Passion Fruit starts flowering
Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis)
As the weather gets warmer, the purple fragrant flowers start to appear on the vine. The unusual flowers with purple-white delicate filaments are very pretty and distinct. In a few days the flowers drop to the ground and egg-shaped small green fruits get bigger every day. Pretty soon, the fruit will turn purple and ready for consumption. I wait until the fruit drop to the ground before collect the fruits.
The passion fruit flower
Young passion fruit
Ripe passion fruit
I usually cut the fruit in 2 halves and scoop out the fragrant, acidic-sweet orange pulp and eat it directly, spitting out the black seeds. Some people may prefer to add a pinch of sugar to lessen the acidity. Another option is to combine the content of 30 to 40 fruit, pour the combined pulp into a blender and blend it at low speed to separate the edible pulp from the seeds, filter the mixture with a wire mesh and collect the passion fruit juice. To make the passion fruit drink, mix one cup of passion fruit juice, three quarter of a cup of sugar and add water to make a 2-liter drink. The drink is very delicious, especially after chilled in the refrigerator.
I have mixed feelings for passion fruit as a garden plant. On the positive side, it is easy to care, grows vigorously, the evergreen glossy leave and the flowers are attractive. It is very productive. In the summer peak times, 20-30 fruit can be collected EVERY DAY. A single vine can produce more than 1000 fruit in a year. I simply cannot understand why it is so expensive in the supermarket for such a productive fruit. The Vons store sells the passion fruit for the outrageous price of 2.99 dollars for each fruit. That makes me feel quite rich. On the negative side, it is too vigorous and should be described as rampant. From a small 3-gallon plant, the vine has grown into a giant vine. It totally covers my backyard fence that is more than 100-foot long. It entangles every plant on its growing paths trying to take over every thing it touches. I have to constantly cut it back and remove the branches from other trees. I think it will take over the world if left alone.
Passion fruit is easy to propagate from cuttings. Just cut a few branches that are 12-18 inch long, stick them into a pot with good potting soil and most of them will root. The seeds can be also sowed to get new plants. Fresh seed will germinate in 10 to 20 days. Stored seeds germinate at a lower and slower rate. Seeds should be planted 1/2 to 1 inch deep for best results.
In summary, passion fruit vine is pretty, productive, easy-care and rampant plant. If you have the space, you will rewarded with a huge amount of fruit every year.
I have mixed feelings for passion fruit as a garden plant. On the positive side, it is easy to care, grows vigorously, the evergreen glossy leave and the flowers are attractive. It is very productive. In the summer peak times, 20-30 fruit can be collected EVERY DAY. A single vine can produce more than 1000 fruit in a year. I simply cannot understand why it is so expensive in the supermarket for such a productive fruit. The Vons store sells the passion fruit for the outrageous price of 2.99 dollars for each fruit. That makes me feel quite rich. On the negative side, it is too vigorous and should be described as rampant. From a small 3-gallon plant, the vine has grown into a giant vine. It totally covers my backyard fence that is more than 100-foot long. It entangles every plant on its growing paths trying to take over every thing it touches. I have to constantly cut it back and remove the branches from other trees. I think it will take over the world if left alone.
Passion fruit is easy to propagate from cuttings. Just cut a few branches that are 12-18 inch long, stick them into a pot with good potting soil and most of them will root. The seeds can be also sowed to get new plants. Fresh seed will germinate in 10 to 20 days. Stored seeds germinate at a lower and slower rate. Seeds should be planted 1/2 to 1 inch deep for best results.
In summary, passion fruit vine is pretty, productive, easy-care and rampant plant. If you have the space, you will rewarded with a huge amount of fruit every year.
Comments