Anyone have Passion Fruit vines?

[fastpat]

We're just about covered up with Passion Fruit vines near the deck, with no slowing of growth in sight for a while.

Anyone have a notion of how to best control them without chemicals?

And, anyone have recipes for the fruit?

[Chocaholic]

Just leave them alone and they'll go away peacefully. Really.

Couldn't resist.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Chocaholic
Just leave them alone and they'll go away peacefully. Really.

Couldn't resist.

Well, maybe when the frost hits in November or so, but right now they're multiplying rapidly. Prolific vine considering. Beautiful flowers though, and hopefully sweet fruit. They look like lime green, smooth, Kiwi fruit.

[masraum]

The flowers are amazing. Mine don't care for shade, my recommendation would be manual control, ie pruning or routing new growth back onto old. This is my first year with fruit, but so far it's all 15" up in the top of a tree, next year I should get fruit from a lower bit of vine.

[AFJuvat]

No,. but could you send me some cuttings? I may be interested in growing them. Already have bananas, lemons, limes, and strawberries in the back yard.

AFJ

[fastpat]

Originally posted by masraum
The flowers are amazing. Mine don't care for shade, my recommendation would be manual control, ie pruning or routing new growth back onto old. This is my first year with fruit, but so far it's all 15" up in the top of a tree, next year I should get fruit from a lower bit of vine.

Mine are either laying on top of other plants, or using the dog run fence as a trellis.

From above.


Some of the fruit along the fence.


A closer shot of the fruit.


All of these vines are volunteers, I've planted none of them.

[masraum]

Yeah, I have vines pop up all over my yard, some pop up 5-10 feet out from any other vine in the middle of my lawn. I just mow over them.

Your vines look happy. Have you ever had any of the fruit? How does the fruit taste? Does it turn a color or stay green before it drops off?

[fastpat]

Originally posted by masraum
Yeah, I have vines pop up all over my yard, some pop up 5-10 feet out from any other vine in the middle of my lawn. I just mow over them.

Your vines look happy. Have you ever had any of the fruit? How does the fruit taste? Does it turn a color or stay green before it drops off?

Yep, I mow them all the time, there's way more than we need.

I have never eaten the fruit, but my wife says she has. We're looking for recipes to deal with all the fruit. According to what I've been able to find on the web, my variety will turn a pale yellow when ripe. Linda says you eats the flesh surrounding the seeds (and the seeds), but not the rind.

[prototypical75]

Pat, Do you have many butterflies in your yard? The Passionflower vine is the host-plant for Zebra longwings(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_longwing) and Gulf Fritillaries(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Fritillary), meaning, they lay their eggs on the vine and the caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves. The Julia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_%28butterfly%29) may range up your way also. They may be able to help contol the vines if they find your stash, but pesticides will keep them away.
If you want to try and introduce them, sometimes you can find plants at nurseries with caterpillars already feeding on them. I only wish I could grow vines like those down here..lol.
Zach

[fastpat]

Originally posted by prototypical75
Pat, Do you have many butterflies in your yard? The Passionflower vine is the host-plant for Zebra longwings(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_longwing) and Gulf Fritillaries(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Fritillary), meaning, they lay their eggs on the vine and the caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves. The Julia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_%28butterfly%29) may range up your way also. They may be able to help contol the vines if they find your stash, but pesticides will keep them away.
If you want to try and introduce them, sometimes you can find plants at nurseries with caterpillars already feeding on them. I only wish I could grow vines like those down here..lol.
Zach

We have some butterflies, but I don't think I'd call it "many". I don't spray pesticides much. I did spray the various trees that were under attack by tent catapillars, with Thuricide, an organic pest control. None on the hillside where the fruit are growing though.

Oddly, some of the fruit are now shriveling up as though they're drying out on the vine. Unlikely since we've had plenty of rain over the last 10 days. Some of the fruit on the same vine is fine. According to what I've read, these should turn light yellow when ripe. There's not been a color change at all yet.

[prototypical75]

Darn tent caterpillars...my dad has been using an interesting method to kill them for the last twenty something years. He duct-taped a propane torch on the end of a section(maybe 12') of pvc pipe and torches the tents. It is quite effective, but only as far as you can reach.