering how the plastic bag would work, I tied mine up with tie twists, samll sandwhich bags..Next day I seen them sweat.

I have not cut back the pink cheeks as yet, damen over 400 flowers all opened up for about 3 or 4 days or so then closed, wilted and dropped off.

I gave the buggerc correct fertiliser, dolomite, aglime, B&B, mulch, has sufficient water, used seasol and sprayed with seasol, potssh. All I see is hundreds of small black ants and bigger ants with off white bums all over the vine and yes even crawling all over the flowers, stamens and ovaries and still no joy.

I was reading in Gardening Australia it was suggested sraying the canopy using a misting hose filled with cold water to treat these red spider mites AKA two-spotted mite and apply an organic insecticidal soap or horticultural spray oil.

What would be a good organic insecticidal soap to use?

Peter

Time: 14th February 2012 11:32pm

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Peter says...
Oh, almost forgot,

What size and where can I get a good paint brush for pollinating. I've tried birds feathers and cotton buds...they dont seem to work for me.

Peter

Time: 14th February 2012 11:35pm

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Wazzbat says...
Art supply shop - should be able to get a good sized brush there?

I ended up using the other end of my brush though. I found that the pollen was sticking to the brush hairs too much so I used the wooden handle tip on the other end?

Time: 15th February 2012 8:13am

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Brendan says...
Hi Peter, this is what Wayne uses to pollinate his custard apple flowers.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 15th February 2012 8:15am

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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,
Thanks for that, they look similar to cotton bud tips I was using, The pollen stuck to cotton lke glue, some pollen did get transferred but not much of it.

Where was this purchased from? I dont think woolies or coles have them.

Peter

Time: 15th February 2012 9:39am

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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

Art supply shop? I hope they are cheap. I've seen some so called art (paint) brushes at Officeworks but they wanted a fortune and there was no small ones, only big bulky things.

Peter

Time: 15th February 2012 9:42am

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Wazzbat says...
Maybe a $2 shop would have them? Reject Shop? Not sure what shops you have there in Brisbane Peter?

I would honestly try using a popstick or something similar. Arse end of a pen or pencil. Try whatever you have in your home. Even a butter knife or spoon?

And if you aren't sure exactly how to pollinate, there is a really good video on YouTube that someone has posted.

Good Luck.


Time: 15th February 2012 6:25pm

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Brendan says...
Hi Peter & Wazzbat, they were bought from 'Dollars & Sense'. The tips are actually foam.

Time: 16th February 2012 7:50am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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leafloss says...
This sounds strange & gross. I used to work in a butcher shop, every year a regular customer would want a cows/ox liver cut up which he buried in a circle 1ft from the stem in winter which he swore made heaps more fruit & a healthier plant. In summer he'd bring a bag of passion fruits every week for us all to share. Hope this helps

Time: 18th February 2012 2:29pm

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Peter says...
Brendan,

thanks for that. Not sure if there is one locally but I'll have google search.

Yeah leafloss, I have heard liver was good.

I also used the plastic sandwhich bag trick as Anne said she used. I left mine on for 4 days, took the plastic off and yep, 3 days or so later, the bastard wiltered and fell off.

I've also noticed the leaves of this pink cheeks vine has dropped off the lower branches or last two years of vine growth . I have no idea whether that's normal or expected. There are still traces of two spotted mite (red spider mite) as some leaves have a white speckles on it, some still have yellow blotches in the leafs, not all, just some.

Time: 18th February 2012 11:55pm

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About the Author Peter1
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Rak says...
Hi All, Wow what a great forum. I am needing some advice please. Have planted 2 new passionfruit, 1 black Nelly Kelly, and 1 Panama Gold. The leaves down the bottom of the plant have turned yellow and fallen off. Leaves up the top look good and some new growth appears to b healthy. I have used Spary on Seasol once sionce planting and they have good soil and mulch around base but not near the trunk. I see you all recommend Manure, can I use horse manure? I put it in a large bicket and fill with water? If i can use this how often and do I need to keep it away from the base of the plant. Existing plants nearby, Nelly Kelly's and Red & Gold Panama's fruit okay but then the fruit shrivels up and falls off. Can someone please explain what may cause this. I am so passionate about my passionfruit but just can't seem to get a good crop however a neighbour had one grow from nothing, it just appeared on the fence line and we were blessed with the best passionfruit i have eaten for 2 years then it died as quickly as it appeared. Many thanks.

Time: 26th February 2012 11:30am

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About the Author Rak
Gold Coast
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coastie says...
Good morning R. yes use all animal manures and some potash, the potash will help to improve the health of the plant and maybe encourage friut.I live on GC and we have wall to wall golden passionfruit right now, the fruit is very sweet this year[2nd]all the HOT days and nights I think.
I use plenty of potash with all my fruit bearing vines and trees...raspberries,tamarillos, pumpkins cucumbers etc.It is available in liquid form or powder, powder is cheaper of course, it takes a little longer though.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Time: 26th February 2012 11:38am

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Original Post was last edited: 26th February 2012 11:46am

About the Author coastie
 
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Peter says...
Coastie, I'm not far from the Gold Coast, I'm over the river from Beenleigh.

Maybe you can come up and have a look at my passionfruit vine and let me know what needs fixing?

I know Amanda suggested some time ago I should cut back the pink Cheeks to about a metre or 2 and start again.

I've had over 600 flowers open and then few days later close and few days later drop off. not one flower turned into fruit.

Yeah all the leaves have fallen off from the bottom of the vine. The vine is well established and still growing it covers an area of 30 feet length by 8 feet high

Peter

Time: 1st March 2012 11:21pm

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coastie says...
Well, the continuing saga....my next line of attack would be to suspect something going on underground like grubs eating the roots, even termites will eat and do damage to roots.
I got those nasty big white grubs from a bag or B......Gs potting mix, so I leave that alone now...just a suggestion.

Time: 2nd March 2012 10:45am

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About the Author coastie
 
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Peter says...
I'm starting to see the development of flower pods on Panama Gold and Panama Red. They have grown rapidly. They are in pots and have added manure, trace elements, blood and bone as well as straw on the surface away from the main root.

Another mix of 10% Potash in the fertiliser should do well. Will be spraying vine again with seasol as well as a new leaf spray called NEEM or similar, it will keep those pesky grasshoppers away from my vine as well as pesky ants. At least there wont be any sap suckers living after this goes on.

I'll upload new pics in a day or two.

Peter

Time: 3rd March 2012 12:57am

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About the Author Peter1
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coastie says...
Hi Peter, all sounds good, I never worry about ants, I reckon they help with pollination.A handfull of epsom salts does no harm, the leaves will be very happy.Maybe the insects are coming for the seasol.A spray with epsom salts ....1 cup to a 9ltr watering can would help.Keep up the potash...a little often.
Looking forward to photos.

Time: 3rd March 2012 8:40am

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About the Author coastie
 
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Peter says...
Hello Coastie,

Epsom Salts spray, never done that before, normally I use seasol.

1 cup of epsom salts to 9 liters of water, will give that a go. I now have 5 flowers opening on the panama red. Hopefully they should not drop off, rain is around so the buggers might not pollinate or there could be a mongrel virus in the air which could be the cause...see what developes, will load photos sometime this evening. Peter

Time: 5th March 2012 3:29pm

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snottiegobble says...
Hi Peter, how old is your Panama red & is this the first time its flowered? My Big red is now covering a wide trellis, but no flowers yet. It was a seedling last year.

Time: 5th March 2012 3:34pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
Bunno & Busso ( smack in the middle)
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Peter says...
snottiegobble,

Hi, I have to make a correction, it was not panama red but panama gold that has the flowers open and more flower buds forming..panama red has just started to get some flower buds appearig. It's less than 1 year old.

I'm uploading the pot which I have planted them in, directions label as well as various parts of the frame I constructed to help support the passionfruit vines.

I'm using Windows 7 which does not have an image resizer so quality might not be as good as they were when I used Windowes XP.

Here they are.

Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
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Time: 6th March 2012 12:36am

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About the Author Peter1
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