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Last update on August 9 , 2023

Did you know that there are literally one C of sensational , exotic - looking rage flower variety show , but only a fistful that will that actually produce comestible fruit ? Yep – that ’s right ! The two most plebeian fruiting love flower arePassiflora edulis(which has both a purple and yellow species , along with cross ) andPassiflora incarnata – also known as “ Maypops ” .

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show along to get word how to grow edible passion fruit vines – including their preferred climate and conditions , set about with seeds versus seedling , pollenation , pests , and hint for on-going care . We ’ll also discuss the key divergence between Passiflora edulis and Passiflora incarnata , so you may decide which will best become your garden . And we wo n’t forget the good part – how to harvest and eat passionfruit !

Passion yield is sweet , tangy , tangy , and downright delicious . It isnature ’s sour confect ! For us , growing passionfruit is also dual purpose . We adore the antioxidant - rich , scurvy - glycemic index yield – but also enjoy the vigorous , lush climbing vines . They are evergreen in our clime , and make for excellentprivacy CRT screen . We have 9 passion fruit vines covering arches and trellises that serve as “ green walls ” all over our prop ! Yet they do require maintenance , and have the tendency to be invasive . We ’ll talk about pruning too .

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What is the difference between Passiflora edulis and Passiflora incarnata?

Before we go much further , let ’s simplify things . From here on out , I will refer to Passiflora edulis as “ passion fruit ” , and call Passiflora incarnata by its common name – “ maypops ” . Sound good ? Okay .   Think of passion fruit and maypops like cousins . They ’re related , but have some notable difference

Growing Climate

Maypopsare native to North America , whereas love yield is native to South America . Thus , maypops are more inhuman - tolerant than their sub - tropical love fruit cousins . Passiflora incarnata are generally brave down to USDAzone 6 . I have heard rumors of them growing in zone 5 as well , if they ’re planted in a shelter , south - front location . The vines will fail back after the first hard frost , but rebound back with a retribution the watch outpouring – especially if they ’re well established and protect with extra mulch .   Despite their US - native status , maypops are considered trespassing by some due to their zealous turn habits .

mania fruitare more tender , and thrive in hoar - free climate . USDA hardinesszones 9 - 11are nonpareil for passionateness yield , though some intercrossed multifariousness are more cold - tolerant and will subsist an periodic magnetic inclination below 30 degrees . “ Frederick ” purple love yield is one such variety , and is advertised as being hardy down to zone 8b . Where winters are mild , passion fruit will stay an evergreen vine . In places with a fleck of frost , it will in all probability mislay some of its leaves over winter .

On the other hand , the less commonyellow passion fruit(Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa ) are significantlymore tropicaland do not support freezing at all . These are the types of passion fruit ordinarily establish in Hawaii – also called Lilikoi on the islands . Surprisingly , despite their more tropic tendencies , it is said that yellow passion fruit is slightly more bitter and acidic than the purple variety .

A red flowering passion fruit vines flower is the feature of the image. It has red pistils and a stamen that extends from the center of the flower which has four separate pollen sacks that hang down from their own arms attached to the end. The background has a stone pathway and stone lined planting areas. The sun is shining through a slated fence, casting bars of sunshine on the back wall.

Are n’t certain of your hardiness zone?Use this easy look - up pecker .

Flowers

Both passion fruit and maypop flowers are out - of - this - world gorgeous . Really , they front like exotic flower ! you may tell apart the difference between the two by the significantlymore lavender hue on the maypops , including their frilly bits , whereas passionfruit has white frill and petals with a purple shopping center . The white-livered edition of warmth yield look like the purple , mostly white prime as well .

Aside from being native , another vast one - up themaypophas over passion fruit is that their flower aremedicinally beneficial!Soothing Passiflora incarnata is used byherbaliststo reduce anxiety , painful sensation , insomnia , ADHD , and firing . Both the maypop bloom and fresh leaves can be dried and used to make calming teas , tincture , and infusions . They can also be used topically as cataplasm to cure cut and bruises .

I will state for the record that I am not a trained herbalist . However , I have poured over many resource , and can not receive anything that suggest that empurpled warmth fruit ( P. edulis ) flowers should be used for medicative purposes . On the opposite , I regain that they could potentially be slightly toxic if ingested . If you know otherwise , please correct me if I am incorrect here ! But that is the conclusion I have come to .

A hand is holding a Fredrick passion fruit, it is large, just bigger than a baseball and it is a beautiful purple color. The background shows the passion vine from which it came from and it is big, lush, and green. You can see a ripening passion fruit on the vine, adorning the plant like an ornament. Next to the vine there is a green house with some young seedlings growing on one of the potting benches inside.

Fruit

While the maypop has the passion fruit beat with its flower power , the opponent is true when it follow to yield . trueness be enjoin , I have never smack a Passiflora incarnata since they are not common here . But from what I have take and heard , passion fruit is significantly more sweet and tropical in flavorthan the Passiflora incarnata . Furthermore , cacoethes yield can grow larger in size and are often more red-hot in spite of appearance . Especially the Frederick mixture , which can get vast . That is n’t to say that Passiflora incarnata are n’t still awesome though ! It is just a known departure .

Both passion yield and maypops are testicle - shaped , and filled with sleazy pulp that is bothsweet and sourin flavor . Underripe maypops can be specially sour . The aroma of a mature purple rage fruit smell out like you died and went to tropic promised land ! Due to the expectant blackedible semen , the texture is crunchy – though some folk music choose to spew out the seed . The pulp can also be juiced to separate out the seeded player .

Lifespan & Fruiting Time

alas , your fruiting passion plants will not survive forever ! The passion efflorescence vine that do not bring forth yield can last for a decade or longer , while fruiting varieties have a shorter lifespan span . Both rage fruit and maypops cantake a year or two of growth before they begin to deport fruit , and will begin to produce few fruit as they age past their prime . In commercial setting , farmers replace vines every 3 to 5 year .

Purple warmth fruit vines have a reported lifespan of about5 to 7 years . Yet our oldest vine is about four yr one-time now and is n’t slowing down on fruit yet ! It is develop more and more woody underwood however , which is a sign of ripening – as it will not sprout fresh growth from those sphere . Passiflora incarnata are also described as a“short - lived perennial”that live for several old age and then slow or pass .

Now that you have a good understanding of which type of Passiflora you are concerned and capable to grow , rent ’s labor into the detail .

A Frederick passion fruit flower is the center of the image. The flower looks like something from outer space, the top part of the flower has three arms extending from a center ball, these are the parts that will receive pollen for pollination. Directly below that are five arms extending out with rectangular plates at the ends of each which is where the pollen is produced. Underneath that lies the main flower which has many pistils that extend from the center of the flower outwards about and inch or two. These are purple in the center and turn white as it gets towards the end. There are petals that are below that with similar coloration, purple in the center fading towards white at the ends. There are two other passion fruit flowers in the background, along with close to a dozen green passion fruit, all attached to the passion fruit vine.

HOW TO GROW PASSION FRUIT

GETTING STARTED

When it come to starting your passion yield ( or Passiflora incarnata ) plant , you have a few unlike options .

Growing Passion fruit from seed

One agency to arise passion fruit is to get the works from source . To do so , it is near to usefresh source – decently from a advanced yield ! you’re able to even utilize seeds from entrepot - bought fruit * ( see note below ) . For passion yield , simply hoard a handful of seeds from inside the fruit , rinse and wipe them down well to remove the pulpy coating , and implant them . In demarcation , freshmaypop seed must be refrigerate for 12 weeks(or kept outside in freeze weather condition ) to cause sprouting – called cold social stratification . stock stratify seeds in moist gumption to prevent them from dry out out .

Passion fruit seeds should be plant 1/4 to 1/2 in deep in seedling start mix or wanton , fluffy potting soil , and thenkept damp and warmuntil they sprout – which is how most seeds are started . Aseedling heat matmay come in handy . Patienceis key here , because even the freshest seeds can take 10 to 20 days to germinate . sr. dry seed can take months ! Soaking juiceless seeds for a day or two before planting can help promote sprouting . The same go for for maypops .

  • Note : The one caveat here is that seminal fluid you pull in must come variety of mania fruit that isnot a crossbreed . intercrossed seeds will not breed straight – mean they probably wo n’t “ grow up ” to be like their parent plant life . Though they all were n’t perfectly marked , I consider most of our passionateness fruit vines are a Frederick hybrid , thus we ca n’t seed - save from them .

An image of a Maypop flower, it looks very similar to a passion fruit flower, however, it is mostly a dark lavender color. It is extremely beautiful, just slightly less variation in colors.

If you are diffident of the precise miscellanea , it may be more worthwhile to either bribe seed from a reputable source , or seek out a started works .

Passion fruit cuttings or seedlings

If you know someone who has a warmth fruit vine , see if you may snag a cutting from them ! The summit of new vine growth will be most vigorous and well-fixed to propagate . Obtain a film editing that has at least several farewell and tendrils above a thickening , around 6 to 8 inches long . Then , dip the cut end of the vine inrooting hormoneorfresh aloe vera gel , and plant it in a container of well - draining but consistently damp potting soil . Hopefully , roots will take phase and the cut will flourish .

A standardized , even gentle option is tobuy a started seedling or immature works . That is – it ’s easier if you could find them ! We ’ve had neat portion ; our local glasshouse almost always carry them . A few times they have been out of stock , but happily put in a special ordering for us . Feel barren to demand your local nursery or garden center to do the same ! And by “ local glasshouse ” , I intend the smaller cognitive operation . You ’ll probably have better circumstances there than at big box stores . or else , you could try toorder a jump cacoethes yield vine online .

How many vines do I need? About passion fruit pollination

Good news ! Both empurpled passion fruit and maypops areself - fertile . This mean they do not call for a partner works to get pollinated and endure yield . Since love yield vines can become so flagitious in size , this will occur as welcome news show for phratry gardening in pocket-sized infinite . In contrast , the yellow-bellied passion yield variety is ego - sterile and requires cross - pollination from another cultivar of passion yield planted nearby .

While the flower can be pollinate by themselves , the pollen is still command to be moved around the flower – transferred from the anther to the brand . Because heat fruit pollen is rather thick and unenviable , wind does n’t always do the antic . Instead , carpenter bees and beloved beesare the master pollinator for passion fruit . This mean you need bees in your yard ! For estimate on how to draw in more bees to your garden , see this clause : “ Top 23 Plants for pollinator : Attract Bees , Butterflies , and Hummingbirds ” .

Without bee , you may have tohand - pollinateyour cacoethes yield – which is an easy but passably irksome job ! class ago , I handwriting - cross-pollinate some of our passion flush for sport , but have not found it necessary . We get gobs of fruit ! Yet if your plant demand a little help , check out this tutorialto learn how to hand - pollinate passion fruit flush .

A hand is holding a passion fruit that has been cut in half along its equator. The outer edge is purple from the skin of the passion fruit, the inner part of the shell is whitish pink, and the inner fruit portion is a golden tropical pulp that is extremely fragrant and delicious. The center is made up of many seeds that are each surrounded by the golden pulp which can be strained and separated into its own juice, or it can be eaten with the seeds. The background is a foxtail fern with many arms extending out and in many directions, with green gravel walkway below that.

So you have your baby vine , one fashion or another … quick to found ?

PLANTING LOCATION & CONDITIONS

As you devise to plant your heat yield vine , keep these things in thinker in regard to take a localisation :

Support

Passion yield and maypops need something to climb . Plan to provide keep in the form of a treillage , arch , arbor , or other sturdy structure . in person , we fend off spring up them on the property perimeter fences – as we worry about the weight , and memory access or maintenance from the other side . Instead , we prefer to give them their owndedicated structureto take over . See how we make two different case of inflexible , inexpensive treillage inthis step - by - stair tutorial !

They arevigorous growers . I ca n’t stress this enough . Passion of Christ yield and maypops can produce up to 20 feet per year under ideal growing conditions ! If allowed , they will wrap up and smother other plants and even trees . Plan a location with plenteous space , and well-off access for pruning as needed .

Sun & Shelter

Despite their difference in cold hardiness , both passion fruit and maypop have similar preference when it come to sun and tax shelter . They will grow in locations that receivefull sunlight to partial nicety . The vines will bloom the most when provide adequate sun – at least 6 hours . However , they are bothsensitive to wind , and are prone to sunburning in the raging afternoon sun .

Therefore , I paint a picture to plant your vines in asemi - shelter location – especially if you ’re pushing the limits with your grow zone !   Our most lavish , large , productive vine is tucked aside on our side thou between a fencing and the house , and receives morning to noonday sun and good afternoon shade . On the other manus , we have some vine that get full sun all twenty-four hour period , and they ’re doing just fine . They do turn a bit icteric on top in the summer to fall .

Soil

Passion fruit choose soil that ismoderately rich and well - draining . Clay ground , container with inadequate drainage , or standing water can lead to rot , disease , and decease . Your near good is to amend the planting area with some fluffy potting land and plenty of well - agedcompost , mixed in with some of your aboriginal soil . If they are n’t there already naturally , consideradding some wormsto the area as well ! They ’ll help extend to enrich and aerate the soil for you .

away from compost , do n’t concern too much about fertilizer at the time of planting . We do n’t want to shock the young freshly transpose vine ! We ’ll do more amending after . alternatively , you could irrigate the new vines with adilute seaweed selection , mild compost Camellia sinensis , oraloe vera soil drenchfor a prissy and gentle saltation kickoff . These plants are both evenhandedly shallow - root , somulchthem well to keep the top few column inch of soil from becoming overly ironic .

Planting Time

In a mild frost - innocent clime , there is really no “ forged time ” to plant a passion fruit vine . We ’ve planted ours in various time of year and never had any issues . However , keep in intellect that vines implant towards the goal of fall or during winter will grow a trivial slower at first than those plant in the spring . I would avoid planting out a sensitive young vine in the middle of your hottest month , especially if it is in a locating with full sun .

Plant youngmaypops in the saltation , after the last danger of frost has authorise . This will provide them as much time possible to get established before frost comes the following fall or wintertime . The same go for for those growing passion yield in zone 8 or 9 .

Growing Passion Fruit in a Container

warmth yield and maypops likewise “ can ” be grown in containers . I put “ can ” in inverted comma because while they will hold up , they wo n’t necessarily fly high . We have two passion yield vine planted in the end of resurrect beds that are 2 feet deep and 2 feet wide . They wait beautiful and lush , flower some , but produce less fruit than our other in - land vines – and those are large “ container ” !

develop passion fruit in containers is potential , but will take a little more work . As with most plant , passion fruit are well-chosen in the footing where their source can freely roam . Therefore , if you do opt to spring up a passion yield vine in a container , provide a large container with sizeable elbow room . Container width is important , since they have shallow root organization and will appreciate room to grow outwards .

The chosen container should havegood drainageto prevent put up water system and rotting roots . Use a unaccented pot grunge amended with compost . It is of import to found a reproducible tearing schedule , keep the grime moist but not soggy . Containerized flora in general involve more frequent fertilizing than those in the ground , since they have a limited space and nutritive reserve to delineate from . Therefore , I suggest todouble the frequency of our fertilise passport provided below .

The image is take between two trellises that contain passion fruit vines on each. It is framed with vines and hanging passion fruit, most of which are still green and need to ripen. What lies beyond that is a garden full of pollinator plants of all types and colors. There are also four raised wooden garden beds laid out, some have young plants inside and one has more mature plants growing in it. Beyond that there is a house with various plants on the porch and one is even attached to the wall next to the door.

ONGOING CARE

Water

Passion fruit and maypops will execute well withregular and temperate water , especially in the warm summer months or while actively rise yield ! Maintain the grunge damp but not miry . However , they are considered“fairly drouth tolerant ” . substance , they should n’t shrink up and die if they ’re pushed to the teetotal side on occasion . Since they ’re passably prone to settle putrefaction and fungal disease , they ’d prefer dry over drowning ! Our warmth yield vines are on a dripping system that impart them a minuscule drink 3 fourth dimension per workweek – in varying quantity look on the season .

Fertilizing Passion Fruit

mania yield has a report for being a “ heavy feeder ” . We have n’t found that they take anything too demented in terms of plant food though – especially if you start them out with beneficial dirt in their planting locating ! For our vines , we feed in them a few cups of homemadecompost teaabout twice per twelvemonth . See this article for a tutorial on how to make actively aerated compost teatime .

Additionally , we top - dress the soil around the foundation of the vine with a mixture ofslow - vent fertilizers likekelp meal , lucerne meal , andneem mealin the springtime , which gets watered in . Plus , the worms are down in there doing estimable body of work for us ! In all , I suggest allow for supplemental food for thought in the form of awell - equilibrise , balmy fertilizer at least once or doubly per year . Passiflora incarnata will profit the most from springiness feeding .

Pruning Passion Fruit

When multitude ask me how and when we cut our Passion of Christ fruit vines , I usually respond with a laugh and a “ Hack at them whenever I get a chance ! ” It is best to do your hardestpassion fruit pruning after the bumper harvest harvest . For us , that means in mid to late wintertime . However , we need to lightly slue back our vines several times a year to stop their rampant spread to unwanted area . I avoid cut too much right as the largest flush of flowers and fruit begin in late summer .

When the vine are still small you wo n’t have to do much pruning , though topping or pilfer back a tall singular vine will encourage forking and bushiness . As they grow larger and attempt to extend past their destine structures , trim away raw undesirable ontogeny withpruning shear . you’re able to also cut out elder weak growth , but nullify cutting the main stem turn or trunk of the vine . Pruning actually encourage new ontogeny , duncical stems , branching , and more future fruit , so do n’t worry about “ accept too much ” !

Formaypops , prune them in the former spring . Remove dead foliage and humbled stem , but always keep at least one or two strong independent vine growing from the fundament of the plant life to regenerate .

A two part before and after image, the first image shows a newly constructed patio garden where raised wooden garden beds are placed around the outside edge of a concrete patio. The walkway to the backyard has a separation between two garden beds that is lined with stone pavers. There is a gate that is attached to the closest garden beds to help keep out the chickens which are in the grass just beyond the gate itself. The walkway is also underneath an arch that was placed in each of the two closest garden beds. There is a young passion fruit vine planted on each end of the arch, soon it will be a covered arched walkway. The second image shows the same image after it has been allowed to grow in after several years. The archway is now lush and green and it is very full. Just beyond the archway, there is another arch along the fence line that has tow young passion vines growing in the same manner. There are chickens outside the inner garden area with various plants and trees growing in and around the area.

Passion Fruit Pests & Disease

Have you heard the phrase“the remainder between a weed and flower is a opinion ” ? Well , you may be face with a similar judgement when it come to pestilence and passion fruit vines . Passion yield ( and maypop ) is the one and only boniface plant for a pretty picayune orange butterfly called the Gulf Fritillary .

Like milkweed to monarchs , the Gulf Fritillary caterpillars only bung on mania vine – though their adult butterflies do fuddle nectar from many types of flowers . These caterpillars can be construe as a gadfly as they munch down your precious mania fruit plant . From what I hear , they can do some pregnant damage too !   But you bed , it is the strangest matter … We see Gulf Fritillary butterflies in our yard quite often , but never notice caterpillar damage on our vines ! Maybe the vines are so tumid and lush that we just ca n’t see it ?

If you do note damage to your vine , it is going to be a judgement call on how you want to proceed . If it is towards the ending of the season and you ’re growing maypops , I say leave them . They vine are run short to die back before long anyways ! If you do have the desire to take them , you could either hand - pick the Caterpillar off and dispose of them , or use anorganic Bt - based nebulizer . Bt put up for a bacteria telephone Bacillus Thuringiensis , and it only harms caterpillars . Take caution to avoid overspray , and utilize as directed !

A two part image collage, the first image shows four raised garden beds, surrounded by green gravel. Beyond that there is a wooden terrace with two levels, the first level has various pollinator plants planted in it. The second top level has six trellises spaced along the fence, the trellises are bare although you can make out small plants growing up each one. The plants are an assortment of fruiting and flowering passion fruit vines. The second image shows the same area but after many years of growth. The back trellis wall is now a green wall of vines. The other pollinator plants have continued to grow and are much larger than before. The entire area is much more green and lush than the previous image.

Other Pests or Diseases

It is not rare to seeantson passionateness yield vines . Ants feed on the nectaries – glands outside of the flower that bring forth nectar – and may also be helping with pollination ! We have ants on our passionateness yield vines and do n’t intervene .

Additionally , our fatheaded vine are prone to mealybug infestations . To help control that , we periodically releaseAmerican ladybugsand another type of gentlewoman beetle – mealybug destroyer .

Other diseases that may regard passion fruit let in fungal , Fusarium wilt , crown rot , scab , and other viral disease . Overall , the are fair hardy industrial plant – and many of these issuance can be forbid with good routine precaution like we ’ve discourse today !

A passion fruit vine is shown, there are some green and ripening passion fruit on the vine and there are five purple and ripe passion fruit on the ground below. Once passion fruit ripen, they release themselves from the plant and usually end up on the ground or they get stuck in the vine itself on the way down. The surrounding ground area is made up of rock gravel and flagstone pathways.

Harvesting Passion Fruit

Get ready for your maypops to mature up in later summer toearly fall!Passion yield are often ripening around the same time , but timing can vary more in mild climates that miss freezing winters . For example , several of my San Diego friends informed me that their “ bumper crop ” is usually finishing up during August and September , while ours will occur from October to December a few hours north here on the Central Coast .

Both fruits take several calendar month to mature , and get down as small , unripened , ball - shaped yield . With clip , Passiflora incarnata work xanthous in color near crop . Purple passion yield on the other hand move around sky gloomy ! Just kidding . They turn purple .

One of my absolute favorite thing to do in the garden is harvesting warmth fruit – because it is damn fun and EASY ! See , warmth fruit isself - harvesting . When they ’re ripe , they simply return off the vine naturally . Then we get to go around with a handbasket and collect them from the ground , like an easter orchis hunting ! Every day . For month . big thick vine will benefit from an casual milk shake of the trellis to dislodge any ripe fruit stuck in their bulk .

The back patio garden is shown with the green and lush passion vine archway in full glory. The surrounding area is very green as well with kale, agave, salvia, marigolds, nasturtium, lavender, and various trees throughout. There are also three chickens standing just outside the archway gate looking in.

maypop will also dangle from their vines when mature . Or , you’re able to harvest them when they ’ve become lily-livered , wrinkled , and well force off the vine . Wrinkling is a key indicator of ripeness for maypop , and they can be quite dark when they ’re underripe . Passion fruit on the other hand does n’t need to wrinkle , though it may . As long as it is a nice majestic color and came off the vine , it is ready to delight !

Eating Passionfruit

Our favorite way to eat passion yield is with spoon , directly from the shell – seeds and all ! It is mouth - puckering but decadent . We also frequently scoop out the pulp to savor on top of granola with various orchis and come . love yield is also excellent juiced , and tally tokombucha . We’ve also added the juice to sunbaked goods and homemade popsicles !

Tojuice warmth fruit , we scoop the flesh into a fine interlocking strainer perched over a bowl , and use a caoutchouc spatula to repetitively shake up and squelch the pulp – push the succus down through the strainer into the bowl below . Some kinfolk apply the juice to make conserves such as jelly , syrup , or curd ! The succus can also be frozen . I design to play around with passion fruit in the kitchen more this wintertime , so appease tuned for new formula ideas !

Now , excuse me while I go make breakfast .

A two part image of a Gulf Fritillary butterfly and the second image is it as a caterpillar. The butterfly is bright orange with various black marking along its wings while the caterpillar is orange with many black spike protruding from the body. This insect uses the passion fruit vines as a host plant, the caterpillar uses it as its main source of food and can munch holes in the plant material.

A wicker basket full of ripe passion fruit is shown, some are have slightly wrinkles skin which signifies that the fruit has been off the vine longer than others. One of the fruits is cut open and displayed on top of the mound of fruit, illustrating the bright golden pulp within. The basket is sitting on a pave which is lined with green gravel.

Maypops are lined up on a cutting board with ripe fruit on the right and non ripe fruit on the left. The pulp inside is more whitish yellow and isn’t quite as vibrant as the passion fruit. The less ripe fruit pulp is all white and isn’t quite as juicy as its ripe counterpart. The exterior of the fruit is also green in color compared to the purple of the passion fruit.

A close up image is shown of a breakfast bowl that contains four evenly spaced sections of passion fruit pulp, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and granola. There is a halved passion fruit in the middle of the bowl, containing more golden pulp within.

DeannaCat’s signature, keep on growing