Welcome to my Food Forest where I grow an number of fruits in the Bee Better Teaching Garden. Information in this fruit series is based on knowledge I’ve gained growing in hardiness zone 7b, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Helen Yoest
Passiflora edulis
Kind:
Latin Name: Passiflora edulis
Common Name: Passion Fruit
Type: Deciduous climbing vine, grown as an annual in Raleigh.
Height: 10 to 15 feet
Spread: 3 to 5 feet
Pollination: Self pollinates
Fruit Health Benefits: Passion fruit is highly rich in Vitamin C, beta-cryptoxanthin and alpha-carotene that boosts your immunity. It also has iron which increases haemoglobin in our red blood cells. The rich content of riboflavin (Vitamin B6) and niacin (Vitamin B3) in passion fruit helps in regulating the thyroid activity in our body
Wildlife Benefits: In our region, passion vine is the host butterfly plant for the gulf fritillary, Agraulis vanillae and the variegated fritillary, Euptoieta claudia.
Origin of species: Native to southern Brazil through Paraguay and northern Argentina
Cultivars: Coming soon!
Culture Information:
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Zone: 10 to 12
Years to bear fruit: One year.
Harvest Time: Late fall. First, make sure it's ripe! Then, cut in half and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and fruit. Remember, you can and should eat the seeds.
There's a film between the skin and seeds that is edible, but it doesn't taste good, so we recommend not eating it.
Care:
Plant: Most species of passion flower should be grown in full sun to part shade, in average soil that is well-drained. A sheltered locations, such as against a garden wall, is recommended for many species. If you bring potted specimens indoor for the winter, give them bright, indirect light and keep them out of drafts.
Fertilizer/pH: 6.1 to 7.5
Mulch: Mulch the vine with a 3- to 4-inch-thick layer of organic mulch after it is several inches tall. Wood chips make a good choice, because they are less likely to harbor the snails that can attack passionflower vines in some climates. Shredded leaves are another common selection.
Groom/Prune: None
Pest/disease Control: No serious insect or disease problems. Nematodes and fungi may attack the roots. Destroy any plants attacked by viral diseases.
Propagation: Coming soon!
Comments:
It is said that the Passion Fruit was named by the 16th century Spanish Catholic Missionaries in the Amazon region of Brazil. They called it “flor passionis” (passionflower) or “flor de las cinco llagas” (flower of the five wounds) after its purple flower which they believed resembled the five wounds of Christ.
Passion fruit taste fruity! And tart! They also have a strong and characteristic perfume. You can eat them raw, if you don't mind the tartness. We recommend enjoying them with something sweet or creamy, like ice cream or adding a little sugar to the raw fruit!
For containers, use a well-drained, peaty-humusy potting mix. Containers need a support on which the vine can grow. Place containers outdoors in full sun after last spring frost date. This flowering vine appreciates high humidity. It also requires good air circulation to discourage fungal diseases. Water evenly and consistently during the growing season.
P. edulis f. flavicarpa is a yellow-fruited form commonly called yellow passionfruit.
Vines produce flowers on new growth, so they may be pruned as needed early in the growing season. Bring vines indoors before first fall frost date. Reduce watering somewhat from fall to late winter. Purple passionfruit may be grown indoors year round as a houseplant in a sun room or in a sunny south-facing window.