Passiflora fruit ripe?

Discussion in 'Fruit and Vegetable Gardening' started by MamaMac, Aug 29, 2007.

  1. MamaMac

    MamaMac Active Member

    Messages:
    74
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Millet,Canada
    This is the first time that I have fruit on my Passiflora vine. How do I know when it is ripe? What is the minimum temperature that I can overwinter it in a greenhouse? It is Passiflora caerulea.
     
  2. Durgan

    Durgan Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    2,669
    Likes Received:
    100
    Location:
    Brantford,Ontario, Canada
    The fruit is yellow when ripe and it is lousy to eat. The fruit is most insipid and has no merit as a food in my decided opinion.

    The plants will overwinter as long as the temperature is about 10 degree C. Cut well back, but mke sure some vegetation remains, about eight inches. I have kept them over wintering in the basement by withholding water until about February in Zone 5. Transplanting outdoorss after the last frost is the usual procedure.

    http://www.durgan.org/Blog/Durgan.html
     
  3. MamaMac

    MamaMac Active Member

    Messages:
    74
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Millet,Canada
    Curiosity will get the better of me. I find it to be an overwhelming desire to sample anything edible that I grow, no matter how unpalletable. Thank you very much for the info!!
     
  4. mikeyinfla

    mikeyinfla Active Member

    Messages:
    194
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    palmetto, fla
    some passiflora are good eating fresh some are really really sour but do make a pretty good drink with enough sugar that is. have even heard of people using it instead of lemon in pies and a little juice goes a long ways. if the fruit gets to full color take it off the vine take inside and let the fruit start getting a bit crinkely not totally mumified just wrinkled and it should be a bit sweeter. some are just better than others even plants grown from the same seeds
     
  5. MamaMac

    MamaMac Active Member

    Messages:
    74
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Millet,Canada
    I shall let you know the results of the taste test!
     
  6. Chooch

    Chooch Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    SW Ontario 65 miles west of London / 33 miles sout
    Myself and a few other individuals in this area have passiflora incarnata situated in a warm growing location . Mine sets fruit every year and I do not mind them but they are an acquired taste ; the oval skinned fruit is peeled and you suck the pulp off of the seeds similar to eating a pomegranate . Just south of us in Ohio , passiflora incarnata is a native plant , so if you can find a warm well drained location near the house and add a bit of mulch you may be able to overwinter passiflora in the deeper part of SW Ontario . Happy Growing !!
     

Share This Page