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Pruning Passionfruit

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Henry starts with ...
Could someone please explain what it means by 'major thinning should be carried out to encourage new fruiting wood.' How much of the old vine should I take off?
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Henry
Blacktown
29th December 2008 2:23pm
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Leah says...
HI,

It's best to cut your passionfruit at the end of winter/begining of spring before it's start it's new growth. If you need to prune it now, DO NOT remove more than a third of the vine. It will take the vine too long to recover and will possible give you no fruit this year. Or in my father-in-laws case die.

Sorry if i am a bit vague on terms, but you need to try and cut back on the thinner vines and leave the main/thicker/older ones alone as much as possible.

Try and pick the ones that you want to cut and follow them back to a point and pull them out. If you just cut willy nilly you will end up with dead and hard bits that can become trapped. And a lesson that i learn is that they will poke out at you just when you are not expecting it.

Also any vines that look a bit tired/yellow just find your end bit and follow it back to a starting point where it joins an older bit of vine.

Them give it a bit of blood and bone/dynamic lifter/ cow manure etc to restart some new grow for the vine to produce fruit.

If you need to cut more wait until it stops producing fruit and you can cut back 2/3rds. Mine vines usually produce 2 crops, so the end of winter/ start of spring is when i get in and do it. But you could also at the end of autumn.

I hope this helps.

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Leah
Melbourne
29th December 2008 3:54pm
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Henry says...
Thanks Leah, much appreciated. As you can see from my picture, the growth is quite dense, hence my dilemma. Last year I only had two passionfruit while this year, there are 8 already. Thanks again.
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Henry
Blacktown
29th December 2008 4:25pm
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reg says...
My nelly kelly leaves are pale green rather than dark green, keeps dropping fruit and the fruit tastes sour and therefore uneatable.

Does any one know what I need to do to fix these three problems
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reg1
croydon, melbourne
9th August 2009 5:38pm
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amanda says...
Hi Reg, firstly - what's the pH of your soil?
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
9th August 2009 8:40pm
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reg says...
Oh dear - don't know the PH Amanda but we have clay soil and is known to be acidic in our area.
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reg1
croydon, melbourne
15th August 2009 12:18pm
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amanda says...
Hi Reg... I'm sorry - but I don't 'do' clay...Maybe someone else?
(my soil sandy n quite different...although for what it's worth u may not get very sweet fruit at this time of the year...it's too cold! It sounds like the vine needs feeding - can u post a photo?)
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
15th August 2009 6:29pm
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Cathie says...
My passionfruit vine is about 8 years old and had a good prune 1 year ago and produced heaps of fruit this year but during end of fruiting the branches started dying and now it looks dead. Has it run it's course? I have no idea of life span. It is in the front garden and trails around the front verandah so has good natural drainage and sunlight. Should I give up on it as if I prune all dead branches it will be basically left with just the main branch>
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Cathie
Cannington,Perth
6th September 2009 1:33pm
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Barry says...
Do you need to plant two passionfruit trees or will one do for getting a good crop? I have just one plant growing and I heard that you need two plants. Is this correct? Thank you for your reply.
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Barry9
Penrith
26th September 2009 10:00am
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amanda says...
Hi Barry - u only need one.
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
27th September 2009 10:21am
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Julie says...
Cathie, you are lucky to have had 8 years from your vine. Usually they don't go beyond 5 or 6,so I would say it has reached the end of its life.

Time to plant another one!
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r
27th September 2009 3:39pm
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amanda says...
8 yrs is amazing! BTW - my vines have started flowering madly this week! The purple/black Nellie Kellie has the most so far (shock horror!) I might keep it after all ;)
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
27th September 2009 4:55pm
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Vin says...
Hi all need some good tips on how to keep snails from eating my young Passion fruit vines?. They seem to leave the bate and go for the juicy leaves.

Vin
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vince
Melbourne
29th September 2009 10:04pm
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Jantina says...
Hi Vin, try some beer in bowls set in the ground, slugs and snails love it and drown.
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Jantina
Mt. Gambier S.A.
30th September 2009 10:47am
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Vin says...
Thanks Jantina,I will do that and report back.

Vin
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vince
Melbourne
1st October 2009 8:01pm
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Cathie says...
I kinda thought that 8 years was a good life span but my hubby kept saying I had killed it so glad to hear that it had just run its natural life span. I have put some nice hanging baskets in its place for now until a new plant can take its place.
thank you for the advice.
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Cathie
Cannington,Perth
8th October 2009 1:13am
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scottnkez says...
I put in a small Panama red passionfruit vine about 15 months ago but as of yet there is still no sign of flowers or fruit. It is at the back of my herb garden on my western wall. I think it really only gets the morning sun. Should I expect fruit any time soon. Thanks for any help!
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scottnkez
Gold Coast
10th October 2009 10:30am
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Michael says...
Hi All,
Can you grow more than 1 type of passion fruit on the same trellis ?
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Michael
Wakeley
13th October 2009 1:00pm
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amanda says...
Yes u can Michael - but make sure your trellis is strong and wide enuf' for 2.
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
13th October 2009 8:55pm
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Michael says...
Thanks Amanda
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Michael
Wakeley
14th October 2009 12:49pm
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Brendan says...
Hi scottnkez,
Try giving your passionfruit vine some 'Sulphate of Potash'.

To speed things up, spray the vine with a very weak solution of Condys crystals plus a wetting agent, say twice a week for 4 weeks, then once a month.

You can now buy liquid potash, give that a go.

I'd give it a good dressing of gypsum and mulch well, keeping it clear of the stem. Remember not to overwater it.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
18th October 2009 7:49am
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scottnkez says...
Thanks Brendan - I'll give it a try as I need to get some Suphate of Potash for my tomatoes. I would never of thought of Condys though. After reading your comments re overwatering I am thinking maybe I should replant it out of my herb garden as I do need to water them frequently. Thanks again!
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scottnkez
Gold Coast
24th October 2009 12:46pm
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willyno1 says...
When would passion fruit set fruit?? Mine are just the nelly kelly type.
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empire bay, NSW
20th March 2010 3:35pm
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Araich says...
My Nellie Kelly black grafted, less than 1 yr old, is flowering and setting fruit now willyno1. It has about 6 fruit so far, some 2 months old.
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Araich
Melbourne
22nd March 2010 8:02am
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kellygirl says...
hi there, I am having problems with my passionfruit vine, it has flowered and fruited however the fruit is yellow and is falling off the vine, only 2 really small passionfruit went purple.

The yellow passionfruit is very bitter.

Any help would be appreciated
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kellygirl
brisbane
23rd July 2010 8:48pm
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neilbal says...
After cutting back my passion fruit vine, the cut stems have been dripping water. This has been happening for two days non stop, the plant must be losing a lot of water. I'm afraid it will now die.

Does anyone know if these stems should be plugged somehow?
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neilbal
 
10th August 2010 11:43am
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Brendan says...
Hi kellygirl & neilbal,
Try spraying the vine with 'liquid potash', that will harden up the tissue of the vine and also help it fruit.
Don't forget to add a wetting agent to the liquid potash.
To sweeten passionfruit, apply epsom salts around the root area, a handful per sq. metre and water in.
I'd apply some (extra) sulphate of potash fertilizer and mulch as well.
They like wood ash too :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
13th August 2010 7:42am
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farmer pat says...
have to cut back passionfruit hard as support trellis has sagged very overgrown bush this year, in its second year. how much & when do I cut back.
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farmer pat
bairnsdale
23rd May 2011 6:21pm
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snottiegobble says...
farmer pat, cut back in the winter when it is least active then feed well in the spring with blood n bone & old manure.
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
23rd May 2011 7:55pm
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Chris says...
Actually it would be rather risky pruning back hard in winter. Given that they are very frost tender, pruning back now would leave the vine vulnerable. I'd wait til early Spring at the earliest depending on your climate.
Grafted varieties are more cold hardy too.
My vine is still carrying fruit so i won't be pruning until it's finished cropping.
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Chris
Sydney
23rd May 2011 9:43pm
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Original Post was last edited: 23rd May 2011 9:45pm
amanda says...
Depends where Bairnsdale is I guess...?and sometimes u have to sacrifice fruit when pruning :-(
I have a MONSTER passionfruit vine that has just put out at least 200 fruit in the last month...it's a heartache to think of pruning it now - but it really needs it - as it's taken over an area at least 3 times what it should have...

I had no idea it would get so incredibly huge - it's got to the point that I can't find the fruit any more - it falls down in amoung the branches and goes rotten - cos it can't fall to the ground now.
I have not been able to find a seasonal 'gap' in which to prune it.

Interstingly - I have/had 3 seedling vines and 4 grafted vines for the last 3 yrs.

3 of the 4 grafted vines (2 varieties) dropped dead this summer (and the other one has a virus and is useless)

3 out of 3 seedling vines (all different varieties) and powering along and loaded with fruit...

So much for Nellie Kellies..? ;-)
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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
23rd May 2011 10:13pm
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Chris says...
Nelly Kelly are grafted on cold tolerant, not drought tolerant rootstock.
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Chris
Sydney
23rd May 2011 10:39pm
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amanda says...
I think it was nematodes acutally Chris...either way I am not convinced (like many others) that there is an advantage with grafted passionfruit - and certainly my vines (all irrigated) bear that truth out at least..it wasn't drought that killed the grafted vines at all.
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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
24th May 2011 1:36am
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snottiegobble says...
All I got from Nelly kelly was a rootstock invasion of a totally different vine, pretty flowers but no fruit!
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
24th May 2011 11:34pm
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farmer pat says...
thanks to all replies on passionfruit. Amanda sounds like we have a pigeon pair in our vines as this is exactly what I am experiencing. Just for the records Bairnsdale is in East Gippsland between sale & lakes entrance. Beautiful part of victoria.
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farmer pat
bairnsdale
27th May 2011 9:35pm
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amanda says...
Well - keep some seed for the next generation farmer pat! I know I am with mine :) it's less than a week from winter here and it's still flowering madly and setting dozens of fruit...I am not complaining - but I have a masonary wall that won't break It's jsut taking over the BBQ - hubby not happy LOL!)

It's up to you really. Maybe get a seedling going - ready to replace on a new strong trellis - and/or strengthen your other trellis in the meantime...
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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
27th May 2011 9:59pm
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Original Post was last edited: 27th May 2011 10:02pm
peter says...
hi amanda,
what variety of passionfruit is the
one that you have mentioned above.
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adelaide
28th May 2011 8:12am
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amanda says...
Hi adelaide peter:) It's that panama red seedling growing on the limestone wall (did I send u seed from it? - can't remember now)
I have seedlings popping up everywhere now - so I am going to try them in the orchard to see if it's the plant or the wall that is doing this?
It's an insane vine :-O

I also have that Big Red (seedling) - which turned out to be a big yellow (but sour) and it is in the orchard - it's also still flowering and is loaded with fruit - it cops a heap of wind and is still super vigorous and tough - it's a shame the fruit is sour.

I am really bummed about my grafted NK's (3 purples and 3 golds - all dead now...) it must be something the graft is not immune to - as they get treated just the same as the 3 seedling vines.....what do u think?
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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
28th May 2011 12:33pm
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peter says...
hi amanda,
no i didnt get seed from the panama red
just the sunshine special which is in
a large pot and doing ok.
i have a seedling panama red and gold
so hope they go ok in my climate.
couldnt say what is going on with the
grafted nk but i have planted about
30 of them about 4 months ago so
am hoping for the best.
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adelaide
28th May 2011 6:05pm
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amanda says...
Oh that's good to hear peter! Still have sunshine specials ripening and picked a doz 2day :)
30 vines! you will tonnes of fruit if u are selling them. My soil very sandy and prone to nematodes. Could have been crown rot too - I haven't really had a good look yet - but the dead trunks were pretty easy to pull out of the ground. The last one is barely hanging in so I might dissect it next week. I'd really like to know now.
It can get quite cold here a night in winter around 4-6 oC and my panamas haven't suffered.
All the best with your vines peter! :)
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mid West WA
28th May 2011 8:44pm
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farmer pat says...
hi to all. have bitten the bullet & cut back some growth, more than i thought until i started to pull out the long branches will see how i go. Amenda mine is a nelly kelly graft on a north facing wall. Recall growing one facing same way bewteen tank & wall grew enormous same way. Also some years a ago had a go at trying to grow some vines on side of hill to harvest commercially, had quite a wet season & lost all of them, so think it is luck of the draw.
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farmer pat
bairnsdale
29th May 2011 9:28pm
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snottiegobble says...
farmer pat,you should do well with a north facing wall. Maybe if you can hang clear plastic sheeting over the vine during winter & early spring it will give it more chance of a good start next season. Bunnings sell builders plastic sheeting called "grunt" in 2 metre widths X any length you like! There are also black graphite spring clamps of all sizes ( I would be lost without them now) ideal for hanging & holding in place.
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
30th May 2011 12:40am
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kondoo says...
big
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kondoo
kisumu.kenya
11th August 2011 10:38pm
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amanda says...
Nice going kondoo...gee your soil looks very dry and bare! (a bit like mine sometimes) You should get some organic matter (manure, wood chip etc) onto it - if you have access to it...
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
12th August 2011 3:27pm
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Wazzbat says...
Fingers crossed I get some fruit this year. I planted a Nelly Kelly Black and a Sunshine Special Black lat year. They are growing well so far. Got a few flowers on the Sunshine Special last year but no fruit.

Also planted two Pink Cheek plants a few months back but they are competing with a bottlebrush from the neighbours so don't expect them to do so well.
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
12th August 2011 10:17pm
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amanda says...
Is no one curious why kondoo is growing passionfruit (of all things) in Kenya? A poor, starving nation. Just look at the pic. How hard is that gig guys? Growing them up sticks in impoverished soil...god knows where the water is coming from when there is no fresh water for the people to drink even...

Kind of puts thing into perspective, no?
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
13th August 2011 1:49am
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Wazzbat says...
I was wondering that myself. I'd like to here the story behind it. He is obviously not growing them just for himself.
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
13th August 2011 7:18am
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kondoo says...
look at my passion fruit,kenya is not a starving nation,its only small part of it but most of these pple r somali refugees
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kondoo
kisumu.kenya
13th August 2011 4:43pm
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amanda says...
I am amazed kondoo - they are doing well in what looks like just sand!? What are feeding them?

What are your hottest summer temperatures? And - what type of passionfruit are they?
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
14th August 2011 11:01am
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snottiegobble says...
I am also curious kondoo about your irrigation methods, & because of the fact that most passionfruit are vines do they end up scrambling over each other & back onto the ground??
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
17th August 2011 1:20am
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kondoo says...
no
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kondoo
kisumu.kenya
26th August 2011 5:03pm
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Mike says...
In the markets in Kenya I saw plenty of passionfruit but not many as sweet as the yellow ones in Australia.People in thje markets said passionfruit are spreading and getting more popular, is that true kondoo?
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Cairns
26th August 2011 6:32pm
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kondoo says...
amanda these r purple passion fruit,and my question is,a friend of myn has 3 months old purple grafted and they have started flowering and some have small balls,are they doing fine?
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kondoo
kisumu.kenya
27th August 2011 1:13am
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Brendan says...
Geez kondoo,
Your passionfruit certainly like growing 'on the dry side of moist'.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
27th August 2011 7:50am
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amanda says...
Sure they are fine kondoo. It would be better if they didn't carry fruit at such a young age - then they could concentrate on growing a bigger vine (to support the next seasons fruit - as there will be much more then)

3 months is incredibly young for fruit! Your friend must be very happy :)
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
27th August 2011 11:44am
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Dot says...
I am just about to prune my vine, and was browsing the site and saw your note. My Panama red is great I planted it with a large peice of fresh liver and the vine apparently likes to get all day sun, so the trellis runs north-south
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Dot
Cairns
28th August 2011 5:13pm
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kondoo says...
the leaves of my passion fruit is turning yellow,r hey dying?
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kondoo
kisumu.kenya
8th September 2011 5:15pm
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Brendan says...
Hi kondoo,
That vine in pic 1 (on the left), sure looks like it's dying. Probably time to replace it. You should be feeding & mulching those vines as well. Don't use too much Nitrogen fertilizer, but use more Phosphorus (P) & Potassium (K), & Epsom salts.

Have a look at this site: http://www.nelliekelly.com.au/faqs-about-passionfruit-vines.html
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
10th September 2011 7:52am
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Melissa says...
Forgive my ignorance but what exactly are nemotodes?

Melissa
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
29th October 2011 5:34pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Melissa,
Nematodes are very tiny worms that attack the roots of plants causing swelling. They can starve the plant of nutrients.
The chemical cure is Nemacur.
The organic cure is a cup of molasses to 4 litres of water, and drench the soil. Treacle can be used instead of molasses.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
2nd November 2011 9:09am
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snottiegobble says...
Brendan, would the molasses work with tomatoes as well?
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
3rd November 2011 12:46am
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Brendan says...
G'day SG, certainly would. Adding 'organic matter' & compost helps breed the 'good' bugs that eat the nematodes as well.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
3rd November 2011 7:22am
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kerry says...
hello
do passion fruit benefit from foliar feeding?
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kerry9
mid north coast nsw
5th November 2011 11:15pm
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Brendan says...
Certainly do kerry. Liquid Potash or a 'pinch' of Condys Crystals in 9 L of water sprayed twice a week will do wonders. Needs a wetting agent as well.

Seasol helps too.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
6th November 2011 8:22am
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snottiegobble says...
My previously sick N.kelly seedling is growing well & covered in flowers & young fruit, but the "big red' ( passiflora cinnabarina) next to it has nothing but tendrils. I think there is is an obvious temperature requirement difference, but nothing on the label mentions it except for "thrives in full sun & protect from frost"
Maybe someone like Amanda would know?

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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
8th November 2011 4:32pm
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amanda says...
Hey SG - my "Big Red" didn't turn out to be a big red - but a round yellow!? So I don't know if my experience with it will be the same therefore...?
It's a tough vine (whatever it is) and fruits prolifically in an exposed spot in my garden.
Bloody shame the fruits are too sour to eat out of hand as they are jam packed with juicy pulp...boo hoo!
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
8th November 2011 6:06pm
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snottiegobble says...
Oh dear Amanda,( better expletive not allowed!) Do you make jam or anything with the fruit?
How`s this for stupidity? All the guava seedlings I told you about that germinated look very like either eggplants or capsicums & I suppose thats because they are! You see I made up my own seed raising mix using some of the worm farm soil! Go on say it, I can take it!!!
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
9th November 2011 8:08pm
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amanda says...
Haha! I think we have all done that at some stage SG!? Can't remember how many times I have dumped a planted seedling mix in a huff after waiting months for germination - only to find the damn seed decides to germinate right where i have dumped it? :D

I mix the sour p'fruit with some goodies, add low GI sugar and freeze them into ice blocks/icy poles..and enjoy them anyway!

I don't enjoy raising slow seedlings myself...that 'damping off' thing gets me everytime??
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
10th November 2011 12:28am
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Peter says...
Hi everyone,

I need some advice and information as I'm stuck and disappointed with Pink cheeks passionfruit vine I planted last year or should say 2 years ago.

I live in Eagleby, it's halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Queensland.

I have planted pink cheeks variety of passionfruit in the front yard and has been growing well. The soil was nutrient deficiency but was built up and the profile was clay or claysih so I added Gypsum to break the clay down

I have fertlised the vine using various plant foods and trace elements.

The first year it produced 24 flowers and they all fell off. I assumed this was natural as all of its' energy was being used to grow.

This year, yes it has grown..resulting in 42 flowers, some flowering late. Problem is that they are not setting fruit, the flowers still drop off.

I have applied liquid potash and still seems to be not affective.

I have noticed a lot of black ants racing along the vine day in and day out. I also noticed a lot of red spider mites so I began spraying with wettable sulphur to control redmites.

Leaves look different to what they were and still get the occassional yellowing of the leaves.

Can anyone provide me with advice on how to get my vine to produce fruit. I don't want to pull the vine out of the ground unless really necessary. It will cause me great pain after all the nuturing it has been given.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
13th November 2011 9:55pm
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Wazzbat says...
I have heard that just neglecting it will result in fruit? Also, maybe the flowers need pollinating. I also read somewhere that some varieties need another plant to pollinate with?

I have planted a Pink Cheek last year so I hope mine doesn't have the same outcome as yours? Good luck with it.
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
13th November 2011 11:34pm
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Brendan says...
G'day Peter,
To help passionfruit vines bear fruit, give it extra Sulphate of Potash fertilizer.
To speed things up, mix a 'pinch' of Condys Crystals in 9 litres water with a 'good' wetting agent, spray the vine twice a week for 3 or 4 weeks.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
14th November 2011 8:19am
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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

It's all new to me growing passionfruits. there is so many variables that can go wrong hey!

I too wish you luck on Pink cheeks
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Peter1
Brisbane
15th November 2011 11:14pm
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Peter says...
Thanks for your information, I'll be doing just that tomorrow.

Problem is now, most, if not all of the flowers are starting to fall off.

I've also notice those pesky small black ants all over the flowers, I can only assume these buggers might be eating the pollen. Is there any spray I can use to deter these buggers.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
15th November 2011 11:22pm
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coastie says...
Good morning Peter, dont worry about the ants, they are helping with pollination, moving pollen from one flower to another.
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coastie
 
16th November 2011 7:23am
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Brendan says...
G'day Peter, the potash fert will help the flowers stay on the vine, but will take 10 to 15 days to 'kick in'.
If you must spray, use pyrethrum with a 'good' wetter.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
16th November 2011 7:31am
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Wazzbat says...
I really have to find some time to get some Potash on my vines. I also have ants. I thought they'd do more harm than good though Coastie? Starting to see lots more Bees around now too. Hopefully I get my first crop of fruit this year on my blacks?
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
16th November 2011 7:47am
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amanda says...
Hi Peter, the red spider mites are a concern....I get them here but never, ever on my passionfruit vines. They like dry conditions. Are u sure your vine is getting enough water?
Passionfruit have shallow roots and I find they prefer a couple of shorter waterings rather than less frequent deep soaking.

Maybe you are giving it too much nitrogen - what fertilisers are u using on it?

Can u post a pic of some leaves at all?
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
16th November 2011 10:12am
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Melissa says...
Hey Brendan; What do you use as a wetting agent?

I'm still having no luck with the Misty Gem, it has loads of flowers though only a few set fruit.

The grafted Nelly Kelly Black is going berserk; has what looks like 100's of fruit; still getting 10-20 flowers a day and though not hand pollinating every day; busy with work, when I get to them it is still setting baby fruit. Will post some pic's when I can.

Melissa
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
16th November 2011 4:59pm
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Melissa says...
Misty Gem Vine
Lonely fruit; few and far between
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
16th November 2011 5:15pm
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Melissa says...
Misty Gem Vine
Lonely fruit; few and far between
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2
 
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
16th November 2011 5:21pm
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Melissa says...
Grafted Nelly Kelly Black
Pic #10: Vine growing under pergola
Pic #9: Vine growing along brick wall to the left of the garden bed
Pic #8: Vine growing above main trunk and outside edge of pergola
Pic #1 - 7, : Various close up shots of maturing fruit
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2

Picture: 3

Picture: 4

Picture: 5

Picture: 6

Picture: 7

Picture: 8

Picture: 9

Picture: 10
  
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
16th November 2011 5:27pm
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Original Post was last edited: 16th November 2011 5:29pm
au0rey says...
Melissa, great shots and great vine, so healthy! Ae there more than one plant? What is the metal mesh you use to let it climb in pic 9? Is it stainless steel? Iron? Or galvanized metal?

How big is the area the vine is occupying in pic 10? Is it partially in shade? How old is this vine?
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au0rey
melbourne
16th November 2011 7:16pm
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Peter says...
Coastie,

I'm not sure about black ants being pollinators, I know they like milking the red spider mites that were on the vine, I sprayed the vine with a red mite treatment.
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Peter1
Brisbane
16th November 2011 10:50pm
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Peter says...
Hello Brendan,

Thanks, but now you have confused me. I noticed you suggested I should use a good "wetting" agent with a pinch of "condies crystals" - Potassium Permagenate in 9 litres of water and spray the foilage.

Now you suggest Pyrethrum!! Hmmmm, what do you suggest is a good wetting agent ?

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
16th November 2011 10:55pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Thanks for your comments. I give the vine a soaking of water in early morning and again in the evening.

I have used various fertilisers and trace elements, I'll check the garage and will write the names of those fertlisers I use.

I have also used liquid potash of late.

Still getting some leaves yellowing, some leaves seem to have shrunk instead of being large.

I'll take a few photos and will post them up here by Friday.

I may have over fertilised them or over watered. Where I plated the passionfruit vine the soil was clayish so I dug gypsum into it to help break the clay. Have been nuturing this vine for 2 years now.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
16th November 2011 11:03pm
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Pauline says...
Hi everyone, so interested in all your posts. I have had a problem with my passionfruit plant for the last two seasons. Both years it has flowered well but the flowers are being eaten and then fall off. Have sprayed with Mavrik but don't want to spray the flowers too much because of the bees. Any suggestions. Vine is growing really well and would be lots of fruit if they would stay on. Im getting desperate! Thanks Pauline
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Pauline6
Whangarei, New Zealand
17th November 2011 8:05am
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Melissa says...
Hi Au0rey,

The Nelly Kelly (the second lot of photos is all one vine) I'll take some more photos and post later; I actually thought I'd killed it with kindness last year..... and removing too many leaves! but it's come back.

I've trained it along a north facing brick wall with timber battens, attached to the battens is plastic mesh (bought from Bunnings) I wouldn't go with mesh again if doing over as the vine grows in behind and gets tangled and is hard to prune. I've tried to stop the branches from growing behind the mesh and keep it in front to make yearly tidying easier.

I planted the Misty Gem - it only gets a small space on the garden wall; it is to the right of the kids swings A frame in the first lot of photos. It's runners got away from me over the autumn/winter period and had merged/migrated into the Nelly Kelly's domain, in Spring (late September) I took to it and pruned it back, and all its growth across the Nelly Kelly - their was no fruit; It doesn't like being hand pollinated; I can't work out how to get the Misty Gem to set fruit; as it has tonnes of flowers and still growing more buds to date. I've tried hand pollinating with the same paint brush I use on the Nelly Kelly; the flowers wither and die; I've tried removing the [things with pollen on them - can't remember the proper name] and wiping them on the other bits - can't remember that name either LOL and it doesn't seem to like that either; there is a couple of fruit on the vine, I don't know how they've set as we do not have any bees.

The section under the pergola is trained along fencing wire thread through "vine eyes" again bought from Bunnings. There is a couple of rows of wire and one on the outside edge of the pergola. It grows fine under the shaded roof - although the branches at the very top get a bit burnt from the heat of the roof, but most of them now hang down.

I'm not really sure how old the vine is, possibly 3-5 yrs old, last year was the first year I took over tending to it and was a bit to loving and thought I'd done too much! Though last year was also the first year we got a decent amount of fruit; hand pollinating help with that.

When we planted this vine, we planted 2 or 3 others and they never grew so they were removed last year. It is a grafted vine and this one has never put out any suckers; one of the others did but I just used to pull them out and I haven't had any since removed the other "dead" vines last spring.

Melissa
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
17th November 2011 9:12am
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

As promised in my previous reply to you, here are the photos.

Numbered #1 through to #10.

There are some flower buds still forming and others have dropped off after flowering. I should have about 160 passionfruit on that vine but not to be...Also noticed not one bee, only ants.

Some leaves on the bottom of the vine are now smaller and larger leaves are at top of vine.

Maybe there is a bug on that plant that I can't see or some other mineral or trace element difficiency?

Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2

Picture: 3

Picture: 4

Picture: 5

Picture: 6

Picture: 7

Picture: 8

Picture: 9

Picture: 10
  
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Peter1
Brisbane
17th November 2011 10:54pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter,
Sorry 'bout that. The Condys spray/wetter is to help the vine produce fruit. The Pyrethrum spray/wetter was to get rid of the ants, if you wanted to :-)

There's heaps of good 'wetters' out there: Kenwet, Spreadmax, Agral, Activator (what I use).

By the look of your vine it has been getting too much Nitrogen, try giving it some extra Sulphate of Potash, old manure and mulch. Keep the mulch away from the vine.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
18th November 2011 7:40am
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Original Post was last edited: 18th November 2011 7:46am
amanda says...
That's interesting Peter. I would have thought the vine would be heaps bigger for 2yrs old - but maybe it's the variety - I have not heard anything about Pink cheeks before. eg: my 2yr old vines are easily 2m high by 6m wide (4 varieties) in full sun.

Which way is the vine facing? (eg: does the carport run east/west?) Is getting sun all day?
It certainly looks healthy so I doubt it's a fertiliser problem - and you have given it trace elements so it should be ok. It doesn't look like it is suffering from red spider mite - are u happy that's what they are? Are they just on the lower leaves?

I would be tempted to clear away a lot more of that grass out and along the vine and dump some good manure there, a little potash - and then stop feeding it for awhile - just water it. It shouldn't need watering twice a day - every couple of days should be good (although yours seems happy enough) P'fruit hate being waterlogged...but it would have died if it was unhappy.

Have u tried hand pollinating? Bees usually adore passionfruit flowers. Maybe plant some lavender or rosemary, Thai basil or such near it - to attract the bees into your garden.

Apparently some vines may be a bit self sterile - some folk have had problems with Big Boppa for eg. I don't know how this works and it shouldn't really happen with everyday passionfruit - it's a rip off. Too inbred maybe?! :D

You might have more luck when the weather starts to warm up more though. Not sure what your temps are (although I still get pollination over winter with my sunshine special - but I have tonnes of bees)

I'd give hand pollination a go (on fresh flowers) and see if it even works?

You may need to look at a different variety if all else fails :-( I have not been able to get the regular purple passionfruit (Nellie Kellie) going here at all - it's just too hot for it. But I have great success with panamas and some other more tropical varieties (so it's not me! lol)

Let us know how u go..? (and manure is low nitrogen - but don't use chook poo)

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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
18th November 2011 10:39am
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Jason says...
You guys must be pro passionfruit growers, mines about the size of Peters after 10 years :S
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Jason
Portland
18th November 2011 1:22pm
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BJ says...
Peter, are you able to create a little garden bed along the edge of your carport, underyour PF vine? If you plant bee attracting plants there, you'll increase the chances of pollination. I've never had much luck growing them on smaller trellises. Mine grow up a big crepe myrtle, which attracts the pollinators. The height also puts it into the flight path of many flying insects. You'll have to entice them down to your vine.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
18th November 2011 1:30pm
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amanda says...
Well I have to get in on the picture act too now! ;D here are my pride and joys...

Pic 1 is Panama Gold (3.7m high fence) - it has been a bit sick but coming good now it has an extra dripper added.

Pic 2 is Sunshine special - there are two grape vines in there somewhere (oops!) about 1.5m H but 10m long (maybe the birds won't find the grapes this year!?)

Pic 3 is Big Red on the 3.7m fence - she's off over the side now...

Pic 4 is my beloved Pan Red - all three sides (2m high wall) although she has covered up my water fountain, picture windows, honeysuckles et all and is threatening to take over the BBQ (so hubby is itching to hack into her..lol)

(ps - I pinch out the growing tips on the longer vines when the vine is young)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2

Picture: 3

Picture: 4

Picture: 5

Picture: 6
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
18th November 2011 3:33pm
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Original Post was last edited: 18th November 2011 3:43pm
amanda says...
My best tip for passionfruit is sun, sun, sun :) Especially if u don't live in the tropics or where the ambient temps are warm.

They are warmth/sun lovers so they will always head to the sun - which is annoying if it's on your neighbours side of the fence or your carport roof top - cos that's where the most fruit will end up being :-(

Love your pics Melissa - u are dedicated! :) That misty gem sounds a bit like the Big boppa and Pink cheeks maybe? With all that effort I would have thought u would have had some success - especially as u already have with your others. I wonder if others are having the same problems..?

P'fruit perform beautifully on an overhead pergola - they get max sun and the fruit hangs down underneath. A good option for cooler climates.
It's tricky tho - as many modern suburban blocks don't have enuf room for a vine that's cranking..

Peter - I have never heard of ants milking red spider mites.....? Is it worth taking an example down to your local nursery and getting it checked out maybe? Ants usually milk scale and aphids.
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
18th November 2011 8:12pm
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amanda says...
PS : Just took a pic of the root system of a healthy P'fruit vine - this is only 1cm below the soil and about 1.5 m out from the trunk..! So very shallow and very spreading - that gives lots of clues as to how to feed and water them..?

Head in the sun, feet in the shade too..
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
  
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
18th November 2011 9:27pm
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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Ok, I'll see how it goes. I'll source a bottle of wetting agent from one of the local nurseries where I reside.

I'll use more liquid potash and definetly need to get a measuring cup as last time I may have used too much concentration of liquid potash.

I always keep mulch away from the roots

I took some leaves to uni to check under the microscope and yep , found some dead red spider mites. I'll upload some images on here. My apologies if they are not clearer.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
19th November 2011 11:39pm
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Wazzbat says...
Peter - Wetting agent is cheaper at your local supermarket. I have seen it in Coles and IGA stores. The brand is Earth Choice. It's a washing up liquid that is Grey Water safe and I have had good results (No plant damage). Get the small bottles which are the concentrate ones. I find they are better than the bigger (non concentrated) ones. I reckon it works better than the nursery/hardware stocked products and it works out cheaper!
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
19th November 2011 11:46pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Yep, well I'll be doing that, that is clearing the grass from the area. Yes, the carport does run east to west.

The passionfruit vine does get sun but could ot say if its full 8 hours or so. There are some large trees on the nature strip and also on the western side of the fence line, this could have a bearing on sunlight.

Yes, I did have heaps of red spider mite but killed most of them with a suphur based solution for mites.

There use to be a woodlands accross the road where I am that had lots of bees but now its a retirement village of sorts.

I'm going to dig the ground and place more gypsum in and plants some bee attracting flowers / herbs as you suggested. Also going to get some cow manure from the bush out west, past Beaudesert or take a run to east Toowoomba and see a cow cockey.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
19th November 2011 11:48pm
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Peter says...
BJ,

Sorry, but no can do placing anything on the otherside of the vine as its all cement. the old bloke does not want anything that creeps up walls as such.

I'll see how I go with bee attracting flowers.

Peter
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Peter1
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19th November 2011 11:51pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

yeah I'm going to do that on Sunday (tomorrow) so they can have a look.

I'll take a photo of the root system, The root is mainly one trunk and also shallow, i might have disrurbed it when airing the soil when mixing in the fertliser and trace elements a few weeks ago. Peter
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20th November 2011 12:08am
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amanda says...
So Peter - is the carport roof on the North or south side of the vine..?
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
20th November 2011 5:56pm
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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

I managed to obtain a small bottle of Searles Spredmax for $10.00. I'll go to Coles and Woolies to check out that Earth Choice diswashing liquid.

Probably is cheaper. Thanks for the tip.

Peter

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Peter1
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20th November 2011 10:15pm
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Peter says...
Amanda,

The carport roof?

The vine is on the Northern side of the carport, cant shift it as it's permanent.

I found 3 flowers opened so I used a cotton bud to pollinate the stigma since there are no bees around.

I have already lost a lot of flowers, they have opened, closed and wilted and dropped of the vine.

I've dug the soil with a weeding fork to aerate and additional fertiliser as well as trace elements and watered it in.

Peter
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Peter1
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20th November 2011 10:21pm
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Original Post was last edited: 20th November 2011 10:21pm
amanda says...
Peter - maybe u could chuck a couple of posts/star pickets in the lawn and run some mesh out to them for the vine to scramble over..? (horizontally, and then also away from the car port) It would get heaps more sun and have lots more room. The posts can be easily removed if u move.

As the sun shifts higher for summer the vine may get even less sun...

Your vine looks really healthy - it's not indicating it lacks anything.

I am actually quite slack with mine, to be honest. I put a lot of my success down to full sun and tough love :) You shouldn't need to fuss over them too much.

Personally I don't agree with some of the literature on how to raise passionfruit. I think they quote far too much Nitrogen.
I have never used the high level of Nitrogen quoted in some texts.
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amanda19
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20th November 2011 10:57pm
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Melissa says...
Hey Peter,

Don't disturb the root system too much; they don't like it....

Just clear a garden bed for your vine; I don't have anything planted in the garden bed my vines are growing in apart from a Gum Tree in the corner; which was there before I planted the second vine last year.

I've got a good inch or two of mulch; I put down Dynamic Lifter Fruit & Flower under the mulch & then just water in my soluble fertilisers (Seasol & Sulphate of Potash)

Don't be disheartened over the flowers you've lost; I recon I've lost over 100; and I'd say Ive got approx 100-150 fruit now on the vine, and its still setting.

When you are hand pollinating you won't get 100% success but you should start to see fruit setting, as early as the 2nd day.

If you don't get success with and pollinating maybe it's like my Misty Gem; it doesn't like being hand pollinated; atleast not with the paint brush I use on the Nelly Kelly Black.

Let us know how you go.

Melissa
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
20th November 2011 11:15pm
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amanda says...
Have a look at pic 5 above..that's a fig tree growing with my vine - it hasn't slowed either of them down a bit ;-)
The fig helps to keep the P'fruit vine root run cool and shady. I even leave all the weeds around my big red for the same reason...(pic 3) I get literally 100's of great fruit off these vines.

Don't spoil them too much..
(that's my 2 cents worth now.. :)
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
21st November 2011 12:13am
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Melissa says...
Hey Amanda,

I wasn't saying that growing anything was bad; I just don't so I can find the fruit and that when I fertilise it goes to the passionfruit vine and not weeds etc....

I was more trying to point out that disturbing the roots by forking in the fertiliser isn't a very good idea as they don't like that very much.

M
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
21st November 2011 6:07am
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amanda says...
Agree Melissa :) The roots are very fine and shallow aren't they. Breaking them may invite disease also :-(
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amanda19
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21st November 2011 10:42am
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Peter says...
Hmmm, I hope I have not disturbed the roots too much
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Peter1
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Peter says...
I hand pollinated three flowers today, too much wind so dont know if the transfer worked. I noticed those pesky black ants going around the flower and looked like taking away the pollen to be consumed.

Sprayed the ground and surrounding area with Surface Spray "Baygon" to control those black ants.

I have a sneak suspicion the reason why some of my leaves are curling and turning yellowish is due to spraying the leaves with water mixed with penetrator plus pinch of condies crystals (Potassium Permanganate)on a hot day and not late in the evening or pre dawn.

Peter
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21st November 2011 10:09pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter, when you say 'penetrator', do you mean a 'wetter'? Please do not use any soap based product with Condys. Yes, best to spray in the evening :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
22nd November 2011 7:50am
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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

I think I have caused damage to my vine. Unfortunately I purchased the wrong product. I used Searles Penetraide RE WETTING LIQUID mixed with water and pinch of Condys crystals.

I applied this to the vine during the day instead of evening.

I have taken a few leaves off the vine and have scanned them for your perusal.

I have only just purcahsed spreadwell and have nt used it yet.

They are discoloured and looked like ready to die.

Let know what reckon.

Cheers, Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Peter1
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Brendan says...
G'day Peter,
Doesn't look good, I'd say the wrong wetting agent caused it.
I can see tiny whitish spots on your leaves, they're not bugs are they?
Have a look at this site: http://www.annettemcfarlane.com/diseaseID.htm
Btw, too much Condys is not good either. It just has to colour the water.
I'd spray with Seasol now to help the vine, and give it some gypsum around the root system. That should help.
Another site to look at http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2010/06/30/2940831.htm
Amanda might have some ideas as well.
Just Googled Searles Penetraide, it's a soil wetter, not a wetting agent :-(
http://www.searle.com.au/Watermanagement.html
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
23rd November 2011 7:41am
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Original Post was last edited: 23rd November 2011 8:08am
Wazzbat says...
Hopefully some regular water and a bit of seasol should bring it back to life?

I just hand pollinated some flowers yesterday. It's the first season I should get fruit (young vines) but I didn't want to leave it to the bees just in case they don't do the job. I want to give them every chance I can.

They are due for a drink of Potash and Seasol I think?
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
23rd November 2011 8:14am
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amanda says...
Now that the hot weather has arrived I am expecting my panama vines to commence their serious flowering. The sunshine special has been already at it for about 2 months now (it has cooler climate purple genes in it, I would guess)

Peter - your vine is going to become plethoric if you keep mucking about with it.. :-( Get some bags of good manure and get that onto the ground - it will go a long way to fixing/buffering any damage u have done.
There is no point adding gypsum to clay based soils if u aren't prepared to add organic matter also. Both are needed to improve clayish soils.

Clay based soils have better levels of potassium than sands - so maybe ease up on this for now - you have likely added enough for the time being.
Seasol would be good.

Can u bang in the star pickets like I mentioned above...?

If u spray Baygon on the ground u can expect to lose your good soil bugs too.

I am on sandy loam which retains potassium poorly and I only give my vines potash twice a year!
They get the rest from some rooster booster and manure - these are slow release fert's which suit the vine very well - and with less risk of burning.

I hope this helps - and the vine should recover from the burning provided u don't put anything more on it (as it's stressed now - so be gentle with it) :)
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
23rd November 2011 10:55am
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amanda says...
PS Peter - this is a leaf I just picked off my most prolific vine - if it gives u any reassurance!? :)

It's an older leaf and I will get around to doing something about it when I get a chance. The vine is flowering and setting fruit no problems...but it will really get going further into summer cos it's a Panama. (it's the vine in my pics 4,5 and 6 above..?)

I am not bothered by this deficiency much - it happens every year...the vine is in very active growth and I know the organic matter already present in the soil will eventually supply what the vine needs, in due course.

As I am a bit slack and I will likely just give it some trace elements - it will need them soon enough anyway. It's a "mobile" element deficiency - as the vine is taking from the old leaves to give to the new growth - and the flowers :) ...so it's not urgent that I address it. If it were a potassium deficiency - then yes - that's more pressing. Your vine does not have a potassium deficiency - trust me :)

Once the crop has 'set' then I will feed the vine/s with some more manure and a little potash. Then just lots and lots of water to fill the fruit! (and because the vines are so huge now - they have a massive leaf area to transpire thru too..) I have never pruned them so that part is my own fault. But I reckon - more new growth = more fruit at least?! yum.

I accidentally left the sprinkler going on it all night a cupla weeks ago...(about 10hrs) so I have likely flushed some goodies away! oops....

They are so much tougher than what people give them credit for sometimes.

I will be really interested to know if yours picks up the flowering pace this summer - and then - if it can pollinate naturally (and if not - thru hand pollination) If it can't do these things then I would actually dump it and get a variety that is a known performer for your area.

I would not get pollination on my white sapotes without ants. Bush flies pollinate my capulin cherry! All sorts of insects are attracted to flowers - and yes I get ants on my passionfruit flowers sometimes too. Moths pollinate dragon fruit....Keep an open mind ;-)

I have now exhausted all my passionfruit growing knowledge for u now Peter! lol. I adore these fruit so I have really studied them over most of my life! :)
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amanda19
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23rd November 2011 9:21pm
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Julie says...
amanda, that looks very like magnesium deficiency. Then again, manganese def can look quite similiar.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
23rd November 2011 9:46pm
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amanda says...
Yea Julie - I am thinking manganese cos it's growing in and around a limestone wall...? I usually need to give it some iron sulphate in winter too. It certainly doesn't hold the vine back in any real way!

I suspect my vines grow so well cos they know just how much love them! ;-)
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amanda19
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23rd November 2011 10:18pm
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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Yep, sure did make a big error, it's a learning curve which I wont repeat.

I've got Seasol, will be applying that tonight

Tiny white spots? I dont think they are bugs, might be residue from red spider mite I was treating with a mitecide at the time from a nursery, contains wettable sulphate.

I'll check uner a strong micrscope at uni tomorrow and see if I can get a clear picture and upload it here.

I'll spray it with seasol as well as give it a drink in seasol.

Also will be adding manure to the area during next few days. See how it goes,.

Thanks fo the links, I'll check it out. Peter
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Peter1
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23rd November 2011 10:56pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Thanks for your advice and yes I will be using Seasol tonight and will be placing manure around the roots of the vine in the next day or two.

As well as additional gypsum.

I did not spray baygon on the ground where the vine roots are, I sprayed on the concrete paths and support columns of the carport

Unfortunately no can do with Star pickets, old bloke said let it grow on the roof. I'll consult with him a bit more about this later this week.

I have seen your leaf and still looks more healthier than mine due to my stuff up.

As I said to Brendan, its all a learning curve. Peter
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23rd November 2011 11:04pm
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amanda says...
It looks like it wants to go to the roof Peter :-O That's not what u want tho. It will likey fry up there and any fruit will be hard to get to.

I tried to grow a vine over my corrugated iron shed twice - it fried and died every summer! So yea - it's a learning curve 4 sure..

No offence - but it's common problem with folk planting these vines in a less than ideal spot - have done it myself :) And they must have lots of room when they are on the boil - or be pruned to contain them.

Other than extending something out from the posts..? Maybe one of those wall clothes lines..??

I sympathise tho - it's hard when u are renting.
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amanda19
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23rd November 2011 11:35pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Yes I know what you mean, it's not ideal going to the top of the roof.

I'll have a chat with the old bloke and see if I can get a consensus.

Wall clothes lines, el-cheapo brand might be the shot also.

What would be the ideal good manure to use on the vine?

Peter

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Peter1
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24th November 2011 7:32am
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter,
Composted cow manure is hard to beat. Chicken manure contains too much nitrogen and makes your vine grow like mad, but can actually hinder it fruiting.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
24th November 2011 7:44am
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Julie says...
Brendan, what is the difference between a soil wetter and a wetting agent? They sound the same to me.
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Julie
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24th November 2011 8:07pm
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Peter says...
Thanks Brendan,

I've uploaded images taken via a camera microscope of the underside of my passionfruit leaf.

Ist images are of the red spider mite with eggs

The second set is of recent. The white dots that may have looked like eggs or bugs is residue from a bug wash I had applied some time ago.

Amanda, I have spoken to the old bloke and I'll be placing 3 star pickets about 5 ft out from the carport and will use a roll of thinwire from Bunnings it has large square mesh to allow the fruit to hang down from above.

The star pickets are long but will be about 7ft tall once firmly driven with additional support welded in position.

I dont know whether thin wire would be ok as I'm trying to reduce surface and radiant temperature spread. Maybe large square plastic might be appropriate.

Here are the photos.

Cheers, Peter
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24th November 2011 10:38pm
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amanda says...
Great pics Peter! Wire should be ok - mine grow over ringlock fencing wire no prob's. If u use plastic just make sure it's not going to sag with the weight of your revitalised vine!? :)

Agree with Brendan - cow poo good. I am really surprised about the mites...bugs love the weak, sappy growth that comes from over feeding with nitrogen - and will also attack plants under stress more readily too. I get these mites on my Cape Goosberries (only) they are a pain. I use a strong jet of water to wash them off.

There is Naturasoap (Yates) and Neem that can help with them - and they are safe.

What kind of lab do u work in?
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
24th November 2011 11:14pm
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Wazzbat says...
Fold out washing line? What a good idea. Just need to make sure the lines are nice and tight. Not sure how much they cost? Might be cheaper to buy some pipe and a welder? Will have to have a think about that?
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
25th November 2011 8:02am
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Brendan says...
Hi Julie, wetting agents are specifically made to help garden sprays stick to the plants foliage, as some/most are very hard to 'wet'.

Soil wetter helps plant roots grow by removing the surface tension of the soil, allowing water and the roots of plants to penetrate the soil easier. It also means less watering is required.

They should NEVER be switched. Soil wetter, if sprayed on plant foliage, can damage plants.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
25th November 2011 9:01am
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amanda says...
Very close in names tho aren't they..? Personally I never use wetting agents in foliar feeding - only with glyphosate (round up) I just use a little bit of molasses as a sticking agent for foliar feeds...
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25th November 2011 11:58am
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Yes, nice imagery hey!

I was looking at some wire at Bunnings a bit costly for a 10 metre roll so I'll be sourcing wire roll from another place...shop around as they say.

I'll be welding some support rods up top of the starpickets for the wire to secure itself...bit like an arch but not an arch. maybe 4 or 5 foot out from the carport support column .

I've studied marine biology at Uni, completed honours in 2008. Have been doing some field work at Wivenhoe Dam (Icthyoplankton sampling)for SEQWater.

Yes, I have also purchased Neem and will only use that if the need arises.

Will be placing cow manure around the vine tomorrow (Saturday).

Cheers, Peter
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Peter1
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25th November 2011 11:48pm
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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

Retractable Clothes line might not be viable for what I will be doing. Star picket posts ,light metal boxing for top support and possible side to secure wire.

Meal box will be welded in situ. I've got a portable Gas Mig Welder , only good for welding metal up to 5mm thick.

Cheers, Peter
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26th November 2011 9:27am
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Wazzbat says...
It's a pity you're in Brisbane Peter. If you lived close by, I'd have to get you around to weld some kind of frame up for me ;-) I might have to rig something up for my vines I think?
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Vic Park WA
26th November 2011 3:44pm
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amanda says...
Sounds good Peter! Lets hope this vine rewards u soon! :)
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amanda19
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26th November 2011 8:35pm
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Peter says...
Hi Wazzbat,

Would give you a hand if I could.

Amanda and Brendan,

I went to the nursery this arvo and had my soil's pH tested. I went down 10 - 15cm to get some soil to hand in.

The soil is acidic where my vine is growing, it shows the pH as 4.5.

I was told the pH for passionfruits should be 6.5

Maybe that might be a reason for some of the leaves turing yellowish and lack of pollinators for fruit.

I have sprinkled 2 cups of garden lime and watered in. It takes 6 weeks for the effect to take place.

Boron might also be needed to assist in holding the flower on the stem more longer for fruit development.

I don't know if there is any truth to this but just what I've been told this arvo.

Soil pH is a concern.

Any thoughts on the above?

Peter
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Peter1
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26th November 2011 10:17pm
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Wazzbat says...
Had a few flowers fall off already :-(

Haven't seen any signs of setting fruit yet. Fingers crossed still though. Looks like there are a heap more flowers on there way yet! Especially on the Sunshine Special.

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Wazzbat
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26th November 2011 10:39pm
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Original Post was last edited: 27th November 2011 7:36am
Brendan says...
Yes Peter, 4.5 pH is way too low. Pity you used lime, as Dolomite would've been better, it contains calcium & magnesium. Magnesium helps leaves stay green.
Have you given it any sulphate of potash? That will help harden up the tissue of the plant.
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Brendan
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27th November 2011 7:55am
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Original Post was last edited: 27th November 2011 8:03am
Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Good photo of the flower and leaf. Would that be a Nellie Kellie?

I was having thoughts between using Garden Lime or Dolomite. Garden Lime might act a bit quicker but will apply Dolomite on Mondsy.

I have not applied Sulfate of Potash (Liquid Potash) as yet but will doing so later this evening.

What frequency and dosage would you recommend?

I have the star pickets in the ground, will be placing top frame for wire support over the next few days and will then train or divert the vine to grow onto it instead of the carport roof.

Peter
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Peter1
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27th November 2011 8:27am
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Brendan says...
Hello Peter,
No, not Nellie Kellie, just one that the birds / possums have grown for me:-) There's heaps of wierd passionfruit growing in the bush here.

I'd use powdered sulphate of potash myself, but the liquid Potash is very good, but CAN be overdone. Please follow the instructions on the bottle :-)
Has you vine picked up a bit?
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Brendan
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27th November 2011 8:40am
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amanda says...
It was a pretty healthy looking vine for pH 4.5 Peter. From earlier posts you say you have given it liquid potash, gypsum, fertilisers and trace elements. All of these things are acidic. Potassium permangenate is a strong oxidiser, in addition.

It would be interesting to see what the pH of some virgin soil nearby is - as all the amendments you have added has likely altered the pH of the soil around your vine now.

Now you are adding lime and dolomite to try and fix this. Your poor vine!?

My advice was to give it lots of manure and more sun. It still is :)


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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
27th November 2011 11:10am
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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Still having yellow leaves, seems more so. I'll know in about another 2 weeks or so.

Amanda,

Lime and Dolomite should correct the acidity pH back to 6.5.

Nothing has ever grown in that spot accept a horrible Bouganvilea (very sharp and long needle thorns) The thorns even stay sharp when the branch is dead. The only way to fix that is to burn it.

The soil has always been poor

Cant give it any more sun unless one removes the very big trees outside the fence boundary (Council's domain)

Gypsum is needed to break up the clay. Clay is approx 25cm below the soil surface.

Roots of the vine dont like to be waterlogged otherwise they die.

Vine also has a good layer of cow manure on the surface and well watered.

However some of the leading leaves are crinkly. I'll pick a couple tomorrow sometime and scan it and upload it here.

I've never seen anything like it before. It might recover yet.

There does not seem to be much known about the pH specifics for "Pink Cheeks".

From what I have read they are suppose to be self pollinating.

I've seen the stamen covered in pollen when the flower opened only to finf no pollen afterwards and after the flower shrivels up, the sigma looks black and dark brown. definitely something wrong with the one I have.

Peter
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Peter1
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27th November 2011 10:34pm
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amanda says...
Yes lime will do this Peter - but with these kind of sudden pH changes it can be quite detrimental to the plant. It doesn't quite work that simplistically.

All the best with your vine :)
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
27th November 2011 11:20pm
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Peter says...
Yes Amanda I thought it might so I'm going to plant another cultivar. Maybe Nellie Kellie or Panama Gold, whichever is sweeter and has more pulp than rind.

Here are the latest photo's of leafs.

Young Leaf is relatively fresh but has signs of stress. Leaf #4 and #5 is the resultant from spraying water mixed with Penetraide and bit more of a pinch of condies crystals..Potassium Permanganate

Peter
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Peter1
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28th November 2011 10:28pm
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Panama Gold is a fabulous cultivar - in its first year it clambered fifteen feet into a Paulownia tree and must have dropped a couple of hundred of the most delicious sweet fruit at our feet. There is so much juice you need to cut the top off like a boiled egg instead of cutting in half so as not to waste any. Interestingly the pulp drops straight out without adhering to the rind, just like an egg.
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TyalgumPhil
Murwillumbah
28th November 2011 11:01pm
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Peter says...
Hi Phil,

Panama Gold, Yes, I have heard of it being so but wasn't sure about the pulp.

I might plant that one in amongst the trees. Is there any special care or needs required for that particular cultivar?

Peter
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Peter1
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29th November 2011 7:42am
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amanda says...
Hmnnn...I agree with Phil..panama gold is lovely! A proven variety too Peter :) No special care needed and should fruit well for u in Brisbane.

I also love my sunshine special - it's like a cross between a panama and a purple (to me) it still has a lot of that intense passionfruit flavour of a purple - but is sweeter (not as sweet as a pan gold though) They both bear really well for me over here too - so that's a good sign.

ps - sorry to see your latest pics :-( You could always cut the vine back, keep the water up to it, and see if recovers...? If the roots are not 'burnt' then it may be ok.
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
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Original Post was last edited: 29th November 2011 10:37am
BJ says...
Peter, if you have a nice tree to grow it up, go for that. I have my PG growing up a large crepe myrtle. I rarely give it anything and it fruits more than I could have imagined. Beware though - after eating a few hundred and turning more into jam, marmelade, sauce and cordial, you will probably start to get a bit tired of them. You probably wont have enough friends to give them to. At this stage a number will find their way into mulch/compost/chookfeed heaps and will later come up like weeds.

A testiment to their hardyness is that I've had a seedling PG pop up in utter crap dust in an absolute rain shaddow.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
29th November 2011 10:59am
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
And best of all, it is particularly self-fertile. I started hand pollinating the first few flowers but then it set huge crops without any help from me. Some of the branches drooped down out of the tree towards the ground laden with fruit, easily accessed and they drop at the perfect moment of ripeness. It is also easy to grow from cuttings, I have been amazed at how quickly some excess side shoots take root.
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TyalgumPhil
Murwillumbah
29th November 2011 11:09am
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Peter says...
Hi BJ, Amanda and Phil.

Well, I'm going for broke and have purchased both Panama Gold and Panama Red.

Just to be safe I'll dig in some gypsum and mix the clay soil together so it wont shock the roots when they reach that section and wont touch it , apart from good fertiliser and water and some mulch around the main root.

Just have to erect the frame proper, been letting it lapse as its been too hot to weld outdoors, might wait until it cools down a bit this arvo.

Only using 8mm rod to act as top support for placing plastic coated thin wire and half way down the sides.

I'll take a photo of it and upload when it's done. Cheers, Peter
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Peter1
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29th November 2011 12:33pm
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
OK don't forget to stand back - they'll take off before your eyes.
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TyalgumPhil
Murwillumbah
29th November 2011 12:48pm
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amanda says...
hehe Phil :D Peter might need to invest in a machete with both a pan red and gold...? Hope u have a bit room there Peter!?
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
29th November 2011 1:56pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

I'm all for the challenge.

I just done a bounce test on the rod I was going to use for the roof (Top) and decided to upgrade it to a concrete Reo-bar 12mm thick, a few welds and then the wire. It should not fall with all that lovely fruit :)

I'll have the room to let it profuse :)

Still seem to get a few more yellow spotty leaves on the other vine. Hmmm, very disheartening.

How often do I need to reapply lime and sulfate of potash for?

Peter



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Peter1
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29th November 2011 10:36pm
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Melissa says...
Had my 2nd passionfruit ripen and fall from the vine :-P the first was just larger than a grape and had one seed in it LOL and the second was slightly larger; about the size of a walnut! But was full of seeds. Was a little tart but I like them like that. hopefully they'll sweeten a little as it gets a bit warmer. There growth must have been stunted when I did some "tidying"of the vine late September.... The rest are quite large. Most seem to have grown full size. When I get my first true (full sized) fruit; I'll take a photo and post it....

Melissa
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
29th November 2011 10:48pm
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Peter says...
Melissa,

That would be good to see.

Peter
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30th November 2011 12:13pm
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amanda says...
Go Melissa! Is this the misty gem or NKellie?
Peter - if the vine is still looking really sick it might be best to give it a rest until you see it shooting new healthy growth..?

Are the leaves burnt all over, like in your last pics...?

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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
30th November 2011 5:33pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda

Hmmm, the vine brings a bit of a tear to my eye.

There still appears to be some leaves that still have those burnt or see through spots on them.

It is still producing more flower like projectiles, leaves still seem a bit crinkly. I'm just giving it a bit of water on a daily basis.

I've welded some metal support frames over the star pickets , using 40mm x 40mm angle iron plus 12mm and 8mm rods at the sides.

I'll post a pic of it tomorrow when I get the chance. I purchased 5 rolls of plastic coated trellis wire to use for the top and sides. I left the ends open so you can walk through and allow the ride-on mower to cut the grass underneath.

I'll take another photo when the wire is placed and secured. another two holes to dig, this time I'll go a bit deeper and wider and ensure enough gypsum is used to assist in breaking up the clay based soil.

Peter
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Wazzbat says...
Have you planted a replacement yet Peter? I have and will be planting at least one new vine every year so I will hopefully have PF for ever!!! That's the plan anyway but I haven't seen any fruit just yet?
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
1st December 2011 9:19am
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Melissa says...
Hey Peter; if I could do my passionfruit set up again :-) I would.

Google passionfruit trellis on the internet and have a look as some, better still on one of daley's forums there's a professional grower's pictures in (remind me Amanda) somewhere overseas.....

So if you can return the wire frames and get a roll of wire instead?

And you use posts on the ends in an A frame type set up but if the star pickets are well supported and one row of metal across the top, you train the vine up the the top bar and then nip out the growing tip and train two side laterals across the top wire, removing all other lower side laterals, this gives you a strong trunk and strong support at the top then you allow to grow from there: ie they grow and hang down by the weight of the fruit; much easier to prune when removing old growth.

I've had to put a wire at the top of my "plastic trellis" as it wasn't strong enough to support the weight of the vine, if I didn't have the trellis, my vine would grow behind it (as it is against a wall) - you wont' have that problem as yours is free standing.

I bought a roll of fencing wire from bunnings and used that - I went fairly heavy duty and my brother who I paid to do the "fix" for me - found it difficult to turn it back on itself at the ends but it is done.

I'll take some pictures this afternoon and post them.

Melissa
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
1st December 2011 9:37am
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Melissa says...
Hey Wazza; that's great to plant a new one every year if you've got the space :-) my yard is a big as you've seen in my pictures previously posted: ie the kids playground is in the middle of the yard; the steps up the the grass is also the middle. The passionfruit vine grows on the north facing fence and nothing grows on the south :-( as it is in shade most of the year. My yard is about the size of a postage stamp <-> I wish I had more space to plant more passionfruit vines but if you look after the one you've got and it is productive it will serve you well; I planted the Misty Gem as a transition vine as I thought I'd killed by being too kind last year thou this hasn't happened. This year, the misty gem has produced hundreds of flowers but only set 3-4 fruit and doesn't like being hand pollinated in any way shape or form: will try again next year, it's still producing flowers but still not setting any.

The Nelly Kelly is going great guns and just about not flowering anymore, no new buds, few flowers opening, 7 days of rain last week didn't help thou. I've read that the vines will continue to flower till the vine is at capacity ie all the fruit set it can support (is this what you've experience Amanda).

The small ripe fruit I had was the Nelly Kelly.

I didn't go for another Nelly Kelly as my transition because of OP's (other peoples opinions) ie growing suckers from the graft.

I've never had suckers from this vine, in some of my photos I think from last year, one of the 3 other vines I pulled out cause they failed to grow (thrive) did grow suckers but I just used to pull them out; and since I pulled the whole vine last year I've not had another problem....

The vine isn't too pretty above the graft:- the wood is a bit soft and scarred:- I think it was a fungal infection, I've dusted with Mancozeb & (the green one ;-P Copper something) and have only one fruit this year with "fungal spots" where as last year nearly all the fruit had them.

Melissa
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
1st December 2011 9:49am
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amanda says...
I can imagine Peter :-( make sure u check the pH of the soil B4 you plant the next ones....? Let us know what it is?

It's really hard to tell what's going on with it - it could be the mites (are they dead yet?) or it could be the sprays/fert's...

Maybe when some new leaves come thru when can re-visit it, if they don't look healthy?

(I have noticed that mine produce those "empty" flower stalks just before the vine starts to really flower. Don't know why they do that tho...)

Can't remember that pic Melissa..? These threads are so huge now!? :-O
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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
1st December 2011 10:11am
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Wazzbat says...
My Sunshine Special looks like it's about to go crazy with lots of flowers on the way! Yippee!
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
1st December 2011 11:17am
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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

I have purchased two cultivars but have not planted these into the ground as yet.

Melissa,

Yes, I hear what your'e saying but I'm on a shoe string budget these days, fence wire where I am costs a fortune.

5 metre plastic coasted wire will suffice at $10.00 per roll.

Frame is welded into place so I cant undo what's been done otherwise it's an expensive exercise.

Amanda,

The ground where I was going to plant the vine is hard as a rock, very dry underneath, as well as rocky and bit compacted type clay. I've already dug a whole.

I'll dig another hole tomorrow when there's more rain and check the soil's pH. I'll let you know what it will be.

Rain has prevented me from completing the frame. Wire needs to go on. I might build a wooden box 12" LxWxB and fill the bugger with good soil and cow manure.

Yes, this thread is getting big. Might have to start a new thread soon hey!!

Peter

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Peter1
Brisbane
1st December 2011 9:44pm
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Wazzbat says...
Interestingly, my little PF seed planting experiment is starting to produce results. I planted some seeds from a PF I bought from my local IGA back on the 11th Nov. In the last few days the seeds are starting to sprout and so far, it is even stevens between the ones I took the pulp off and the ones I left the pulp on. Will let everyone know how they go?

I'm not sure on the variety but if I had to have a guess, I'd say it was some kind of Panama? There are that many varieties now but it was smooth skinned with a light purple colour and almost silver coloured speckles through it. It was very sweet! I'm hoping I can get it to fruit in Perth?
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
3rd December 2011 9:34am
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amanda says...
I think it should Wazzbat? Really cold temps in Perth might make it look a little shabby in winter, if they persist, but I see no reason why it wouldn't fruit there...worth a try :) Sounds like a Panama Red from your description - it's all I have seen in the shops lately too...?

A friend planted some shop fruits and has two magnificent, prolific vines bearing a smallish, round yellow fruit - it's lovely and sweet and I have collected seed from that too :)
We have no idea if it's a 'variety' or not tho.
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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
3rd December 2011 12:07pm
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Wazzbat says...
Yeah - I thought red but when I googled, all the pictures of the reds I found were, funnily enough - red! Just did another google though and on second thoughts - I think you are right.
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
3rd December 2011 3:25pm
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amanda says...
Hey wazzbat (and Peter - see last) - it was the silver speckle that made me think Pan red - it's quite distinctive isn't it?
In the threads on the other side of the main page there is a pic of my pan reds in the milk crates...if it helps.

Mine do vary a bit in colour - some are even a greyish pink/red..others a bit yellowy - depending on whether they ripened inside the canopy or not, maybe...?

Was just reading a comment Sabrina Hahn made - that some varieties can take 2yrs to produce fruit. (She also said feed well - as they live fast and die young!? lol...)
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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
3rd December 2011 7:28pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda, Wazzbat, Brendan and Melissa and others.

Here is my frame I have buil for the new and old passionfruit vines to grow and seek the sun.

I had undertaken a pH test on the soil at 15cm deep and yep it's acidic pH is 4.5. The land I'm on has never been farmed and bacically not developed and poor soil so it appears.

I have invested in a large 50cm deep , round pot which I placed 16 Litres of potting mix, 1/2 a bag of broken down cow manure. This pot will have Panama Gold, the other pot will have panama red.

I too will seek out a couple of other varities of passionfruit, will try Sunshine Special and perhaps the odd Banana Passionfruit. I'm into sweet, not into tardy stuff these days.

Some of the leaves on the Pink Cheeks seem to be recovering but still too early to say.

My sister suggested to spray sulfate of potash mixed with water on the leaves and around the roots.

Don't know about that yet.

Any thoughts on this?

Peter
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Peter1
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amanda says...
Great job Peter! If you vine doesn't appreciate that then it deserves the sack! :D
That dirt is not very attractive is it..? Very poor in organic matter - the manure should help it a lot. Maybe some acidic clay folk can help here?

Personally I wouldn't spray anything on the leaves now if u can avoid it - except seasol/seaweed solution (which will help deter those mites etc)
Sulphate of potash is just potash (muriate potash is KCl - best avoided) Remember the sulphate will be acidic. Gypsum is calcium sulphate.

U have already added a lot of K+ - if u get some slow release fert like dynamic lifter (which has mid-level N) this will give your vine all it needs for awhile - with much less risk of burning.

Straw has very good levels of K+ - and is a handy mulch....? As it breaks down it will add OM to your soil and encourage microflora. Get some worms if u can....

Passionfruit love a good mulch - take it out 2m from the trunk - water and work this area. Then u can start working on getting that pH up a bit...fine Ag lime will work fastest.


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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
4th December 2011 10:36am
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Peter says...
Thanks Amanda,

I tend to agree with you about the vine.

I wont take the risk of spraying anything on the vine accept seasol solution. I'll get some dynamic lifter over the next few days and a bag of cane mulch, cant get any "straw mulch" around my way.

Amanda, when you say straw mulch is that the same as hay or lucerne?

Fine Ag lime is not stocked locally in nurseries.

I'll have to find an agricultural produce place for that.

Thanks for the advice on spreading.

Yep, the soil is bad so I'm using two 50 litre pots for the other cultivars, Panama Gold and Panama Red with 65kg of premium potting mix and some cow manure added.

Probably will put mulch on the top away from the main root.

Peter
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Peter1
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4th December 2011 10:14pm
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amanda says...
Hey Peter - sounds good :) Let us know how your Misty gem goes too? It's good to gather 'intelligence' on the varieties! :D
I can recommend a sunshine special - if your misty gem gives u no joy in the end.
Also this nice yellow my friend has - I will collect a heap of seeds from hers this season.
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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
5th December 2011 6:30pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

I think you might have the wrong Peter, I don't have Misty Gem, only Pink Cheeks with two recent cultivars...Panama Gold and Panama Red.

Will also try sunshine special.

Managed to get Agricultural Lime 25kg bag, felt like 50kg and a bale of straw.

Bbeen very windy where I am , straw nearly went flying off the soil, might have to use some fine aviary wire temporarily to ensure mulch does not blow away.

Unseasonal weather. I'm halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
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Peter1
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5th December 2011 10:50pm
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amanda says...
oops Peter - make that the Pink Cheeks! :)
Or a cupla house bricks dotted around the straw might be easier..? It should settle with a few waterings and a bit of rotting....

Fingers crossed for u! I am interesting in seeing how these new varieties go too...
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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
6th December 2011 11:43am
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Wazzbat says...
No flowers from my pink cheeks yet.
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
6th December 2011 4:33pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

No probs. all house bricks went long time ago, not even a besablock.

I've got some old fine wire mesh so will cut that to size to fit.

Pink Cheeks is still powering up, I've trained some of their growth onto the top frame, some new leaves look a bit healthier and have noticed some pre flowers starting to show.

There are quite a few precursor flower pods emerging so will see what happens this time.

Wazzbat,

Give it a bit more time, I think pink cheeks is very new cultivar and not much is known about it. Maybe the developers should have tested it a bit more before its' release to the public.

Peter
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Peter1
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6th December 2011 9:58pm
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Wazzbat says...
Hi Peter

I've let my Pink Cheeks grow up my neighbour's bottlebrush tree. Hopefully it can smother that bloody thing to death cause it's draining the life outta my soil! Go the Pink Cheek!!! I can't wait till they produce me some fruit. I wasn't expecting any this year though but you never know???
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
6th December 2011 10:23pm
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Hurley says...
HI, I have a passion fruit vine which started from a seedling 3 years ago and has since taken over a bit. It went onto the fence first and i placed trelasses across my parking at 10ft up to the far fence. Last year it took over these and made a 15 foot shade area long 8 wide and we got about 300 hundred fruit, my problem is this year the vines have go so big they cross the trelasses and now have taken over a 15 year old tree flamboyant tree and a curry leaf tree next to it, fruit is coming out again (a lot) I wanted to know if i must kill the passion fruit vines now or wait for the fruit to finish and then cut it back 50% or more and make a new path for them onto new fences? Any ideas welcome. THanks all.
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Hurley
Mauritius
7th December 2011 12:35am
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Wazzbat says...
Maybe just cut back a little bit now and do the rest later on after fruiting? Another 300+ fruit sounds pretty good to me. Well done!
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
7th December 2011 8:31am
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Peter says...
Looks like the pink cheeks have recovered alittle at this stage. Leaves have stopped yellowing or not as much as previously, Been some good soaking rain last few days and have noticed more flowers starting to emerge.

We will see this time if the buggers bear fruit.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
10th December 2011 10:05pm
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Wazza McG says...
I want to grow Sweet Granadilla, am I best to get a grafted variety or grow some true type from seed?

The area for growing is about 5 metres, how many plants do you recommend?

Do you have any other suggestions for me to consider before planting out?
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wazzamcg
Brisbane
11th December 2011 8:17am
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peter says...
hi warren,
iv never seen grafted ones.
daleys have them in production so you
should put an order in now.
only one plant for 5 metres.
make sure you have very well drained
soil.
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adelaide
11th December 2011 9:23am
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Peter says...
G'day Wazza,

Yeah, it will be nice to see this one.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
11th December 2011 11:28pm
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Peter says...
Ok, Ants are back, some ants are small black and some have a whitish bum.

Have a few flowers opened and blossoming above in gloris sunshine and couple in the shadows.

I might spray some seasol on these later but not on a hot day and will be done in the cooler evening.

I have heard from an agriculturalist that ants are not pollinators but do bring in aphids and scales and tend to milk those.

I'll check for any red spider mites soon and use appropriate spray / chemical.

Maybe I might yield some pink cheek passionfruit after all.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
15th December 2011 12:51am
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Wazzbat says...
Do you have any Bees around?

I finally got 4 fruits forming on my Blacks but I'm pretty sure they're the ones I have hand pollinated? It's worth a shot.

I would avoid deliberately wetting the flowers Peter. You can stuff the pollen up. My thoughts are that if the vine is looking healthy now and it's producing flowers then I wouldn't mess with it too much more. Just make sure it's got enough to drink and try pollinating by hand if there are no bees around. Try a few even if there are bees but tag the ones you pollinate. There is a pretty good vid on YouTube which shows how to hand pollinate!

I'm very interested to see how you go with the Pink Cheeks. I'm hoping you get a bumper crop and the fruits have an awesome flavour! That will give me something to look forward to.

Good Luck Peter!


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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
15th December 2011 8:21am
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glenn says...
I have ants on the passionfruit atm also . I also let a heap of Blackberry nightshade grow and have an explosion of ladybugs . Hopefully they will keep the mites etc under control .

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brisbane
15th December 2011 8:21am
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Wazzbat says...
And I wouldn't worry too much about the ants. I have ants on my vines too.
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
15th December 2011 8:23am
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Hurley says...
Thanks Wazz i'll take that into account, will let you know how it goes after pruning for next season etc, my passion are bright yellow btw if that makes any difference to how you prune ..
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Hurley
Mauritius
15th December 2011 8:41pm
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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

Ok, I'll leave the spray alone unless I see red spider mites as they tend to sap the life out of foilage.

Most of the flowers are out of reach for me as they are on top of the new wire frame I built.

There may be one flower I could access and yes I did see the youtube video on hand pollination of passionfruit using cottonbuds.

I might use a fine paint brush on mine this time to see if they will set this time.

See how it goes and will keep you posted.

Peter
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Peter1
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16th December 2011 11:49pm
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Wazzbat says...
I'm no expert by the way so you might be better off not listening to my advice =-)
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Wazzbat
Vic Park WA
17th December 2011 10:56am
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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

I'm no expert either but it's good to share information as to what works and what does not work and it's all trial and error on that Pink Cheeks.

Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year

Peter
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Peter1
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17th December 2011 10:54pm
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Kevin M says...
Hi, Just a newcomer. Could anyone out there tell me what the problem is with these two passion-fruit. There is a bunch just further along which are normal.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2
 
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kevin of Vict point qld
Victoria Point QLD
12th January 2012 2:15pm
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BJ says...
First thought was spotting bug, but second picture looks like scab.
http://www.annettemcfarlane.com/diseaseID.htm
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
12th January 2012 2:55pm
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amanda says...
I agree BJ.
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
13th January 2012 12:37am
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snottiegobble says...
Peter. that agriculturist is wrong! Any insect ( including ants) birds, mammals etc that travels from flower to flower of the same species for nectar is a pollinator.( providing the plant is not wind or rain pollinated say like sweetcorn! Yes, some species of ants will farm aphids & scale insects on plants, but not all!
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
13th January 2012 3:33pm
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Kevin M says...
Thanks for that, will attend to the problem.
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kevin of Vict point qld
Victoria Point QLD
13th January 2012 5:56pm
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Peter says...
Hello snottigobble,

Pink Cheeks is worse for wear, plenty of yellowing leaves, all flowers open and withered and has dropped off the vine.

The other two vines are kept in very large pots with their own potting mix, soil, hay and cow manure and are doing well...they are Panama Red and Panama Gold, Panama Gold seems to be outperforming Panama Red even though they have been planted both on the same day.

Vigerous v Non vigerous how odd .

Haveagoodweekend everyone

Peter
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Peter1
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15th January 2012 9:37pm
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amanda says...
Has anyone else had red spider mites on their passionfruit vine?

I still find it odd your vine has red spider mites Peter...they must be taking advantage of a plant in poor condition perhaps? I have only found them to like more soft leaf plants like tomatoes, for eg.

Best keep your panamas growing strong and healthy so they don't get them too :-( they can be hard to control without nasty chemicals.

I'd be tempted to chop the pink cheeks back severely and bin the prunings, treat what's left of the plant and the soil around it and see if u can get it going again.
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
16th January 2012 9:11pm
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Brendan says...
Hi all, here's my latest passionfruit plantings. They came from a 'wild' passionfruit I found growing in the bush.
They should be nearly black with sweet orange flesh, yum.
I planted two because there's a long barbwire fence for the trellis.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2
 
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
17th January 2012 8:22am
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amanda says...
Look at your lovely dirt Brendan! Im jealous! :D I have planted out a chance seedling that popped up in the old chook pen.
I have no idea what it will be - but thought I'd see - just for fun..?!
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
17th January 2012 12:09pm
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Brendan says...
Funny thing amanda, the dirt around my raised pot has 1 inch topsoil, then pure clay :-(
The dirt in the 'pot' is Searles Premium potting mix, some Super Growth fert and cow manure. You can tell there's probably too much Nitrogen in the mix, so I'll add some extra P & K fert later, when they grab the barb wire.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
18th January 2012 8:43am
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amanda says...
thats a lot of clay Brendan - will the passionfruit be ok with it?

(I should have planted out my whole orchard with passionfruit - they $2.50 each in the shops now!? crazy)
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
18th January 2012 11:58am
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Original Post was last edited: 18th January 2012 11:59am
Peter says...
Greetings Amanda and Brendan,

Pink cheeks is no good, plent of ants but no bees, I even done hand pollination

Panama Gold and Red seem to be vigerous.

I have no idea as to how long it will take for them to flower. I'll take a few pics and post sometime next week.

I'm trying not to overwater. Panama Gold seems to be screaming ahead of Panama Red.

I found out from the old fella that he planted a passionfruit vine, kellie nellie and it died first year, defintely something in that soil, he neglects fertliser and admits he does not have a green thumb.

Cost of passionfruit in the shops is criminal hey.

Chow for now. Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
18th January 2012 4:35pm
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Brendan says...
Hi amanda & Peter, have you got this Panama Perfection variety growing?
http://www.birdwoodnursery.com.au/passionfruit/

Looks pretty good.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
19th January 2012 7:25am
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amanda says...
Never heard of Panama Perfection Brendan. Bunnings had "pink cheeks" and "maxi gold" in yesterday...seems the breeding is going into overdrive now..?

I think I am more inclined to grow from seed from a proven performer these days. Although - u don't really have to wait that long to find out if u have a dud or not. That's the beauty of these vines.

I have stopped planting Brendan - because of the block being on the market. Although I am itching to try these new varieties! :D
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
19th January 2012 1:02pm
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amanda says...
It's all your fault Brendan!! Have just come home with a pink cheeks (and some other suspects too)
Cant'. Stop. Buying. Plants.

Arggh! lol...
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
19th January 2012 6:20pm
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Wazzbat says...
Did you see the Big Boppas or the Bananas at Bunnings Amanda?

No sign of flowers on my Pink Cheeks yet? Nor my Maxi Gold? I ended up with about 1 dozen or so fruit on my NK and Sunshine Special and no more flowers in sight? All the fruit are quite big and feel heavy but are still very green. Hopefully I don't have to wait too much longer for them to ripen.

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Wazzbat
 
19th January 2012 7:43pm
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amanda says...
Yes Wazzbat - they had Big Boppa - but I passed based on the feedback on this forum. I should try it - it likely just needs a pollinator, from what I can tell.

I am curious about the Maxi Gold...do u think it may just be another name for a Panama Gold? I have dragged this one home too :D

It would be good if they gave an outline of the species name/breeding origin etc, at least. I might give the grower a call...they are usually really enthusiastic and helpful.

I honestly think/feel that the different types of passionfruit flower when they are good and ready (all other things being equal)

I have min 20oC+ overnight temps for awhile now, and hot days....still my panamas are dragging their heels Wazzbat. I am betting they will flower and fruit towards autumn (again!) making pruning a real pain cos they will be carrying a load of fruit - and it will kill me to chop it off...and as usual - I won't. Should have done them in spring.

Hence my pan red is out of control now. I will be ruthless and prune late winter this year - for the panama only tho.

New growth = fruit.

How old/in ground have your pink cheeks and maxi gold been in Wazzbat? I wouldn't expect any action until their 2nd summer for flowers...?



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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
19th January 2012 8:47pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda, Brendan and Wazza,

I have not heard about the other variety mentioned Brendan.

At this stage I have not taken the axe or pruners to the Pink cheeks as yet, it's very disheartening to see it cut.

I have Panama Red and Gold climbing fast onto the wire trellis frame and yes it will start to intermingle with Pink Cheeks, I don't know if thats a good thing or not.

Yes, those two are a fast grower. I have placed straw (cut hay) as well as dolomite in the tub. I did read they require cow manure or sloe release fertliser to assist them through the growing period.

What type of slow release fertliser would be recommended?

I'll take some pics of the vines tomorrow and upload them.

With the Panama variety there are shoots / branches coming out and going wild, I have no ides if that's the way they grow or whether it needs to be pruned.

With the Panama Gold it stated fruit will come from new lateral shoots / branches. Question is does lateral mean growing horizontal or vertical?

I agree with you Amanda, I wish they had contact names on the cultivars to obtain furthr information about them, it would help greatly.

I really need a diagram to show me.

I would like someone to come over and see the problem I have with Pink Cheeks in person as its difficult to get a grasp on the problem just be describing it...does that make any sense.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
19th January 2012 11:22pm
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amanda says...
Peter - blood and bone for pots plus 10% potash (= 100grms potash/1 kg of B&B) Some seasol/seaweed solution sprayed all over the plant and some in the pot ( = trace elements, growth promoter and mild insect deterrent)

Passionfruit flower on any new growth. Don't expect any action from your newbies until next summer - and then not a huge amount - by 3rd summer they should go gang busters.

Prune back the Pink cheeks - or suffer the possible consequences re: mite transmission. Be brave! :)
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
19th January 2012 11:52pm
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Peter says...
Amanda, Thanks for your advice on fertiliser. I'll prune back the pink cheeks before it gets out of control.

How far do I prune it back to?

I'm attaching pics of Pink Cheek flower, dodgey leaves and one with a bug spotted. Other pics are of Panama Gold and Panama Red.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2

Picture: 3

Picture: 4

Picture: 5

Picture: 6

Picture: 7

Picture: 8

Picture: 9
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Peter1
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20th January 2012 1:45pm
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Wazzbat says...
My Pink Cheeks are rapidly making their way up my nieghbour's trees. They are looking quite healthy but no signs of flowers yet. They are still a bit young though.

My Maxi Gold is starting to take off too but I only planted it about 6 months ago I think? My guess is that it's a cultivar of the standard Gold but is probably very similar to the Panama Gold. I have no idea really? I wouldn't think that one company would be able to label the same cultivar as a different name to the exact same plant from a different company? A bit like the Sunshine Special and the Tutti Frutti for example? It is very hard to know without proper labeling though - I agree. I also find it very frustrating. It should be mandatory to at least label the plant's Family, Species and Genus names. And then maybe sub species, variety or cultivar along with any common names.
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Wazzbat
 
20th January 2012 7:07pm
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Wazzbat says...
Not sure if my Maxi will fruit at all without a cross pollinator? That's another thing that should be mandatory to label. I feel sorry for the average Jo Blow that doesn't get into gardening like some of us do and buy plants that will never produce on their own without knowing. It must turn some ppl off gardening? Growers should clearly label plants that need another plant to produce fruit!!!
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Wazzbat
 
20th January 2012 7:12pm
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Wazzbat says...
I also think it's up to the retailers to let their customers know of any requirements such as cross pollinators to get their plants to fruit before they buy them!
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Wazzbat
 
20th January 2012 7:14pm
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amanda says...
I am with u there Wazzbat! The lack of info on most plant labels is really annoying at times...
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
21st January 2012 10:59am
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Peter says...
I concur with u Wazzbat and Amanda.

Lack of proper labelling is wrong in my view. I wonder if there is a way of bringing this attention to some relevant authority to ensure the labelling can be complied with.

Peter

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Peter1
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22nd January 2012 10:15am
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Annie says...
Hi Peter

I too have a Pink Cheeks Passionfruit vine. The label says you only need one vine. First year no flowers and no fruit! 2nd year started to get flowers, but frustratingly every flower just dropped off as the bees just weren't interested. So I started pollinating with a paint brush most of the flowers still dropped off. So I thought maybe there has been too much rain and not enough fertilizer. So I used citrus fertilizer and when I pollinated the flowers I tied a sandwich bag over each one for 2 - 3 days and bingo, when I removed the bags there was a small fruit growing. It seemed to work better when I used the pollen from a different flower. Now I have about 20 fruit developing on my vine and I'm ready with my brush and bags for the next batch of flowers to open! Now all i need is for that pesky possum to eat the fruit as it ripens!
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Annie6
Sydney
12th February 2012 5:11pm
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Wazzbat says...
Great work Annie. Exciting stuff. You will have to keep us updated on your progress and let us know how they taste?
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Wazzbat
 
12th February 2012 7:30pm
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Mike says...
Passionfruit can experience the ultimate prune and bounce back.Vines that are years old can be sawn off at 30cm dug up quite easily and taken to a new spot.I have seen feral yellow ones relocated to houses several times this way and thick vines change address.They spring back and fruit quickly.I reckon soon after fruiting they should be hacked back to main branches less than 2m in length.Too much B & B or DL without P and K and perhaps Ca and Mg and they'll drag their backsides and take longer to flower,and fruit less prolifically.
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12th February 2012 7:44pm
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Peter says...
Hi Annie,

Well, I'll be. Hmmm, I had another heap of flowers just do the saem thing. I'll try the plastic sandwhich bag thung like you have and see if there is any improvement in mine, I must have had close to 500 flowers, 300 have already dropped off. Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
13th February 2012 2:28pm
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Wazzbat says...
Wouldn't a plastic sandwich bag kill the flower? I just assumed you meant a paper bag?

What is the idea of the bags anyway?
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Wazzbat
 
14th February 2012 6:03pm
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amanda says...
I was wondering about this too Wazzbat. Maybe the plastic bag allows some humidity for the pollen to it's job/set..?
Maybe U could achieve the same thing by watering the ground all around the vine each morning tho?

I can't be bothered with bagging flowers myself.
I will just plant more vines instead :D

My "Mutant" Big Red goes thru NONE of these problems at all...I am going to save it's seed and maybe one day I might be able to cross it with a sweeter fruit. It's incredibly robust. Such a shame the fruit is so sour. It's ultra-packed/heavy with pulp. Never seen a p/fruit like it, myself.

I am still a bit sceptical with the recent passionfruit breeding programs myself. Maybe it's time to hang on to some "old fashioned" seed.


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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
14th February 2012 11:09pm
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Peter says...
Hello Amanda, Annie, Wazzbat and Mike, Brendon too if he is about.

I was wondering how the plastic bag would work, I tied mine up with tie twists, samll sandwhich bags..Next day I seen them sweat.

I have not cut back the pink cheeks as yet, damen over 400 flowers all opened up for about 3 or 4 days or so then closed, wilted and dropped off.

I gave the buggerc correct fertiliser, dolomite, aglime, B&B, mulch, has sufficient water, used seasol and sprayed with seasol, potssh. All I see is hundreds of small black ants and bigger ants with off white bums all over the vine and yes even crawling all over the flowers, stamens and ovaries and still no joy.

I was reading in Gardening Australia it was suggested sraying the canopy using a misting hose filled with cold water to treat these red spider mites AKA two-spotted mite and apply an organic insecticidal soap or horticultural spray oil.

What would be a good organic insecticidal soap to use?

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
14th February 2012 11:32pm
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Peter says...
Oh, almost forgot,

What size and where can I get a good paint brush for pollinating. I've tried birds feathers and cotton buds...they dont seem to work for me.

Peter
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Peter1
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14th February 2012 11:35pm
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Wazzbat says...
Art supply shop - should be able to get a good sized brush there?

I ended up using the other end of my brush though. I found that the pollen was sticking to the brush hairs too much so I used the wooden handle tip on the other end?
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Wazzbat
 
15th February 2012 8:13am
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter, this is what Wayne uses to pollinate his custard apple flowers.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
  
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
15th February 2012 8:15am
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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,
Thanks for that, they look similar to cotton bud tips I was using, The pollen stuck to cotton lke glue, some pollen did get transferred but not much of it.

Where was this purchased from? I dont think woolies or coles have them.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
15th February 2012 9:39am
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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

Art supply shop? I hope they are cheap. I've seen some so called art (paint) brushes at Officeworks but they wanted a fortune and there was no small ones, only big bulky things.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
15th February 2012 9:42am
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Wazzbat says...
Maybe a $2 shop would have them? Reject Shop? Not sure what shops you have there in Brisbane Peter?

I would honestly try using a popstick or something similar. Arse end of a pen or pencil. Try whatever you have in your home. Even a butter knife or spoon?

And if you aren't sure exactly how to pollinate, there is a really good video on YouTube that someone has posted.

Good Luck.
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Wazzbat
 
15th February 2012 6:25pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter & Wazzbat, they were bought from 'Dollars & Sense'. The tips are actually foam.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
16th February 2012 7:50am
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leafloss says...
This sounds strange & gross. I used to work in a butcher shop, every year a regular customer would want a cows/ox liver cut up which he buried in a circle 1ft from the stem in winter which he swore made heaps more fruit & a healthier plant. In summer he'd bring a bag of passion fruits every week for us all to share. Hope this helps
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18th February 2012 2:29pm
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Peter says...
Brendan,

thanks for that. Not sure if there is one locally but I'll have google search.

Yeah leafloss, I have heard liver was good.

I also used the plastic sandwhich bag trick as Anne said she used. I left mine on for 4 days, took the plastic off and yep, 3 days or so later, the bastard wiltered and fell off.

I've also noticed the leaves of this pink cheeks vine has dropped off the lower branches or last two years of vine growth . I have no idea whether that's normal or expected. There are still traces of two spotted mite (red spider mite) as some leaves have a white speckles on it, some still have yellow blotches in the leafs, not all, just some.
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Peter1
Brisbane
18th February 2012 11:55pm
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Rak says...
Hi All, Wow what a great forum. I am needing some advice please. Have planted 2 new passionfruit, 1 black Nelly Kelly, and 1 Panama Gold. The leaves down the bottom of the plant have turned yellow and fallen off. Leaves up the top look good and some new growth appears to b healthy. I have used Spary on Seasol once sionce planting and they have good soil and mulch around base but not near the trunk. I see you all recommend Manure, can I use horse manure? I put it in a large bicket and fill with water? If i can use this how often and do I need to keep it away from the base of the plant. Existing plants nearby, Nelly Kelly's and Red & Gold Panama's fruit okay but then the fruit shrivels up and falls off. Can someone please explain what may cause this. I am so passionate about my passionfruit but just can't seem to get a good crop however a neighbour had one grow from nothing, it just appeared on the fence line and we were blessed with the best passionfruit i have eaten for 2 years then it died as quickly as it appeared. Many thanks.
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Rak
Gold Coast
26th February 2012 11:30am
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coastie says...
Good morning R. yes use all animal manures and some potash, the potash will help to improve the health of the plant and maybe encourage friut.I live on GC and we have wall to wall golden passionfruit right now, the fruit is very sweet this year[2nd]all the HOT days and nights I think.
I use plenty of potash with all my fruit bearing vines and trees...raspberries,tamarillos, pumpkins cucumbers etc.It is available in liquid form or powder, powder is cheaper of course, it takes a little longer though.
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coastie
 
26th February 2012 11:38am
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Original Post was last edited: 26th February 2012 11:46am
Peter says...
Coastie, I'm not far from the Gold Coast, I'm over the river from Beenleigh.

Maybe you can come up and have a look at my passionfruit vine and let me know what needs fixing?

I know Amanda suggested some time ago I should cut back the pink Cheeks to about a metre or 2 and start again.

I've had over 600 flowers open and then few days later close and few days later drop off. not one flower turned into fruit.

Yeah all the leaves have fallen off from the bottom of the vine. The vine is well established and still growing it covers an area of 30 feet length by 8 feet high

Peter
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Peter1
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1st March 2012 11:21pm
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coastie says...
Well, the continuing saga....my next line of attack would be to suspect something going on underground like grubs eating the roots, even termites will eat and do damage to roots.
I got those nasty big white grubs from a bag or B......Gs potting mix, so I leave that alone now...just a suggestion.
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coastie
 
2nd March 2012 10:45am
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Peter says...
I'm starting to see the development of flower pods on Panama Gold and Panama Red. They have grown rapidly. They are in pots and have added manure, trace elements, blood and bone as well as straw on the surface away from the main root.

Another mix of 10% Potash in the fertiliser should do well. Will be spraying vine again with seasol as well as a new leaf spray called NEEM or similar, it will keep those pesky grasshoppers away from my vine as well as pesky ants. At least there wont be any sap suckers living after this goes on.

I'll upload new pics in a day or two.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
3rd March 2012 12:57am
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coastie says...
Hi Peter, all sounds good, I never worry about ants, I reckon they help with pollination.A handfull of epsom salts does no harm, the leaves will be very happy.Maybe the insects are coming for the seasol.A spray with epsom salts ....1 cup to a 9ltr watering can would help.Keep up the potash...a little often.
Looking forward to photos.
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coastie
 
3rd March 2012 8:40am
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Peter says...
Hello Coastie,

Epsom Salts spray, never done that before, normally I use seasol.

1 cup of epsom salts to 9 liters of water, will give that a go. I now have 5 flowers opening on the panama red. Hopefully they should not drop off, rain is around so the buggers might not pollinate or there could be a mongrel virus in the air which could be the cause...see what developes, will load photos sometime this evening. Peter
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Peter1
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5th March 2012 3:29pm
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snottiegobble says...
Hi Peter, how old is your Panama red & is this the first time its flowered? My Big red is now covering a wide trellis, but no flowers yet. It was a seedling last year.
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snottiegobble
Bunno &amp; Busso ( smack in the middle)
5th March 2012 3:34pm
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Peter says...
snottiegobble,

Hi, I have to make a correction, it was not panama red but panama gold that has the flowers open and more flower buds forming..panama red has just started to get some flower buds appearig. It's less than 1 year old.

I'm uploading the pot which I have planted them in, directions label as well as various parts of the frame I constructed to help support the passionfruit vines.

I'm using Windows 7 which does not have an image resizer so quality might not be as good as they were when I used Windowes XP.

Here they are.

Peter
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Peter1
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6th March 2012 12:36am
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Peter says...
I do hope they wont go the same way as Pink Cheeks. Pink Cheeks has produced lots of flowers, opened for a few days then closes gradually and then shrivel and drop off.

I am seriously considering getting rid of Pink Cheeks and start afresh, dig the clay soil, apply aglime and dolomite as well as trace elements , also place 3 livers in the soil so the roots can dine upon. I'll give the spot 2 months to rest before placing another passionfruit vine on it.
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Peter1
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6th March 2012 12:44am
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amanda says...
That's sad Peter! They mustn't be pollinated properly for some reason. I had the exact same problem with my sunshine special during Jan/Feb...I suspect it was just too hot and dry and the pollen was likely all dried up too.

There were not many bees around in the heat either.
This recent flush of flowers is setting fruit though (yay!) and there are loads of bees around again.

My panama red is finally pushing out a few flowers now also...(it's usually late) It badly needs pruning back by 2/3rds at least - so I am not expecting a lot though (as they fruit on new growth)
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
6th March 2012 10:38am
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Peter says...
Hello Amanda,

Oh well, them the breaks, I have not seen any bees of the normal kind, but did see this critter heading straight into the flower of the cucumber vine. I've loaded the pic.

I have tomatoes, cucumber and beans forming but zero passionfruit, Maybe I just have an unhealthy vine from day one.
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Peter1
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6th March 2012 1:04pm
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Original Post was last edited: 6th March 2012 1:07pm
snottiegobble says...
Great shots Peter & a really easy to build frame for the PFs, I am now going to consider something similiar for my grapevines instead of espaliar!
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snottiegobble
Bunno &amp; Busso ( smack in the middle)
6th March 2012 6:06pm
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Peter says...
snottigobble,

Thanks about the pics, Yes, the frame is easy to build. Perhaps could make another somewhere for grapevine also.

My parents used to grow grapes in Newcastle NSW, tasted lovely, they were a slight golden yellow colour, sweet as and yep the bees love them also. I dont think that variery could ever be purchased in the shops. Home grown grapes hmmm, nothing like it.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
7th March 2012 11:26pm
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Peter says...
Hmmm, I don't believe it...the Panama Gold is going the same way as the Pink Cheeks...it has flowers, opens for a while, closes. then few days later shrivels up and also drops.

There must be something seriously flawed , definetly no pollination is taking place.

It's either something in the air, soil, temp or those pesky black ants...I'm stumped. A person informed me I might be having male flowers with no females or vice versa...I tried hand pollination and still does not work.

I noticed the other day next door neighbours Kelly Nelly had some fruit form and other flowers were doing the same as mine...might be a passionfruit virus in the air in Brisbane. Peter

Any locals nearby like to come over my place and have a poke around, maybe you might see something that I cannot see.
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Peter1
Brisbane
9th March 2012 12:11am
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peter says...
hi peter,
i asume since you have mentioned hand polination that the flowers are producing pollen?
have you taken pollen from one flower and put it on a differant flower?
are you putting the pollen on the
female part of the flower?

try taking some pollen from your
neighbour and pollinate yours.
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adelaide
9th March 2012 9:14am
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Peter says...
Hi Peter,

Yes, the flowers are producing pollen, I have taken the pollen from the female and have brushed this onto the female part of the flower..although the label indicated it was self-pollinating.

I have also tried cross pollination i..e from one flower to the next and back.

Problem with neighbours vine at the moment is there are no flowers available, it's been soent, mostly all fruit developed.

I'll wait until another batch of flowers open up and give it another go.

Hopefully it wont be raining as much next time..Been very humid in Brisbane region. I'm actually halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

I'm not a full on greenie but it would be nice to see bees instead of trees being bulldozed to make way for a retirement village

Peter
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Peter1
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9th March 2012 9:56am
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amanda says...
Hi Peter...is that the panama gold you have only recently planted? I would be surprised if it carried any flowers/fruit at this age...wait till next summer :)

They should have a bumper 3rd summer...if u can't get fruit with both a pan gold and red in your backyard - then I would be amazed!? :)

Next summer get some thai basil up and running around your vines.
Also have a look around now and see what that insect above likes..and plant that.

Wasps will pollinate flowers...I have several types here and they adore my eucalyptus flowers around the place...

But thai basil a winner (have to wait till sundown b4 I can get near mine to pick..! :D
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
9th March 2012 11:16am
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Yep, its the Panama Gold that I have recently planted, sure has flowers developed, even I am suprised.

I managed to buy some artist brushes today with soft heads for pollinating the other ones. Thai basil?

I'll have to place them in the same pot. I would have thought thy might compete for food i.e Thai basil and passionfruit vine in the one pot.

I'll see if I can get some Thai Basil from the local nursery tomorrow (Saturday). As long as they are not paper wasps.

Amanda, I think by 3rd year both panamas will be over the car port's roof and beyond. Or would I need to trim it back?

Peter
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Peter1
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10th March 2012 12:32am
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coastie says...
Maybe the potash etc. has worked.Results would take about 3 weeks, it is the right time frame.
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coastie
 
10th March 2012 7:44am
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amanda says...
Yup U will need to trim Peter ;) or provide other places for it to scramble over...?(eg: I picked up an archway for $8 at the tip to extend my vine, etc..)

But as they fruit on new growth - it works well to prune early spring.

I have Thai basil seeds (Siam Queen) coming out my earholes - I can send you some if u need.

U can always put them in their own pot - or in the ground. They don't have to share - just be nearby.
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
10th March 2012 10:32am
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Peter says...
G'day coastie, Yep, placed more Blodd & Bone and Potash today.

Amanda, Yeah, I'll trim back once all the flowers have finished, still looks like another 100 (combined) Pink cheeks and Panama Gold.

I managed to get tow Thai Basil plants this morning. I've planted these in the same pot. These basil plants, are they suppose to climb up the vine or something. I don't know how this would work unless it climbs and puts out a lot of flowers. I'ts got 8ft to climb.

Peter
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Peter1
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10th March 2012 11:47pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter, the garden guru up here uses this recipe:
2 parts blood & bone
1 part sulphate of potash
1 part epsom salts

The basil plants help to bring bees etc., and help with pollination. They only grow about 600mm high.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
11th March 2012 8:35am
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amanda says...
Someone once mentioned dabbing a plant with honey to attract the bees....has anyone ever tried this? Does it work?
(just curious..)
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amanda19
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11th March 2012 11:48am
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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Thanks for that recipe, when you say 2 parts is that taken as 2 cups of Blood and Bone with 1 cup of sulphate of potash and 1 cup of epsom salts?

Amanda, a person I spoke to at a nursery suggested I spray the vine with molasses...I told the person that would attract a lot more ants than I can tolerate.

There is many thousands of black ants, small ones and big ones..they clamper all over the place.

I also notice they walk and nibble at the small lobes of the flower bud whilst closed and when its open the buggers then go down inside the open flower, I dont think they are pollenators, more like pollen robbers. Otherwise I should have plenty of passionfruit if that was the case...definetely something wrong somewhere. Peter
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Peter1
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11th March 2012 12:20pm
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coastie says...
Peter, when the ants wander or run from flower to flower they are pollinating but they dont know, but I do, anything that carries pollen from one flower to another is helping, ants dont eat plants.I do not worry about ants, I think time will be the key factor now, early in spring you will have a bumper crop, keep up the potash and blood and bone....every 6 weeks.
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coastie
 
11th March 2012 1:14pm
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snottiegobble says...
Might as well become a full time greenie Peter, good planets are hard to find!
As for ants, well unless they are invading your personal space like climbing up into your pants, or eating the pet`s food I wouldnt worry about them. Remember they are the termites worst enemy!
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snottiegobble
Bunno &amp; Busso ( smack in the middle)
11th March 2012 1:55pm
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Peter says...
coastie, yeah I hear you. I know these ants mine the vine for mites, I have not seen any of those pest mites for awhile, at least not on the vine.

Lots of aphids on the cucumber vine though. I use conguard on those.

snottiegobble. Those pesky ants are in the house too and chew into the animal's tucker, hence surface spray.
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11th March 2012 10:56pm
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amanda says...
I tend to agree with this Wiki link...the ants are after the nectar. I have loads on my vines too Peter..and they are desperately trying to get into the unopened flowers also...like we mentioned with the nectaries above..

They are not hurting your vine Peter and are not kleptoparasites with pollen (however they do spread seed..) Don't stress about them...I don't and have heaps of passionfruit.

Interestingly - I "dissected" a shrivelled up flower yesterday and found these very small black beetles inside them. I dropped the ball there...should have been looking inside them before today really. Just saying...

They haven't eaten anything and they are the same ones that live inside my frangipani flowers, with no dramas..so I am guessing they are after the nectar also. Any kind of moisture is fair game here in summer.. :)

Ants may not being doing as much pollination work as we would like to think though, sadly. I wouldn't rely on them, myself. They don't even have a body designed to carry pollen...

Anyway - have a read of the link..it may provide some ideas at least...

There are simple solutions to your problems Peter..eg: pet food..don't leave it down..or put the bowl in a bigger, shallow dish of water (an ant "moat")...

The more nasty sprays you use - the less bees you can expect. And other "beneficial" insects too.

I am not saying this is you - but people do tend to over-react to each and every insect they come across in their garden..and try to eliminate them also.

Careful observation will show you who is friend and who is foe...so will some homework ;-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollinator
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
12th March 2012 8:18pm
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amanda says...
PS..here are some pics of an aggressive "new" ant that appeared on our block around 2yrs ago. They were feeding off my Albizzia trees....(that had no flowers whatsoever...)

On pic 3 - on the stem just to the below-right of the top most ant - you can see a small round raised "nectary" on the leaf stem (much like the two on a passionfruit leaf stem)

The ants sunk their jaws into these spots a lot...causing a thin white sap to exude. I don't know if nectary is the right word...as they would be tapping into the xylem and phloem here...? Anyway..they are there - and that's what happens. Some expert might know what it's about..

On pic 2 - this ant has it's jaws sunk into the very small new leaflets...

On pic 1 - the ant on the left has just sunk it's jaws into the stem anyway (no nectary or such there)


The new leaves here - grew out crinkled and distorted and small. There was NO other parasite present (and I am certain these ants would have eaten it anyway!? :)

There is no doubt in my mind that the feeding habits of these ants were the direct cause of the problems with the new leaves.

I agree that the vast majority of ants do a good job. But I also feel it's important to observe them too....eg: the infamous Bull Ant is a total pest in my garden...it saps the life out of any fruit that is just ripened..making holes and extracting moisture (and nutrients) once again...

My loo cisterns get filled with ants...once again - seeking moisture.

BTW..this ant in the pic...has now taken over my home....from a small colony 200m away - it is now in the walls of our house...

It pays to know a bit about ants...and get anything new identified by a pest controller...wish I had :-(




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amanda19
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12th March 2012 8:58pm
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Original Post was last edited: 12th March 2012 9:19pm
Mike says...
Amanda they look like an Iridomyrmex (meat ant) of some species and I would think are less likely to harm the trees than many pther ants.
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Cairns
12th March 2012 9:15pm
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amanda says...
Thanks Mike...I was busy adding to my post (as I am never sure what order the pics will be in...I'm not very organised...:D

Yes - i agree...they are really aggressive...they also "plant" aphids and scale for me too...

I should have nuked them when I had the chance...instead I was a bit too organic I think...
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amanda19
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12th March 2012 9:21pm
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Mike says...
I have heard of folk following them back to their pebble covered, bare low mound and pouring a jug of boiling water down the hole.I am sure that you would not lash out at our native wildlife for minor infringements, but I would.
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Cairns
12th March 2012 9:34pm
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amanda says...
A Bull ant nest can extend for many metres...some of mine are 20m wide now...that's not a job for a kettle of boiling water :D
Lol..you can't even stand in the area to treat it!? I do it from the safety of my truck..out the window actually..

Some wildlife is not actually native tho is it Mike - and much is not endemic either...

That's why it's worth popping a few in a jar and dropping them off at pest controllers - or the Ag dept (free..)

I am very, very lucky that my block is Coastal Brown Ant Free for eg - at present...an African import that is just a nightmare...


I use diesel on the Bull ants...so no...I am not too soft..just didn't appreciate what I was dealing with at the time.. :(

But - I still think it's worth spending time and observing what the ants are actually doing...? Most are very harmless...not even aggressive...(I have med size black ants that actually run away from me...??)
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
12th March 2012 9:53pm
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Mike says...
Over here the meat ants are only west, but hit the coast at Townsville and Cooktown where it is drier like magpies and crows.The bullants and hopper ants are diverse but only at higher altitude,especially over 700m.I do get some lock jaw ants (green native fireants) in my yard and they send you through the ceiling and harmless old green tree ant is everywhere.
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Cairns
12th March 2012 10:06pm
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amanda says...
I don't think we are talking about the same bull ant Mike..I never saw these ones when I lived and camped in and around FNQ.. Sargeant ants yes. They have large but discrete nests.

Anyway..I am sure it's always bigger n better in FNQ.. ;-)
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
12th March 2012 10:27pm
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Mike says...
They are almost the same as the victorian bullants and foresters called them inchmen with red ones,black ones etc in the genus Myrmecia.The hopper ants look like M.pilosula to me and also have a fearsome bite also.Many things are bigger in the tropics but not necessarily better.The garden pests and weather make it hard work to grow food.
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Cairns
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amanda says...
These ones are all exactly the same..from Perth to here. Same colour etc. Same huge nests. Will take a pic of one of smaller ones 2morrow for you, if u want...I have been working on this nest for 2yrs now :-(

I don't know why I bother anymore tho' - as I have noticed nests coming up all thru the Highway road reserve now...their march north seems relentless.

As I live in an arid or semi dry zone..I know that many of my ants are good guys..like my slaters and native cockroaches too. Probably pests in Qld tho...who knows. Each environment is different.

This brings me back to my point - that not all bugs are "bad" - but thru observation and homework - we can determine that which is beneficial- in our own environment - and that which is not...?

Not all ants are good guys. How are you going to tell the difference.
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
13th March 2012 12:02am
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snottiegobble says...
Amanda, there are ants all along the derelect railway line here. They are quite large at 6cm & their nests are in gradual mounds of gravel that they excavated.
They dont seem to be climbers though!
The bull ants I am familiar with are much bigger & again restricted to the ground!
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snottiegobble
Bunno &amp; Busso ( smack in the middle)
13th March 2012 12:27am
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snottiegobble says...
Here is one of the 'pets' I left in Victoria!
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snottiegobble
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13th March 2012 12:47am
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snottiegobble says...
Amanda , are coastal browns miniscule & they bring out red 'front end loader'ants when there is heavy stuff to be moved like half the sand from under your paving?
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snottiegobble
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amanda says...
These bull ants will take out my stone fruit no problems at all...? They were "monitoring" my peaches and nectarines long b4 they ripened...and beat me to the punch well and truly.

They make well defined tracks to and from their nests (like sheep and goats)....it's easy to track them this way...there is no way you can stand anywhere near the nest...they follow you and attack big time. Highly aggressive.

My daughter once walked into a bull ant nest at 3yrs old...it was a very distressing experience for me, and her, I can say...

They are maybe 1cm - not big and slow like sargent ants at 2cm. I used to think they were just an "Aussie" ant..I will ask our Ag dept what they are.

To say that ants, in general, don't attack fruit etc..is not entirely true - that I can see...?

Like I keep saying here...you must observe WHAT the ant is actually DOING...? How many people actually take the time to just watch?

(the first thing I look for when I see ants on any of my plants...is scale (then aphids etc) But Scale can be very hard to see sometimes.

If there are no pathogens - then I just sit for a bit and watch what they are doing..? 90% are doing nothing harmful at all..just collecting nectar..some moisture.

Coastal brown ants (African) cause major problems with paving...and invade homes for water. They are not interested in plants at all.

By observing we can decide which one may be a problem..and leave the rest alone perhaps... :)
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amanda19
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13th March 2012 1:04am
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snottiegobble says...
Amanda, to my knowledge true bull ants or bulldog ants are prehistoric, only have a few in each colony ( compared to other ants) & cant climb trees so the ants attacking your fruit must be another species. In fact I dont think bull ants are at all interested in fruit & only eat other invertebrates.
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snottiegobble
Bunno &amp; Busso ( smack in the middle)
13th March 2012 1:23am
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amanda says...
SG - yes for coastal brown ants (see below) Roleystone Julie knows what bull ants I am on about here I think..? But that's a "Sargent" ant SG...they are actually ok as long as they don't make a nest in the wrong spot. Nasty bite tho.

I have them here...years old nests...discrete and no problem out in the acerage. Bull ants spread...and they don't stop. I am not joking when I say the nest can extend underground for 20m and more...

The farmers here deep rip the bull ant nests with a front end loader...? (like with rabbit warrens..)I just thought all west asutralians knew this ant!? :)

My first nest I tracked back to my neighbours property..half a kilometer away..

Coastal brown ants are dimorphic SG..they have a caste system...so if you see lots of small ants - and then "fat head soldier ants" (as I call them) and - then u crush them and there is NO formaldehyde smell...then yes - u likey have coastal brown ants. From Africa.

Total PITA. Unless your neighbours treat - then you have no hope. All paving needs to be laid with a thick plastic underlay.

Kettle water works ok on them though. Amdro...expensive but highly selective and very efficient.
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amanda19
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13th March 2012 1:25am
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amanda says...
Crossed responses SG..I have only ever known them as Bull Ants since West Aussies told me their name since I was just 11yrs old...? My farmer mates also call them Bull and Sargent ants...?

Perhaps it's a WA thing? Most west aussies know exactly what ant I am talking about though..? Especially those that live in the outer suburbs and rural..

Maybe we havedifferent names for them..but I would know these little buggers anywhere... :)

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amanda19
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13th March 2012 1:31am
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snottiegobble says...
Only here 3 years next month so dont qualify to be a sand groper yet, but I do believe 'bull ant' to be a misnomer here specially as they are only 1cm. I will google to make sure! Could be wrong of course!
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snottiegobble
Bunno &amp; Busso ( smack in the middle)
13th March 2012 1:36am
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amanda says...
When in Rome.. ;) But it's not about their name though surely...it's about the different habits of ants isn't it..? Peter is concerned about the ants on his vine.

We are all assuring him it's ok...and it pretty much is - when it comes to the flowers.

But when folk say that ants don't attack new leaves and fruit...I beg to differ becuase I have seen otherwise with my own eyes.

I have provided some pics too, to support my claim?...next time I will be sure to take some pics of them raping and pillaging my stone fruit too...for the sceptics.

What an ant is called has no bearing on anything here...it's WHAT it is DOING that matters...?

Unless any of us are Entomologists here (?) I would always recommend taking the suspects to a pest controller or Ag dept to determine what they are - and their merit or not...?
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amanda19
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13th March 2012 1:50am
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amanda says...
Funnily enuf Mike....I actually blew up our good kettle - boiling water to kill the CB Ants in the paving at last old rental property... ;)
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13th March 2012 1:54am
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snottiegobble says...
Check out CSIRO Ants Down Under Amanda when you have a couple of years to spend, but I have to disagree about misnomers because it can be quite confusing for blow-ins like me!
Take papaya ( pawpaw) for instance & shallots of course!
Have just been given some large wrinkled faded reddish passionfruit, & smaller yellowish ones. They all taste superior to blacks & the fact that they grew 20kms from me has given me hope!
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snottiegobble
Bunno &amp; Busso ( smack in the middle)
13th March 2012 2:15am
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amanda says...
LOL..no way SG...I have seen what the study of entomology does to people...it's scary.. :D

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amanda19
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13th March 2012 2:34am
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Mike says...
The ant on the matchbox is a bullant alright in the genus Myrmecia.Some get to 35mm and it also includes the jumping jack ants.Exotic ants cause problems for a whole lot of reasons and are not always the most serious pests in the house or garden.Of all the introduced ants in Queensland fireants and crazy ants are causing the most concern.
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13th March 2012 8:42am
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Peter says...
G'day all,

I did not know the topic of ants have caused such a debate amongst growers.

I always tend to err on the side of caution, if the ant is unknown to me then it goes to local council entomology section, after all, that's what the get paid for. Put my tax to good use.

I've hand pollinated another 15 flowers this morning as well as 6 late last night. If nothing comes out of this then there is something really a miss.

I have 3 different cultivars of passionfruit, surely they cant all be affected unless there is an airborne virus spreading from an unknown origin.

Peter
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Peter1
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13th March 2012 3:24pm
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Peter says...
G'day all,

I did not know the topic of ants have caused such a debate amongst growers.

I always tend to err on the side of caution, if the ant is unknown to me then it goes to local council entomology section, after all, that's what the get paid for. Put my tax to good use.

I've hand pollinated another 15 flowers this morning as well as 6 late last night. If nothing comes out of this then there is something really a miss.

I have 3 different cultivars of passionfruit, surely they cant all be affected unless there is an airborne virus spreading from an unknown origin.

Peter
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13th March 2012 3:25pm
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snottiegobble says...
Good luck Peter, it must be bloody frustrating, but at least youre getting flowers! Having tasted the panama red I am more determined than ever to get fruit!
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snottiegobble
Bunno &amp; Busso ( smack in the middle)
13th March 2012 3:47pm
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Peter says...
Hello anottiegoble, what's your name by the way?
Yep it is very frustrating, I can get anything to grow and get fruit except for these passionfruit...never had a problem at my parents place in NSW. Nice black soil there and hardly any maintenance but here in Qld, different story, it's as if there is a curse place on it. I have flowers on Panama Gold and Pink cheeks. I've only now start to see some development of flower buds appearing on the panama red.

Question..when one pollinates by hand, is the pollen suppose to stick on the stamen, if so, then all of mine is hit and miss...only small amount of pollen stays on and then later falls off the stamen.

Peter
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13th March 2012 11:20pm
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snottiegobble says...
Hi Peter its Dave, but snottiegobble or SG is preferable on this forum. The stamens are the males & the stigma is the female!
If you are putting pollen on stamens they will reject it so you need to wipe it on the stigma which is in the middle of most flower types including PFs. Take a look at this link I have just found, it even tell you which varieties are self fertile & those that are not.



http://www.rirdc.gov.au/programs/established-rural-industries/pollination/passionfruit.cfm
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snottiegobble
Bunno &amp; Busso ( smack in the middle)
14th March 2012 2:15am
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Peter says...
Hi snottiegoble.
Thanks, thats what I meant to say

The ones containing pollen (stamen) is transfered to the stigma, the ones that are heart shaped, usually 4 of them.

I have used pressure on the stigma but still tends to drop off.

Thanks for the lnk, I too found that link 4 days ago.

It's obviously written for a science paper. Thes papers are no good to me unless it has photos to show me what they are talking about.

Unfortunately words alone for me dont work, it assumes the reader has already a certain amount of knowledge. Like some scientific publications I've read relating to fish.

Fish I can understand as that's my background but passionfruit completely different..very alien to me. Peter
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John says...
I have Meat ants here which are going to be the death of me. No matter what I try they just keep coming back. As Amanda says they attack anything that comes close and they make lots of satalite nests. They dont seem to affect my fruit as much, but that is because they are to busy raiding my Chicken scraps. I have found they do not like me taking to there nests with a pick and seem to move from that place.
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14th March 2012 1:32pm
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Peter says...
Well people, I've hand pollinated quite a few again, this time I\m loading pictures to show you before and after pollination, also different flower pods as well as overall pic of the vine. Oh yes, a pic of the ant with a different coloured bum tucking into the outside leaf sheath.

Enjoy, Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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amanda says...
Wow! Plenty of pollen there Peter :) The vine looks lovely and healthy and the flowers seem fine/normal...so if this does not work for you then I don't know what will!?
I'd also have a go at pollinating just as the flowers break open..

If u have no luck then it may be likely that it needs a pollination partner perhaps...

We used to have people on the Forum with the same problems - but with Big Boppa...I don't know if they ever had any luck with them, in the end, either. Certainly no one has mentioned them for a long time now.

Have you been getting a lot of rain too? (another forumite was told it was too much rain on the flowers, with her banana passionfruit..)

I can sympathise tho...the recent weather has seen my S.special drop flowers ...again! I got a few weeks of cooler weather that allowed a fair few flowers to develop fruit to develop, last month, so can't complain.
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
14th March 2012 5:32pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Thanks, I thought I'd give it more pollen than less. Yep, it is frustrating when you know one has done things correctly and the mongrels wont set. Maybe there is an airborne virus or some bug going around causing havoc.

Yes, rain has been on and off. There ahs been occassions when the flowers are open there is moisture in the air.

Yep I can relate to that, rain plays havoc when mango trees are in flower. Rain and winds at that time causes a virus to manifest and all the flowers drop off or if any are produced tiny mangos turn very balck and off they go.

I'll keep my eye on it and see what developes. Peter
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15th March 2012 10:43am
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Brendan says...
amanda & Peter, this might sound strange to you, but when I 'have-to' pollinate passionfruit flowers, I do it like this :-) see pic.
I never use a brush.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
17th March 2012 9:34am
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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Thanks, that is different, I'll try that on the next group of flowers that open.

I have noticed in my attempt at pollinating, the pollen seems to stick initially but within an hour or two and the next day it has not stuck to the receptor. After some time they close and wilt and go brown/black.

I have noticed this morning 4 different species of ants scurrying my vines and going for the nectar of the flower buds, also noticed a small black coloured type of fly, not your normal housefly or marchfly, I've captured it and going to put it under the microscope at uni on Monday and will post the image up here.

Peter
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Brendan says...
G'day Peter,
I'm having trouble at the moment with my flowers because of all the RAIN! We've had 118mm in the last 24 hrs, and it's still raining, doesn't help with pollination :-(

This friendly bird, the Blue Faced Honeyeater, will destroy passionfruit flowers in no time! I've watched him. Not much one can do about them, I wouldn't shoot them. He is leaving a few flowers tho.

Another thing, try feeding your vine a bit of extra potash, that seems to help.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
18th March 2012 8:29am
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Original Post was last edited: 18th March 2012 8:32am
Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Yep, I know that culprit (Blue Faced Honeyeater) too well, we have a few of those buggers.

Last month it was feeding a cuckoo bird.I'll upload the photo when I can. It must have been fooled into believing it was its youngster.

I had a check this morning out of curiosity to see if there was any passionfruit forming. I had to look three times and then said to myself, nah, it's a mirage, but no..I have managed to get two Red Panama fruits forming.

Here is a picture of one of them, First time I've seen them form as such. I've also loaded a photo of a yellow and black ladybird. Is this a friend or foe?. It was on the cucumber vine.

Peter
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Peter1
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amanda says...
Don't know if it's good ladybird or not Peter...but congrats on the fruit! At last :) Good pic too Brendan...lots of folk ask about hand pollinating the flowers on the different passionfruit threads...

I can usually tell when the flowers are going to abort as the ovary is pale yellow instead of pale green.

I find many of my flowers are pollinated before they even have the chance to open....as ants and small bugs get into the nearly mature flower "pod" thru the small cracks...so instead of a flower coming out - I have a little fruit.

That's why I was thinking about trying pollinate before the flowers open...the rain won't bother a little fruit..

Perhaps there are issues with when the flower is receptive also..?

(just thinking aloud here...I have not needed to hand pollinate them...but u have me curious now Peter! Maybe an experiment is in order... :D
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amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth
18th March 2012 12:52pm
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Mike says...
I have always been lucky with passionfruit in that I don't pollinate and seem to get good fruit setting.The yellow shouldered ladybird pictured is a fungus eater and the big orange one with dark spots is the foliage eating one that attacks garden plants like solanums.There are lots of similar looking orange and black chrysomelid beetles that attack sweet potato, kang kung etc.
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18th March 2012 1:35pm
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Peter says...
Hi Amanda,

Thanks , good to see some reward after so much effort. I do hope the fruit will stay on and grow and not pop off or drop off prematurely just like the flowers.

At last count I have seen 3 possible fruit. I'll be checking again in about 5 days and see if there has been any positive developments.

Amanda, that experiment would be a challenge, not impossible but tedious and maybe a world first.:)

Mike, thanks for the info regarding that yellow and black ladybird, its a friendly one. I have seen the odd orange and black spotted one on the passionfruit vine on occassion.

Also found some grasshoppers on a few leaves. Managed to obliterate them with my fingers and thumb.

Peter
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18th March 2012 10:40pm
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Melissa says...
Hand pollinating is definitely a winner for me; Our Nelly Kelly Black produced 100's of fruit this summer. Was all gone weeks ago now. Thou my MIL froze 5-6 shopping bags full that ripened in the 2 weeks we were away early January. The earlier I hand pollinate (September) the quicker fruit sets and the vine becomes full and stops producing flowers.

As the finished so early this "summer" and it is still very warm, I gave it an early prune and it has now started some new growth, I might even get a small winter crop.

The Misty Gem, though has not liked being hand pollenated; not one flower set from hand pollination. It too has had some new growth and another flush of flowers forming, some already have opened but the rain we have had in Sydney hasn't allowed me to get out there and have another go at hand pollination.

I have found when hand pollinating and have been doing it now for 2 years if the day isn't "hot" enough the pollen isn't released and can't be used, although my brush is full of pollen from the whole season of pollenating and I don't wash it out until after the summer. So I can usually still get the flower to set using just the brush alone. This doesn't help early on when the brush doesn't have much pollen. I've checked in the morning and the pollen sacks haven't burst open to release the pollen and then checked back in the afternoon and it has. Parts of the vine is in shade so these are also the last to release the pollen if the day is cool in the shade, if it is a hot day even in the shade, they all release the pollen early.

The new growth on the Misty Gem is "normal" looking, the Nelly Kelly Black is slightly yellow. All the hard work it's done over Summer who blames it really. I have given it some Dynamic Lifter (Citrus formula) what else can I give it?

I hope you get more success soon Peter! Your pictures show exactly what I do! and I have had great success with one vine but not the other, so maybe only some vines like to be hand pollinated. Will keep you posted on if I get success with the Misty Gem. It gets one more chance then it's coming out for another Nelly Kelly Black!

Melissa
Northern Beaches
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
20th March 2012 9:16am
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amanda says...
It shouldn't be that hard Peter...here is a pic of an UNopened one of my Pan red flowers...the stigma pokes thru well b4 the flower opens...perhaps it's receptive to the pollen carried over it by insects that have visited a flower that has released it's pollen...?
Thus u would only need to touch your pollen to the stigma poking out..

I was wondering/curious about this because I have a good load of fruit and I very rarely see open flowers on my vine (which is by my back door and around my patio - so it gets looked at/and loved several times a day.. :)

Just something I was pondering anyway..

Good info Melissa...let us know if u ever get fruit on your Misty gem won't you? I am wondering if it's a tricky one like Pink cheeks and Big Boppa...?
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20th March 2012 2:52pm
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Original Post was last edited: 20th March 2012 2:53pm
Peter says...
Hello Melissa,

Good to hear from you, hand pollinating can have its moments, its difficult to hand pollinate the ones atop the frame as its out of reach, so they will have to get sacrificed.

I now have 6 passionfruit developing as of two days ago, 2 Pink Cheeks, 2 Panama Gold and 2 Panama Red so far.

Will do another check in the morning, and yes, the rain is a curse at times, we now have too much rain again.

Amanda,

I can see what you are saying, however not all buds are like that on mine, most seem to be closed and partially open. female receptors are still not seen whereas male receptors are first to show.

As far as I know Panama Red does need cross pollination so you could be correct with regards to ants or wind.

Ants may be unkowingly pollinating in their quest for nectar but as a pure pollinator in the strict term as such I dont think they are.

I'll let you know if I get any Panama Red developing which I have not hand pollinated, I've marked them with a tag.

Peter
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Peter1
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20th March 2012 10:34pm
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Wazzbat says...
I have bulk flowers on my Pink Cheek vines but no fruit as yet and I always see lots of bees around??? Hopefully I get some fruit soon?

My little Sunshine Special which was only planted last year has produced lots of flowers and set some fruit on it's own! Yay!

I will be ripping out my NK black when I get a chance - Damn suckers!!!
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Wazzbat
 
21st March 2012 11:45pm
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amanda says...
Still no PCheeks fruit for u either Wazzbat? This vine starting to sound like a dud maybe.
I saw in Bunno's yesterday that they had two different/new "brands" of purple/black passionfruit besides Nellie Kellie....(at last!) and seedlings also.

It would be interesting to see if their "lines" are from better stock..?
When we eventually move south I will try them out.
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amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth.
22nd March 2012 9:47am
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Peter says...
Wazzbat
sorry to hear you still have no fruit on Pink Cheeks. I've managed to see two staring to develop.

I still have flowers continue to drop off after hand pollinating, so yes, there is something not right, probably too much water with all the rain.

I have 2 Panaman Red and 2 Panama Gold developing.

Total of 6 passionfruit from 3 different cultivars. I'm a bit sus on this new strain "Pink Cheeks"

I might look into another cultivar dwon the track.

I'll have a look at Bunno's in Crompton Road, Underwood to peruse what they have also.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
22nd March 2012 11:06pm
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Wazzbat says...
OK - Happy news. No need to be sorry Peter because I now have fruit on the PC vine!!! I counted up about 6 fruit this morning and with the bees going crazy on the other dozens of flowers, I might be in for a pretty decent first crop!!! Yippee! I just hope most of the fruit falls on my side of the fence.

I think by next season, my neighbour's 10 metre high Jacaranda tree should be covered in fruit? Will keep everyone posted on how the fruit goes?
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Wazzbat
 
25th March 2012 3:57pm
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amanda says...
Nice one Wazzbat!! :) Fingers crossed 4 U.
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amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth.
25th March 2012 10:35pm
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Peter says...
Great to hear Wazzbat.

I still have not seen any bee on my vine. Maybe I should a bee hive and place the buggers near the vine somewhere, knowing my luck the buggers will go elsewhere.


My official count is 2 PC, 2 PG and 3 PR

7 fruit all up

I'm thinking abbout growing the next one on the fence or up a tree and let it run wild.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
25th March 2012 11:20pm
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Brendan says...
G'day Peter, what about spraying your vines with liquid Potash? It's good stuff! I always add a small amount of wetter too :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
26th March 2012 9:38am
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Peter says...
Hello Brendan,

Nope, have not sprayed the vines with liquid potash, last time I added a wetter to the mix, it was not good.

Hence stayed clear of using a wetter.

I've sprayed Seasol few days ago.

Today I deciided to check one of the dead flowers and notices very tiny squiggling worms of some description down past the ovary.

I'm going to check them out under the microscope and post the image up here in the next couple of days or so.

I also seen small jet black bettles entering the flowers when open..I wonder if these mongrels are the same beetle / bug that has been wiping out the bee populations.

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
27th March 2012 10:44pm
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Wazzbat says...
Had another look yesterday and counted up about 12 fruit now. At a guess, I should get at least 2 dozen fruit this crop. It's hard to find them amongst some other kind of vine and the trees it's climbing up.

Might have to attack the neighbour's vine? Then again it does produce an awesome long white flower bunch thingo at the same time the PF flowers which must help attract the bees.
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Wazzbat
 
28th March 2012 8:02am
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Wazzbat says...
Also have about a dozen Sunshine Special fruit growing now too. And that's on my small vine. It probably only covers an area about 2 or 3m2.

Haven't touched either vine so the bees are doing theur job!
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Wazzbat
 
28th March 2012 8:04am
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Peter says...
Wazzbat,

Great to know your Pinks are finally developing fruit as well as Sunshine Special.

I must have all the nasty bugs up here in Eagleby (Between Brisbane and the Gold Coast). I would have a heart attack if a see any bees doing their rounds. Only seen one bee in the 3 years.

Yeah, I know what you mean about finding the developing fruit amongst the vines.

I'm going to run another one and let it climb a tree or two, at least it will be in the air then. Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
28th March 2012 10:33pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter,
Try this trick. Get a 2L plastic milk container (empty & cleaned), cut a 25mm slot up high opposite the handle. Make a drain hole or two in the bottom.
Cut up a whole pineapple, skin and all, and place it inside the milk bottle (through the slot at the front), (leave the lid on), now hang it up near your p/fruit vine(s).
This will attract every insect known to man to the bottle, now what happens is, after they've finished with the pineapple, they WILL go out and pollinate your p/fruit flowers! Good luck.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
29th March 2012 9:16am
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Peter says...
Hi Brendan,

Sounds like a good trick, I'll give that a go. Hopefully the possum I seen two daya ago in a tree wont get the idea of getting its paws around it.

Thanks,

Peter
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Peter1
Brisbane
29th March 2012 12:41pm
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Kevin M says...
try adding trace element mixture, to sweeten, use epsom salts
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kevin of Vict point qld
Victoria Point QLD
29th March 2012 10:24pm
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Peter says...
Hello Kevin M,

Thanks but I've done that earlier.

Peter

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Peter1
Brisbane
30th March 2012 9:31am
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Peter says...
Hello everyone,

Done a count on my respective passionfruit vines and yes fruits are starting to emerge, quite a few in their infancy, and 6 fairly decent size.

Also noticed some flowers having 4 male receptors as opposed to normal 3.

44 fruit to date

Pink cheeks 23
Panama Gold 14
Panama Red 7

See pics.

Cheers, Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Picture: 2

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Peter1
 
6th April 2012 11:44pm
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Original Post was last edited: 6th April 2012 11:46pm
VF says...
Hi Peter. Whew! Felt worn out after reading about the amount of effort you but into your fruit,so congratulations now. Hope they taste wonderful. BTW my mother lives near you at Edens Landing, and for a while she had a feral Granadilla crop in her garden - the flesh looked like snot (sorry), but the aromatic taste and sweetness without much acid was beautiful. Might be worth a try too.
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VF
Wongawallan
7th April 2012 7:41am
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MaryT says...
Thanks Peter for sharing your experience and the photos are fabulous and inspiring. I like the way you maximise use of space; I will try to be more innovative with my efforts.
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MaryT
Sydney
7th April 2012 8:38am
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Brendan says...
Looks good Peter, you'll be sick of eating p/fruits soon :-)

Happened to listen to abc radio this morning (Easter Sat), at 6am. It was a Gardening Talkback show, I think it was from Toowoomba?, anyway it was going state wide today.
To cut a long story short, some lady rang up and said she had a nice big lush p/fruit vine that didn't have one flower or fruit on it. The host, Noel Burdett(?), said to give it some superphosphate & sulphate of potash. He said that would make it flower & fruit. We sort of knew that hey.

Another caller said her p/fruit vine had flowers but would not fruit. Noel told her that the Blue-Faced Honey Eater bird does actually help pollinate p/fruit! I've watched this bird attack my p/fruit flowers, and destroy them! Mine must be a redneck variety! :-)
Doesn't matter, I've got heaps of feral p/fruit on at the moment.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
7th April 2012 8:59am
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amanda says...
At last! U must be happy Peter :) Here is a link which makes some interesting comments on pollination. It is an agricultural type document...but the comments on flower receptivity etc are interesting...

http://www.rirdc.gov.au/programs/established-rural-industries/pollination/passionfruit.cfm


There are some links at the end too - haven't checked them myself - but they might be worth a look also.
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amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth
7th April 2012 9:29am
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Peter says...
Hi VF, MaryT, Brendan and Amanda,

Great to hear from you all.

VF , I will be looking forward to having my first fruit whenever they ripen, I assume they are ully ripe when they fall to the ground, or, will I need to pick them a tad earlier?

MaryT,
Thanks, I have tried to maximise what space i could, so far so good, yes, it is hard work constantly hand pollinating everyone but it's worth it.

Brendan,

Thanks, I have been useing Sulphate of Potash mixed with Blood & Bone as well as cow manure and straw covering. Have used Seasol on occassion.

Yes, I know what you mean about the Blue Faced Honeyeater, I think the two I have a both rednecks also.

Amanda,

Thanks, I'm happy as larry :). Thanks for the link you provided but I've already checked it out some time ago, thanks for the effort and thought.

the link in the ridc is mostly geared towards the commercial crops but is still useful.

Cheers, Peter

Amanda
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Peter1
 
7th April 2012 2:44pm
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VF says...
You're right Peter - just eat the ones fallen, as they won't ripen further if picked too soon. You can check the vine though, as some fallen ones can get caught. Happy eating!
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VF
Wongawallan
8th April 2012 6:53am
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Peter says...
Hi VF,

Thanks for that, I was not sure about when they are best ripe. I've been keeping an eye on the very first two, they have grown large, about 7cm (70mm).

Being a Pink Cheek variety, it will be interesting to see what the colour is at maturity.

I've seen an additional 15 set i.e. fruit forming. With reference to the others that have flowered and withered, I've noticed there are holes formed at the collar base and noticed a small black bug getting around.

I tried to magnify the black bug under a special microscope at uni but difficult to capture its true image.

I'll post the image on here in the next day or so.

Cheers, Peter
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Peter1
 
9th April 2012 12:08am
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Wazzbat says...
Great to see Peter!

I've been keeping an ey e on my PC vines and it's looking good. About 20 fruit now and lots more flowers still coming.

Can't wait to taste this fruit. Have a feeling it might be quite tart because the fruit is setting in cooler conditions now (averaging about 27*C now). Hopefully I'm proven wrong?

So far I am very happy with this variety. Seems to be a prolific fruiter especially considering they are fairly young. But maybe that has something to do with two plants being planted right next to each other? I did this because a few weeks after I planted the first one, it was looking a bit sick so I bought another one and planted it right next to the first.

Hopefully I can make some time to get some pics up soon.
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Wazzbat
 
13th April 2012 7:26am
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amanda says...
That's interesting Peter..I have the same thing with my flowers...tiny black bugs right in the base of the flowers. I don't know what they are up to in there..?

Look forward to hearing how the Pink Cheeks tastes guys!? It would be nice to know it's breeding background though..any ideas?

I have noticed that my panamas are not setting as much fruit this season - now that I have only two left (20m apart)...the pulp/seed content is not as high either.

The weird "Big Red" (round yellow) hasn't missed a beat though. It's very fertile ;)
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amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth
13th April 2012 10:47am
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Peter says...
Hi Wazzbat,

I've also planted Panama Red and Panama Gold relatively close, there might be something there.

Hi Amanda,

Might be awhile before they ripen as I have no idea at this stage how long it takes to reach maturity but will let you know when it's ready. I could ask the nursery where I got Pink Cheeks from about the background. Might be next week.

So far, I've counted close to 200 fruit from the three cultivars, they are starting to blend and in different stages of fruit development \ growth.

Peter
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Peter1
 
16th April 2012 10:22am
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Peter says...
I have about 250 fruit, at all stages of development, some quite large, others half size in comparison and lots of tiny ones.

I've continued to use blood & bone, with Sulphate of Potash, might be time for cow manure topup with seasol spp.

All my fruit is till green so will take awhile to ripen as the weather cools.

Anyone know the best way of freezing passionfruit? If kept frozen how long should they be kept for?

Thanks, Peter
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Peter1
 
20th April 2012 3:03pm
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Original Post was last edited: 20th April 2012 3:04pm
snottiegobble says...
My lady pours the flesh into ice cube makers then freezes them. She later taps them into another container with a lid & places back into the freezer! I imagine 6 months at least would be OK.
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso
20th April 2012 3:26pm
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Peter says...
Snottiegobble,

Thanks for that information, I'll give that a go if my fruit gets to that stage.

Cheers, Peter
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Peter1
 
21st April 2012 11:54pm
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Peter1 says...
G'day all,

Here are the laetest pics of my combined cultivars. Panama Red, Panama Gold and Pink Cheeks.

Growth hs now slowed due to cold weather, some very immature fruit have become stunted growth, others quite big, found 4 fruit very crinkly and pale yellow as in deformed.

Some leaves starting to turn yellow. I have not seen any change in outside colour of fruit so might still be some time before these fruit fully mature.

Peter1
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Peter1
Brisbane
8th May 2012 10:56pm
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MaryT says...
That looks fantastic, Peter1; congratulations. All that hand pollinating has proved worthwhile.
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MaryT
Sydney
9th May 2012 6:21am
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amanda says...
Nice work Peter1..!! It all turned out really well in the end didn't it :)

My panama red is in a flowering frenzy at present...I have realised that this seems to happen every autumn - with the fruit usually ripened and dropped by mid spring.
This year I will prune mine after that - even tho the books say to prune in early spring (I would be pruning off all my fruit!)
Then they can put out lots of new fruiting growth over the hot summer.

(well - that's my theory anyway ;)
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amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth.
9th May 2012 9:27am
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Wazzbat says...
Looking good Peter!

I couldn't resist and the other day had to cut open one of my Pink Cheeks to have a peak inside. Wow! It was very full of pulp. Unfortunately they are far from ripe though and it was very bitter. It had a very yellow coloured pulp so it will be interesting to see if it changes colour at all after they ripen which could still be a long way away.

Another bunch of flowers just set fruit again last week too.

Now my "Gold" is starting to flower so it will be interesting to see what happens there? I'm not expecting it to set fruit because I'm pretty sure it needs a cross pollinator?
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Wazzbat
 
10th May 2012 7:37am
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Brendan says...
Geez Peter, you've got enough fruit there to feed the whole street! Well done mate!
If you're not going to freeze the pulp, you'll have to set a stall out the front to sell them! :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
10th May 2012 8:34am
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Peter1 says...
Hi MaryT, Amanda, Wazzbat and Brendan,


Many thanks for your support and do appreciate the suggestions you all have provided me earlier.

Yes, MaryT, hand pollination does pay off. There are no European Bees in my area so it seems, most of the bees seem to have succumed to the mongrel black beetle.

Amanda, I have noticed slight colour changes in the Panama Gold actually turning a shade of yellow but has transformed from the vivid green. I have two fruits that are as big as a cricket ball, awesome, I took a photo of it, could not an accurate size but will try to make another attempt and post it here in a day or two.

Wazzbat, I was cross pollinating Panama Red with Panama Gold and other times I was not, I ended up just hand brushing each one, even though they are supposedly self pollinating.

I do know that when it rains, hand pollinating is not efficentm flowers gather water at the head and eventually fungus developes .

Brendan, Hmmm. nice thought about setting up a stall but after so much effort I will need to enjoy the fruits of my labour first, I'll freeze some if it gets to that stage...passionfruit and icecream. Cheers, Peter :)
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Peter1
Brisbane
12th May 2012 4:58pm
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MaryT says...
Peter1 if you have room in your freezer you don't need to take the pulp out to freeze your passionfruit - just throw them into a plastic bag and freeze them whole.
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MaryT
Sydney
12th May 2012 5:16pm
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Peter1 says...
MaryT,

Good idea about freezing them whole. How long would they normally good for when frozen?

I'll have to check at the time if I have enough freezer room.

Peter1
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Peter1
Brisbane
13th May 2012 11:11pm
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MaryT says...
Peter1 Most things will 'keep' indefinitely if kept at a temperature where bacteria cannot survive but quality deteriorates in time. I don't like to keep anything longer than three months but often 'find' stuff that's been lurking in the freezer for longer and still edible. The important thing is to exclude air which gives your food freezer burn and makes them unpalatable. I use a pump for that. For passionfruit pulp you can add sugar to help it keep longer. Also open freeze ice cube trays of them first before bagging keeps the cubes apart without sticking. I bag my normal icecubes too.

It's good to have a strategy in mind to use up a glut - plan what you would do with it.
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MaryT
Sydney
14th May 2012 7:09am
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Original Post was last edited: 14th May 2012 7:11am
Peter1 says...
MaryT,

Thanks for the tip, I've only noticed two Panama Gold starting to turn a yellow type colour. I assume they drop off the vine when fully ripe but I could be wrong.

Peter1
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Peter1
Brisbane
17th May 2012 11:33pm
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MaryT says...
I have no experience with Panama Gold but the black ones fall off when they're ready. A neighbour used to grow them and I got the ones that fell on my side of the fence :) There were so many that I used to strain them and add the seed-free pulp to a fruit cake batter. Fantastic. Wouldn't do it if I had to buy them at a dollar each.
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MaryT
Sydney
18th May 2012 6:13am
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Peter1 says...
MaryT, maybe they might be the same as in falling off.

Seems to take some time maturing, everything has slowed down. Still keeping my eyes on it though in case a nosey possum or pludering fruitbat might have ideas.

Peter1
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Peter1
Brisbane
19th May 2012 10:24pm
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MaryT says...
Well, Peter1, you look as if you're prepared for some plunder with all the vines you have - one way to avoid having to deal with a glut? :)
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MaryT
Sydney
20th May 2012 11:40am
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Peter1 says...
MaryT,

So far everything is ok, as all is still green, only two have turned a light yellow - gold type colour :)

Peter1
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Peter1
Brisbane
22nd May 2012 11:42pm
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Peter1 says...
testing again
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Peter1
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24th May 2012 12:27am
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Peter1 says...
Had my first Panama Gold fall off the vine, cut it open and the contents spilled out..must admit this variety was not sweet, it was more tangy with a lemon type of taste.

Peter1
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Peter1
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2nd June 2012 11:10pm
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amanda says...
Stick with it Peter1 - they don't usually taste like that...They are usually very sweet (bordering on boring, for my own tastebuds..lol)
I find the winter ripened fruit doesn't build up as much sugars...?
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amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth.
4th June 2012 2:26pm
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Peter1 says...
Hello Amanda,

That might explain it, I have read on the label the Gold Panama suppose to fruit year round, being 1st year growth I thought it might be lacking something.

I have noticed some of the passionfruit leaves are having yellow tinges with the odd brown spots (see picture).

I took the leaves to a local nursery, they reckon it was nutrient deficiency., defintely not diseased of virus. I'm only taking their word for it, maybe someone has had this before and has a solution. The pics have not been retouched.

Any advice would be welcome.

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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4th June 2012 2:46pm
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Brendan says...
Stupid question Peter1, why didn't the nursery tell you what to use?
Anyway, my two-bobs worth, it's lacking magnesium. You could use epsom salts or dolomite. In your case I'd use epsom salts, 30g in a 4½ L water with a 'bit' of wetting agent. Spray the vine twice a week for 3 to 4 weeks. Wouldn't hurt to sprinkle some around the root zone as well, and water in.
Btw, this will help sweeten your tangy fruit :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
5th June 2012 9:09am
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asder says...
It's leaf blotch of passionfruit, a fungus. Spray with Mancozeb . Add Epsom salts to your bath and soak yourself for an hour . Get out of bath and wonder why there is all this contraditary advice on forum
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5th June 2012 9:18am
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Peter1 says...
Brendan,

Good question I dont think they really know themselves, all they said it was lacking in trace elements so I ended up buying a bag. I did apply some epsom salts but probably not enough.

Wetting agent, hmmmm, last time I used that I used too much and damaged the leaves.

I'm picking up some dolomite next week.
****************************************
Asder,
Leaf blotch of passionfruit?

Could you expland on that one please? Nursery staff stated it was lacking nutrients. I guess they dont know.

Thanks, Peter1
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5th June 2012 11:21pm
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asder says...
From what I read passionfruits have several discrete fungal problems affecting leaves. Wet , cloudy weather ,as at present, favours fungal growth. You don't need to do anything much but if you do, I'd use mancozeb as it actually supplies zinc and manganese as well as being a fungicide.
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asder
 
6th June 2012 7:28am
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amanda says...
Gee asder...u sound just like kert/john...??

Peter1 - personally i wouldn't treat such minor symptoms - especially not over winter....? My vine has much worse looking leaves than that - and it's not a problem...the leaves usually catch up and the colour fills out.

Maybe in spring, though, it would be worth adding some trace elements to your spring feed.
Passionfruit are very hungry vines (like many vines tend to be) jsut be careful of the nitrogen (as usual)

What's that stuff on the leaves tho..? Is it dirt..? (kind of bits of black and white flecks..?) especially pic1
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amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth.
6th June 2012 4:12pm
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Mike says...
Amanda I also thought that it was kert and was going to ask if his first name was diz.
The pH of the soil may need correction with the passionfruit.K,S,Mg and micros all have a role in flavour.Mg might be the most urgent need depending on soil acidity.
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Cairns
6th June 2012 4:30pm
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asder says...
If this is your private forum then proceed Mike and Amanda .If not observe the rules of not causing offence. Cheap jokes at the expense of others is not permited ,right?
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Chris says...
The brown oily looking lesions in pic3 look very much like a fungal problem.


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6th June 2012 5:48pm
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GardeningAustraliaWanabee says...
Seems to be a plethora of bad advice above.
Passionfruit aren't fussy with pH.
The number one problem is fungal. Commerical growers extensively use fungicides, up to 20 a year.
For the record this is what magnesium deficiency looks like on a passionfruit vine;
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
  
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6th June 2012 6:24pm
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Mike says...
Sorry asder it was only a joke as I presumed it was an a pseudonym.I am still on the bayberry case by the way and will send out an alert when and if they turn up.
GAW I have to admit fungi have killed passionfruit of mine many times before.Lots of cultivated fruit receive big doses of funicide on a regular basis.I have found I can get greater health and longevity out of vines by elevating the pH above about 6.3 with dolomite.My comments related to flavour improvement as well as nutrient deficiency.Fungal and viral attack can show symptoms like nutrient deficiencies I am led to believe.
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amanda says...
And we just need one more and we have the triumvirate back again..?

I would have said Mg out of all the trace elements too Brendan and Mike - just because u can actually see that distinctive wedge of green possibly forming at the leaf stalk end.

I've never had fungal problems with my vines - nor ever seen it myself...must be an eastern states thing.. ;-)
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Peter1 says...
Hello Amanda, Mike,GardeningAustraliaWanabee, Chris and Asder.

I always tend to have an open mind on many things and I thank all those that contribute their knowledege and experience on this topic.

Soil pH..two cultivars are grown in premium grade potting mix with a mixture of rotted cow manure, blood and bone with sulfate of potash, citrus feed trace elements, handful of epsom salts as well as dolomite..no real soil per say but could est the pH to see what it is.

Panama Gold and Red are both contained in 500mm x 450mm deep pots.

Pink cheeks seem to have an outside skin of yellow, almost same colour of Panama Gold, I shall let you know when it fully matures.

2 Panama Red fruit is starting to mature, distinct colouration is forming.

I still have heaps of straw covering the surface area and this morning have applied additional dolomite to Pink Cheeks cultivar.

Amanda..Figure 1 leaf was not contaminated with dirt, it's probably some type of black spore or possibly red spider mite making their appearance again.

The colourations of these leaves have been noticeable for the past month or so, could also be some magnesium deficients.

How much Mg should I apply to correct this balance?

Cheers, Peter1
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7th June 2012 1:58pm
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snottiegobble says...
Keep it nice please everyone, I am sure we have all enjoyed this forum lately!
I eventually got a fungal attack on my black PF in Vic., but so far nothing here except the sun has yellowed some of the leaves. Young growth is lovely & green!
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso
7th June 2012 3:10pm
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Melissa says...
HI all,

It's been awhile, nothing to report. My fruit ripened early!

M-I-L froze the whole lot of two weeks of ripe fruit while we were away during January whole in their skin - I don't like very much how the skin goes soggy when thawing out... I wished she'd just put them in the fridge and I'd of cut them and cubed them in icecube trays.

Misty Gem has had flowers, none set; I haven't been out in the garden much though, I haven't put the effort in hand pollinating the second flush of flowers as I didn't get any joy with the first flush! I'll try again next Spring.

I did go out and have a look at the vines the other day and the Misty Gem is still forming flowers but no fruit!

Happy winter and enjoy your fruits as they ripen :-)

Melissa
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
8th June 2012 7:17pm
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Brendan says...
That leaf at top of GAW's photo looks like pic 2 & 3 of peter1 photos (to me?)
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Mackay, Q
9th June 2012 9:03am
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Peter1 says...
Hello Snottiegobble, Melissa and Brendan.

I hope everyone is in good health during this cold season.

Yep, fungus attacks can be a pain.

Melissa, It can be bit of a job when one has to hand pollinate each flower.

That's what I have to do to mine, definetly no pollinators where I reside.

Brendan, you might be right about the leaf pics.
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9th June 2012 12:20pm
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Peter1 says...
Brendan,

When you say a 'bit' of wetting agent.

What type of wetting agent and quantity please.The nursery I go to is not really up to speed on this sort of thing.

As for spray, Do you want me to spray the epsom salts on the vine twice a week for 3 to 4 weeks?

Had my first panama red today, it was not fully ripe as it was on the ground this morning, still had a lt of rind in it, it was sort of ripe and tasted a lot sweeeter than panama gold.

Cheers, Peter1
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snottiegobble says...
Peter1, are you saying there are no bees, wasps, or ants where you are? That is really bad & what would you put it down to, floods maybe?
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snottiegobble
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9th June 2012 2:51pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, 'Kenwet' is a good wetting agent, but it is easy to overdo. I use 5ml to 5 litres of spray. I think they say to add 2ml to 10 L?
P/fruit vines are very hard to wet, you'll know when you have enough tho.

Please don't use 'soil wetter', it's a totally different product, and should never be sprayed on plants.

Yep Peter1, spray twice a week for 3 to 4 weeks. If it rains, spray again. You could add some liquid Potash to the spray, that will make the rind thinner.
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Mackay, Q
10th June 2012 6:28am
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Peter1 says...
snottiegobble,

yep no bees, only paper wasps and mud hornets, (they don't pollinate)only tiny small black ants and very small black beetles. Black beetles of the destructive kind and the only time I see tiny black ants and ants with white looking bottoms is when red spider mites or aphids are around.
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Peter1
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10th June 2012 11:11pm
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Peter1 says...
Brendan,

Thanks for that additional info, I'll obtain some "Kenwel" this week. and give it a spray over.

Cheers, Peter1
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10th June 2012 11:14pm
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Brendan says...
That's KENWET Peter1 :-)
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Mackay, Q
11th June 2012 7:51am
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Peter1 says...
Brendan,

Thanks , it was my typo.

I've had another couple of passionfruit dropping off prematurely, they were not fully coloured on the outside.

Pink cheeks were actually yellow skin and the pulp was very bitter / tardy.

I'll post a photo of the fruit and its contents on here probably Friday.

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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13th June 2012 10:37pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1 (& asder/kert/john),
I sent a photo of Peter's passionfruit leaves to the 'garden guru' up here, for a third opinion. Here's his answer:
Hi Brendan,
Tom wrote: "The vine is Magnesium deficient, apply a dressing of Epsom Salts to the root zone and Sulphate of Potash, one clenched handful per sq metre, the Potash will take care of the thick rind."

So asder/kert/john, it appears I was right, and you weren't? :-) (note question mark).

BTW, our 'garden guru' up here has forgotten more than ANYONE on this forum.

Happy gardening!



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Brendan
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16th June 2012 6:52am
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Original Post was last edited: 16th June 2012 7:51am
Wazzbat says...
Hi ppls.

I just arrived home yesterday from a 3 week holiday to find about a dozen fruit on the ground. I think most of them fell off during the storms we had in Perth so they were probably not as ripe as they could have been?

There were 9 Pink Cheeks and 3 Sunshine Specials. The PC have a very thick rind and are quite tart but still edible. They are a good size and full of juicy pulp. The colours on the outside ranged from a greeny/yellow (less ripe) to a more pinky/yellow but from the ones I've cut open, the colour didn't affect the taste. They are all very similar.

The SS were a fair bit smaller with a thinner rind, less pulp inside but slightly sweeter. The colour of the the SS are a deep purple.

I still have a fair bit of fruit left on my vines so look forward to having a bit of a feed over the next few weeks!

I'm hoping they both crop in summer and the fruit is a bit sweeter?
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16th June 2012 7:45am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Brendan,

Thanks mate for your efforts and I also thank the "Garden Guru" Tom. Could you be kind enough to thank him on my behalf please.

With the epsom salts and Sulphate of Potash, one clenched handful per square metre...how much would that be for a pot thats 400cm deep 450cm round?

I have sprayed the vine with a mixture of Epsom salts to 4 litres of water with BrushWet...could not purchase KenWet anywhere on Brisbane southside.

Also applied some Epsom Salts with water to the root zone yesterday.

Still notice some black or brown spots on leasves.

Peter1

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Peter1 says...
Wazzbat,

I hope you had a good break.

My Pink Cheeks were mostly yellow on the outside and inside was a little towards orange, but very tardy...I'll post the pics in a day or two for everyone to see.

Seems like yours is doing a bit better than mine so far.

I dont have any pinky ones as yet.I too hope mine survives through to summer and ripen in summer for a change so might be more sweeter.

Peter1
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, only about a tablespoon of each per pot. Are all your p/f growing in pots? Not real keen on pots.
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Brendan
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17th June 2012 9:40am
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Peter1 says...
Brendan,

Only have two cultivars in pots, the other is in the ground.

Real soil is non existant where I live, the entire ground is acidic, (1 acre), clay is not too far under the grass, hence pots had to be used for the other 2.

Also have deformed fruit, which I have removed from the vine.

Here are the photos of passionfruit.

Pic 1 Top view of Panama Red
Pic 2 Side view of Panama Red
Pic 3 Top view of Pink Cheeks
Pic 4 inside the Pink cheek
Pic 5 Bottom view of pink Cheeks
Pic 6 Deformed Passionfruit

Cheers, Peter1
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2

Picture: 3

Picture: 4

Picture: 5

Picture: 6
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Peter1
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Original Post was last edited: 17th June 2012 11:31pm
Brendan says...
Good pics Peter1. Another stupid question, why is the Pink Cheeks p/f yellow?

I've posted this pic before, my p/f are also (trying) to grow in clayey soil, so I use a bottom-less pot (ring), filled with potting mix, cow manure, soil, gypsum & fertilizer etc.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
  
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Brendan
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23rd June 2012 8:25am
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Peter1 says...
Thanks Brendan

Not a stupid question you asked. I'm also puzzled as to why it is yellow.

There are some weird things happening with my vines.

Yes, I have seen the pot pic previously. I have filled mine with potting mix, cow manure, blood and bone, fertiliser, bugger all soil, straw to keep moisture in, just added Potash of Sulphur and Epsom Salts again.

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24th June 2012 1:14am
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Wazzbat says...
Some of my PCs are starting to turn a more Pinky colour. They look more like your pics of the Panama Reds Peter1.
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25th June 2012 8:15am
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Peter1 says...
Wazzbat,
Good to hear your's is coming along quite well. My PC were very tardy, not sweet as they should be.

If you was closer to me I could come down to your place to have a gander.

I've never had problems with passionfruit vines in the past, in NSW, soil was black as, only had nelly kelly but never had problems like the ones I have currently.

Especially retarded fruit, I'd like to know what's causing this to happen..I've found another 5 passionfruits heading the same direction i.e. crinkly.

Panama Reds, that I've had so far, only 3, half coloured were nice and sweet..still a long way to go hey!!

Peter1

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25th June 2012 10:50pm
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Peter1 says...
Still have fruit shrivelling up and leaves dropping prematurely.

Not as many yellow leaves, but some leaves with a burnt edge along the entire leaf. Some new leaves seem to be getting deformed. Then again Pink Cheeks vne might be contamination Panama Red and Panama Gold cultivars.

???
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amanda says...
For what it's worth - my vines are looking very shabby at present - but it's winter so I am not worried...lots and lots of leaf and premature fruit drop (but mostly the youngest fruit formed b4 just b4 the cold weather arrived) It's been mostly around 6 to 10 oC overnight here - for past month..

Come early spring they will be getting a very thorough pruning to stimulate new healthy growth..
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amanda19
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7th July 2012 8:03pm
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Wazzbat says...
The trick is to prune back hard without losing too much fruit? I have no idea how I am going to achieve this? Hopefully the fruit ripens up before its time to prune?
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amanda says...
Hi Wazzbat :) You will get a window in spring - especially with the panamas...I could have pruned mine in Nov/Dec no problems - as they didn't really start to flower heaps until Feb anyway..?

You might lose the odd fruit - but the prune should repay you with heaps more - as passionfruit fruit on new growth.

If we weren't moving now...I would prune mine back in mid spring (or as soon as the majority of the fruit has dropped) and then give it a good feed with manure, trace elements and some slow release, lower N fert like dynamic lifter/rooster booster.

This should get some vigorous new healthy growth happening on which the new seasons fruit will form...

My purple sunshine special has almost dropped all of it's fruit now...so it will be ready come spring.

Just a waiting game now hey :)
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amanda says...
(ps: I really regret not pruning my panama this last season :-( It was carrying fruit until mid spring and I didn't want to lose them...but then once they were gone - I didn't want to prune in case it was flowering time..lol..in the end I had at least a 2 month period where I could have pruned no problems...
This vine now into it's 4 year with no pruning at all...and it looks a right mess - with lots of dead stuff under last seasons growth - which is showing up really badly now that it's defoliating for winter....I could live with this - but the vine is at the entry to the house - and it looks bloody awful!? :-O
Ah well - u live n learn!?
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Wazzbat says...
My PCs and SSs are both still holding fruit so as soon as they drop, I will be hacking them right back. I can't help myself. I cut back way more than 50% of the vines. They should come back again though?
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Peter1 says...
Hello Amanda, Wazzbat,

I'm going to prune mine right back at least 75%.

I'll be posting additional pics in the next day or so. I'm sort of wondering whether my vines has some type of fungus present.

Some of the fruits appear to have brown spots and raised dimples on the outer skin as if they have been attacked by something.

I have provided phosphate of potash, cow manure, blood and bone, straw, goat manure also as an experiment.

Sprayed the vine with eco-Neem as well as Mangozeb.

Wazzbat, has your pc actually turning pink and sweet?

Mine were yellow and very bitter (very tardy as they dropped of the vine way too early).

Amanda..have any of your leaves had brown spots or burnt looking edges?

My vines are certainly problematic.

Will post pics of leaves in day or two.
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8th July 2012 11:04pm
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Wazzbat says...
Hi Peter

My PCs Have changed colour. Most of them now look very similar to a panama red I think? They are more of a purple/red colour with that sort of silver speckle through them. I'm not home ATM but when I do get home, I will try and remember to get some pics.

I haven't had any fruit drop since we had that storm while I was away, so hopefully they are getting a bit sweeter on the vine now?
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9th July 2012 8:33am
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amanda says...
Hey Peter...not sure without a pic? You have put lots of stuff on them - so that in itself may be the problem?

They shouldn't need much in the way of food in winter? Just an application of one manure would be more than enough? And if you keep applying potash - you can burn the leaves also..

About half, or more, of my leaves are drying up and dying - just part of winter..but our winter temps may be different...
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amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth.
9th July 2012 11:56am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Wazzbat,

Your PC's seem to be much more reliable than mine,and turning the correct colour. I must have a dud or a "John West Reject".

It would be good to see a pic of those PC's.
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Peter1
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10th July 2012 12:01am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Amanda,

I'd post the pic later tonight or early tomorrow. I'll post a few , even young new leaves are suffering.

I might be over applying too much , bit hard to determine as to how much is sufficient.

Where I am between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, during winter months, coldest temp so far has been 9 degrees Celcius.

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Peter1 says...
Hi Amanda,

As stated last night, Here are my pics of the affected leaves and Passionfruit.

Pic1 is leaf from Panama Gold

Pic2 is close up of Panama Gold leaf

Pic3 Panama Red

Pic4 Panama Red

Pic5 Panama red with Brown raised spots

Pic6 Shriveled passionfruit, could be Panama Red

Pic7 Raised brown spots

Pic8. Young leaf with signs of damage

As the vine is intermixed between the three cultivars.

Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2

Picture: 3

Picture: 4

Picture: 5

Picture: 6

Picture: 7

Picture: 8
 
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Peter1
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10th July 2012 9:26am
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Original Post was last edited: 10th July 2012 9:42am
amanda says...
Pic 7 and 8 are a worry...? Pic 7 looks like a fungal problem and pic 8 looks like you have done something very drastic to the soil...Other members may have more ideas...

You need to pH test your soil - it's possible that one of the manures and or all the potash - have made the soil very alkaline all of a sudden.

No offence Peter - but you really need to stop killing your vines with so much kindness..? :-(

I get little raised bumps on my fruits also...it's a bug that pierces the skin and leaves a scar. I have never had anything make it thru to the other side(inside) the fruit and lay eggs etc...it's just a cosmetic problem for me here.

Pic 1 &2 - no idea - probably not so important in light of 7 &8

Pic 6 I have plenty of those over winter - I can see u have nice hard fruit too (as do I) It happens every winter and my vine is not sick at all...
I suspect it's fruit that has been pollinated, and then grown, just that little bit too late maybe..
The soil is also colder - so it is supposed to be harder for plants to draw up nutrients from the soil in winter.

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amanda19
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10th July 2012 8:19pm
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Peter1 says...
Hi Amanda,

Thanks for your comments.

Yep, you could be correct on the soil. I have two cultivars in large 450mm round x 400mm deep pots.

The other is in the ground and in clay.

I know the soil where I am is Acidic at 4.5, and needs to be a bit alkaline.

The pots dont have real soil, only premium otting mix with fertiliser. cow manure with goat manure recently added.

I'll take some of the profile out and have it pH tested.

Fruit bug, tiny blackish blue creature, I'm going to place one under the uni microscope and take its' picture. I will post it here. Might be Friday some time.

Good to know the raised lumps is a common problem as well as the shrivelled fruit is not just unique to me.

Cheers
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Peter1
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10th July 2012 11:44pm
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Peter1 says...
pH Soil test results are available.

pH for Panama Red is 6.0 to 6.5

pH for Panama Gold is 6.0

pH for Pink Cheeks is 6.0

All soils are acidic. Just placed additional Dolomite 0.5kg per square metre.
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Peter1
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11th July 2012 11:10pm
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amanda says...
Well - this pic may be of interest to you Peter...I can't help you much more than this I'm afraid...you have too much going on there for my liking - maybe someone else can assist ;)

The fat lines are stimulation
The thin lines are antagonism

You can see that the relationships between the elements are complex. By using synthetic ferts the way you are (=excessively) you will cause the problems you are seeing.

You really need to spend some time reading up on some fertiliser info' - I can recommend "Gardening down under" by Kevin Handreck, at least, he explains fertilisers and their interactions really well and it's user friendly.
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amanda19
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12th July 2012 1:19pm
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Peter1 says...
Hello Amanda,

Thanks for that, I'll study the relationships of ferts.

Cheers
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Peter1
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12th July 2012 11:55pm
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amanda says...
It would be worth your while Peter1 - I am not saying that this is the case - but every time you add more potash and dolomite - you may affect the uptake of magnesium...(as u can see in the chart - potassium and magnesium are mutually antagonistic...and calcium antogonistic to Mg also...
Pic 1 & 2 could 'possibly' be this effect (a magnesium "deficiency") - although it's not a deficiency at all...but people then think - oh I have better add some more magnesium then...

This is just chasing your tail basically...and the plant will no doubt suffer. The chart is a great reality check for people to see the possible effects of indiscriminant fertiliser use...

Best to take a step back from that vicuous cycle and keep focussing on your improving your soil - and raising the pH SLOWLY!

I would be getting or making some good compost - and putting your soil amendments in there - let it mature and feed your vines the what the need this way instead...it will be far more gentle than straight synthetic/chemical fert use...
You are really looking for specific info on managing an acid soil...it may be sand, clay, leached, acid sulphate....? See what you can google under (for eg):

managing acid soils..?

And - take advice from people who are already successfully managing acid soils like yours..? People with hands on experience in the same situations can be very helpful ;-)
Just my 2cents worth :)
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amanda19
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15th July 2012 1:44pm
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Peter1 says...
Hello Amanda,

Many thanks for your advice:)

Good points you have made :)

The soil were I am on some sections of the propery, especailly front is clay and rock at about 8cm below the surface.

At the back of the house its also clay but deeper in the ground and also rocky beneath.

I'm living in an area of Eagleby where the land has never been farmed for the past 150 years or so as its too acidic and clayish underneath.

The pH (I think) was 4.6 at one stage but now 6.0.

I'm in the process of making a complete new batch of compost with rotted cow manure and let rest for 3 months prior to planting any new vines.

I have been doing some searches using google, will need to narrow my search. All good :)

Cheers.
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15th July 2012 9:50pm
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amanda says...
It sounds like a challenging location/soil Peter1...but you will get there in the end!
It takes time to improve the ground - but organic matter and clay are happy combination - u can't do much harm to keep adding OM to your clay.

There is some info in the Blackwater thread on acidic clay, from memory (might be by Speedy)

There are different methods that can help also - this one talks about crusher/cracker dust and raising soil pH..? I am not much help with clay tho..

http://www.oliveaustralia.com.au/Olifax_Topics/Crusher_Dust/crusher_dust.html



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amanda19
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16th July 2012 5:44pm
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Mike says...
Peter 1 passionfruit are acid lovers and 5 to 6 pH is fine for them.They have shallow extensive rootsystems and a soft spot for clay.Amanda is correct and mulching the living daylights outa them will help.Balanced fertiliser with micros is better than single nutrients applied on their own.
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Peter1 says...
Thanks Amanda and Mike,

That is true what you have said. I now believe I made an error in hastily planting a passionfruit vine in a ground that was not left with sufficient tiem to break the clay and allowing organic matter to do its work prior to planting.

I should have waited at least 3 to 6 months to allow the microbes to their job as well as sufficient time in breaking down clay.

With the clay soil I just applied some dolomite and Aglime dug the clay up to bind, throw some organic manure and placed a vine to grow simultaneously.

In this respect I did not allow sufficient time. Live and learn, wont make the same mistake twic.

Cheers
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Peter1
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16th July 2012 11:34pm
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Kellie says...
Hi there, I've had a wonderful vine that I received from cutting - the parent tree would be about 5 or 6, my cutting is 2... But it looks like it's dying. Does a cutting only live as long as it's parent? Thank you so much. Kellie
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Kellie
Australia
29th July 2012 9:11am
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Original Post was last edited: 29th July 2012 9:12am
Peter1 says...
Hi Kellie,

I cant comment on cuttings as I dont have experience in that area but I'm sure there would be someone on here that does and can help you on that.

I finally found / narrowed the problem for my vines. The vine and fruit has scale, fungus infection and mites, as well as signes of magnesium deficiency.

Horticulturalist was at my place and checked over the vine. 1 teaspoon of magnesium is recommended as well as mixture of mancozebe and copper Oxychloride and spray over the vine, upper and under story of vine.

Don't spray on hot days or over 30 degrees C.

Vine is salvageable.

Will be spraying vine in next day or two whilst winter weather is in Brisbane and winds not too blowy.

Peter1
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Peter1
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30th July 2012 10:15pm
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Peter1 says...
My vine has recovered. Had a fungal disease, sprayed with Mangoceb and Copper Oxychloride with a repeat spraying in 15 days.

Vine had the scales, red spider mites as well as a particular fungal infection due to excessive rain and colder than normal weather.

Leaves have improved colour and vigour, fruit no longer dropping off prematurely and are now rippening properly on the vine...Boron was missing from trace elements. Panama Gold is now sweeter than previously.
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Peter1
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8th August 2012 10:38pm
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Brendan says...
Very good to hear Peter1, it's been extremely cold here this winter :-(

Have to tell you, there's a passionfruit growing in the bush in my neighbour's back yard (he lives 200m away), anyway, the p/f were wrinkly, had thick rind, sour, falling off early etc. I fed the vine sulphate of potash & a bit of boron. Now they're the best tasting p/f around here! Yum. now there's about 50 on! :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
9th August 2012 7:57am
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Peter1 says...
Brendan,

Yep, it's been a cold and crispy mornings, will be lighting a fire in the back yard as soon as the conditions are right and no clothes hanging on the line or adjoining neighbours.

Boron and sulphate of potash seems to do the work. How much boron did you use?

Good to hear the fruit is much tastier.

Cheers
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Peter1
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9th August 2012 11:05pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, I forgot to add, I gave it some epsom salts as well.

It's a big vine, so I reckon I gave it a good handful of boron, and about 3 handfulls of SoP & epsom salts spread over about 3 to 4 sq m. Not long after that, we had 147mm of rain :-)

The one in the photo fell off about 2 weeks ago. The rind is still a bit thick, but the taste is spot-on!

PS Did you read that p/f tip in the 'my little experiment' thread? :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
11th August 2012 8:07am
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Original Post was last edited: 11th August 2012 8:14am
Peter1 says...
Hi Brendan,

Good photo of the passionfruit, looks like it's full and juicy.

I'll have to go light on my formulae as I have a vine in each pot x 2 and the other is in the ground.

The potted ones I wouold say be a metre i.e. 400mm x 450mm.

Know,I have not read the p/f tip in your thread as yet as I only became aware of it since you mentioned it.

Do you have the link?

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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11th August 2012 11:08am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Brendan,

Good photo of the passionfruit, looks like it's full and juicy.

I'll have to go light on my formulae as I have a vine in each pot x 2 and the other is in the ground.

The potted ones I wouold say be a metre i.e. 400mm x 450mm.

Know,I have not read the p/f tip in your thread as yet as I only became aware of it since you mentioned it.

Do you have the link?

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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11th August 2012 11:10am
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, no it's not my tip about p/f, it was posted by someone else.
At the moment, it's down below this thread, just scroll down til you see: "My little experiment". Or, just type that up the top right box, that should take you there :-)
It's not that good anyway :-/
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
12th August 2012 7:27am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Brendan,

Yep, seen the thread, mostly talking about liver and offal in general.

I've heard about liver, suppose to provide a boost. I'm not into eating liver or offal, but have placed carp in the ground , dug in to rot and grew nice tomatoes and cucumbers. might be some truth to the liver being full of nutrient. As long as theres no cats or dogs sniffing the area.
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Peter1
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16th August 2012 12:05am
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Elisabet says...
hi from Bali,
i have 3 great p/f vines which seem to fruit continuously - i feel i should prune them and let them rest but hard when the fruit is developing - i think i just have to do it!....... any advice please!
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Elisabet
Bali
18th August 2012 6:56pm
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Mike says...
Elisabet I would not hard prune all 3 at once and lose the fruit that are coming on.Once the peak of fruit is past I would prune one vine and then mulch and fertlise it.If all goes well you can follow with the other 2 vines.If they keep fruiting again and again the quality and size will reduce as they use up their resources.Is is a big yellow one that is orange yellow inside?
Do you ever see gula pasir snake fruit from the eastern highlands in your travels?
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Cairns
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Elisabet says...
thanks for that Mike - a bit difficult as they are all growing together - but i will have a go. it should be three different kinds - local, Aussie and Brazilian but so far they seem to be more or less the same, all delicious! maybe a few yellow ones (Brazilian ).
salak - yes we get the different kinds in my local supermarket but not my favourite fruit so none in the garden!
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Elisabet
Bali
19th August 2012 4:49pm
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Mike says...
Elisabet there are many kinds of passionfruit around here including some very sweet ones.The one in the picture is called african yellow.
Why I ask about salak is that I'm chasing seeds of the gula pasir Bali salak which is the best one.I have the common lowland bali salak and I ask friends to get seeds when they go on holidays but they are too busy frolicking and having fun to remember seeds for me.Maybe if you could send seeds of that good type I could send a bunch of seeds to you if you are after particular kinds of fruit or vegies.
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Cairns
19th August 2012 5:24pm
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Elisabet says...
seeds to Australia???? i am quite happy to post some from here but will they ever arrive .......how do you disguise seeds!
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Elisabet
Bali
19th August 2012 5:58pm
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Mike says...
Elisabet they are allowed and only some seeds are not allowed.If they are in a clip lock bag with the name on there is no problem.I can return the favour and get you fruit seeds of species or varieties that are not yet in Bali or hard to get there.If it seems like a hassle it is alright to forget about it.What fruits would you want? I can get seeds of many types.
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Cairns
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Elisabet says...
hi mike - sorry for not being in touch.
i will get some salak for you in september (i hope) big festival time here for the next few weeks and difficult to et hold of them. off diving first part of september but after that ......
cuttin back the passion fruit next week...
ithanks - i don't really need any seeds / have enoght to cope with as it is!
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Elisabet
Bali
22nd August 2012 8:35pm
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Mike says...
Elisabet that is kind of you.I do have many fruit,herb and vegie seeds at my fingertips that I know are not yet in bali.Even speies like jaboticaba in the picture are good even if they are there already.
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Cairns
22nd August 2012 8:57pm
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Peter1 says...
Hi Mike,

Can you let me know what ricks you have to get Jaboticaba to fruit. Old fella has same in the ground for many years but only fruits on occassion. Never gave any fertiliser, I gave it a trim and haircut few months ago.

Any advice?

Peter1
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Peter1
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26th August 2012 7:54pm
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Mike says...
Peter 1 there are no tricks with jabs and they respond to fertiliser and water better than most fruit trees.If you fertlise it with NPK low in Chlorides and natural fertlisers as well as mulching around it alot it will have a greater likelhood of fruiting frequently and heavily.Give it a good soaking once in a while and will also respond.
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26th August 2012 8:32pm
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Peter1 says...
Mike,

Ok thanks for the tip. The poor tree has never receieved any fertiliser or mulch for the past few years. There is no free soil surrounding the tree, mostly all grass covered and the ground is hard as a rock to dig.

Cheers.
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Peter1
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27th August 2012 10:16am
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Peter1 says...
Update,

My Pink Cheeks ended up being Gold on the outside and tardy taste...my panama red, had a few which 3/4 ripen on the vine and some went Gold colour on the skin...Panama Gold was creamy yellow on the skin and also very tardy taste.

Most of the fruit dropped off the vine prematurely. Leaves were sprayed with Mangozeb and Copper oxychloride combined to stop brown spot... new growth is emerging , some yellowing of the leaves still occur but not as prolific as previously..will upload new pics sometime this week. Peter1
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Peter1
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Peter1 says...
Ok, Here, are the latest pics.

Vine has diminished due to leaves yellowing etc,

Photo of clump passionfruit cannot be distinguished as they are all one colour. These represent Panama Gold, Panama Red and Pink Cheeks respectively.

Cheers
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Peter1
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amanda says...
There's a panama red in there Peter1..? They must have mixed up the plant labels I think!? ;-)
Maybe passionfruit don't like it where u are...
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amanda19
Leschenault (160kms south of Perth)
18th September 2012 11:17pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, looks like the rootstock has taken over? Are they grafted? They look exactly like my Tropical Yellow.
As the guru says up here, they're a mans passionfruit :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
22nd September 2012 9:00am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Amanda.

You are correct I did have about 5 red panama all up, There was the odd one left on the vine that turned red before dropping off.

I'm always susc about labels, the entire land where I reside is acidic, neighbours place is the same, very acidic 4.5pH

My soil is currently about 5.5 to 6.0 pH
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Peter1
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23rd September 2012 10:39pm
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Original Post was last edited: 23rd September 2012 10:47pm
Peter1 says...
Hi Brendan, All the vines were grafted.

I planted them with the grafted part up and away from the soil layer.

I am starting to see new growth emerging.
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, do you want me to send you some seeds for a good panama red?
These actually came from an old p/fruit grower up here :-)

My email: bitquicker at bigpond dot com.
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24th September 2012 8:50am
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Melissa says...
Hi all,

Passionfruits flowering well, hand pollinating the Nelly Kelly Black again, lots of set fruit. The elusive Misty Gem has some fruit on it!!! Set by itself.... It has been flowering now for 12 months. I was surprised when I went out a couple of weeks ago to do my tidy up before the onset of spring flowers to find it still producing flowers and to my shock actually have some fruit on it.

I gave it a general tidy up by removing old wood from last spring.

Now I need someone's expertise help! I've googled and can't find the answer.... Amanda, Brendan anyone else who knows what will fix this.

I unfortunately entrusted my husband to apply the Sulphate of Potash to the vines...... how much does it need he asks? I reply, check the directions but I use 1-2 tablespoons per 9L of water in the watering can and water it on! His reply is the watering can is broken I'll sprinkle it on and water it in.

It has had two of these applications two weeks apart. I've been watching the Misty Gem and it's looking wilted and the flowers don't look right after closing up...... I've tried pollinating them but no dice so I'm leaving it to it's own devices. I'm in the process of sourcing bee attractive herbs to plant near the vines to get some bees into my garden. At the moment I think it is only the wasps who have set the fruit on the Misty Gem.

Sorry, back to my need!!! My husband has used a WHOLE bag of Sulphate of Potash in two applications onto the two passionfruit vines.

At this time it only appears to be effecting the Misty Gem, what can I do to counteract the MASSIVELY overdosed passionfruit vines with Sulphate of Potash?

Melissa
Northern Beaches Sydney
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
24th September 2012 5:17pm
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Peter1 says...
Hi Brendan,

Sure, would love to get some seeds for a good panama red, I'll conntact you via email shortly.

Mine is bondy99 at hotmail dot com

Many thanks, Peter1
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Peter1
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24th September 2012 10:14pm
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Peter1 says...
Hi Melissa,

Long time no hear. Great to hear your passionfruits are flowering well, hand pollinating is time consuming, it's the only way how mine got to set fruit. The only time I've seen bees in the place I reside was first time last month pollinating broadbeans. The humble bee is good sight to see..

Brendan and Amanda are knowledgeable people , I'm sure there are others on this forum that could help you with the question you raised. I'm still on a learning curve Sulphate of Potash..I use a back pack sprayer with twin nozzles.

Don't like the plastic tanks, would prefer the original metal tanks any day, I don't think they are made any longer.

Nelly Kelly are sweet, I was down the coast, down at Condong NSW 3 weeks ago, a farmer gave me a bag full to try out, they must have been seconds as the shape was not uniform for market, bit of a shame though, poor farmers can't win, I offered to pay the farmer but he would not hear of it.

I hope the Misty Gem comes good for you.

Cheers
Peter1
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Peter1
Brisbane
24th September 2012 10:29pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Melissa, to help counteract the overdose of potash, try spreading gypsum where the potash is, at 4 handfuls per sq m, and water it in.
Good luck!
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
1st October 2012 7:51am
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Melissa says...
Thanks Brendan, the Misty Gem didn't survive the mega dose of Potash :-( it died and I now have a vacant space.

I'd love to plant a Sunshine Special but can not find one any where.

How is everyone else's passionfruit going? I've been busy pollinating flowers and I kept doing so this year, I stopped too early last year and short changed myself on how many fruit I got.

I couldn't help myself and "picked" the first almost ripe passionfruit a couple of days ago..... it was small in size; but full of pulp..... a little tart but I don't mind them like that.

3 more harvested today :-)

Bees: I've planted herbs in pots and placed them in the garden bed where my passionfruit grows. I've had success and seen ONE bee in my yard, it was attending the Borage plant and its bright blue flowers.

I didn't rely on this bee setting my passionfruit and I've continued to hand pollinate them with great success this year.

Melissa
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Melissa5
North Curl Curl NSW
30th November 2012 1:46pm
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Peter1 says...
Hello Melissa,

Sorry to hear about your Misty Gem's demise.

My vines are still bit iffy, I've only pruned back a small amount of dead branches, leaves are not big this time round, I've have some flowers which I too am hand pollinating but may have been a bit late for some as the pollen was a bit dry.

Very hot and humid this week. I've placed some cow manure at the base as well as couple of carp I caught earlier. Carp is dug in and not far from the roots so it should provide some nutrient for Panama Red and Panama Gold.

All of my Panama Gold last year was sour, I even kept a few in a bowl for 2 weeks, all produced a brown spot on the outside of their shells.

I sprayed my vines with Mangozeb and copper solution combined to treat black or brown spot on the vine and leaves. This worked to some degree.

I wonder how everyone else's vines went.

Peter1
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Peter1
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2nd December 2012 10:41am
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Peter1 says...
Update on my vines.

Sometime ago during the heatwave my pink cheeks either started to wilt from the heat or there was a sap sucking bug getting around. The vine in question looked as if the life was drained from it so I decided to cut it back to above ground level for eventual removal.

The other vines are still coping but no longer have their large leaves, only 1/5th the size for Panama Red and Gold respectively.

I'm going to redo and improvise the soil of the previous pink cheeks and replant with Panama Red. This time I'll wait 3 months to allow the microbes do their work in improving / conditiong the soil.

Merry Christmas and all the best for 2013 everyone.

Peter1
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Peter1
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8th December 2012 11:42pm
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Peter1 says...
Hello to all on this fresh start to a new year.

I apologise for my lateness but here are a couple of pics of couple of creatures that was seen on the passionfruit vine.

One bug was sucking away at the leaves. The other is an ant I have never seen, its very agile, fast and apparently can bite, (so the old bloke said).

I don't know if it's a fire ant or some other import.

Although it's small, it is not a young sugar ant.

Creatures were photographed using a specialised camera microscope, 10x eye piece objective , stage lens was zoom type. 25x approximate.

I only have panama gold and panama red at the moment, I've missed out on pollinating 10 flowers, so that's 10 less fruit this year. Only have one fruit bearing at present.

Have a great new year eveyone.
Peter1
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Peter1
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1st January 2013 11:41am
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Original Post was last edited: 1st January 2013 11:46am
Dex says...
Everyone sounds so successful in their passionfruit endeavours. i have had 1 vine in for 18 months, all I have had from it is a few flowers :-(. No fruit. I have big black ants allover it, which I have tried to remove with antkill, and more recently, Borax. However I have not seen one fruit, dispite going over each flower last year, trying to pollinate. Any advice is gratefully accepted.
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Dex
Brisbane
4th January 2013 2:20pm
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Peter1 says...
Hello Dex,

Unfortunately you are not alone with the problem.

If you don't have any bees or other pollinators around your place, then you will have to do like I did.


I used a soft haired paintbrush and pollinated all flowers when they open in the first hour or so.

If you pollinate early during the day i.e wheh the flowers anthem and stigma is in full bloom, the pollen will stick better.

The longer you get to do this task during the day, chances are the pollen wont stick effectively.

I'm sure there will be others in this forum who may offer more advice but I know what I did worked for me.

Hope this helps you, Peter1
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Peter1
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6th January 2013 2:53am
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Brendan says...
This one came up by itself! Skin was a tad thick, so I'm giving it some sulphate of potash :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
20th January 2013 9:36am
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Peter1 says...
Hello Brendan,

Nice one you have.

I'll have to do the same soon, buds falling off , only one fruit this year.

Might but some boron into the mix.
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Peter1
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22nd January 2013 10:49pm
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Peter1 says...
Hello all,

I had lots of flowers again, no bees again, decided to pollinate by hand, unfortunately this time every flower decided to die off and the tiny fruit when from vivid grean to brown. I also noticed a tiny hole at the base of each flower but as if a bug drilled a hole, small hole about 1mm.

Leaves are going funny again.

Anyone have any ideas what the problem could be?

Cheers, Peter
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Peter1
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17th February 2013 12:53am
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, I sent pic3 to the garden guru up here, here's his reply:

"Spray with Copper oxychloride 30grams to 4.5 litres of water plus 30mls of wetting agent Spreadmax or similar, apply three times seven days apart."

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Brendan
Mackay, Q
20th February 2013 10:27am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Brendan,

Thanks for that information, I have Copper oxychloride , I also have a wetting agent so I'll give it a spary over as soon as the rain stops, hopefully next week some time soon.

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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25th February 2013 12:20am
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, I'm not a great fan of the 30ml of wetting agent, please check the instructions on the bottle, eg, mine says to use 2ml to 10L water! I've burnt plants with too much wetting agent.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
25th February 2013 8:46am
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Mike says...
I forget how long this vine has been growing, but I cut it back almost the whole way and it grows back along the entire trellis in a year. This is a yellow variety which is slightly tart; I have another purple variety which is sweeter.
Usually there is too much Lilikoi so we give away heaps.
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808Mike
Hawaii
27th February 2013 11:52am
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808Mike says...
I forget how long this vine has been growing, but I cut it back almost the whole way and it grows back along the entire trellis in a year. This is a yellow variety which is slightly tart; I have another purple variety which is sweeter.
Usually there is too much Lilikoi so we give away heaps. It is essentially the size of a fruit tree.
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808Mike
Hawaii
27th February 2013 11:55am
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808Mike says...
I forget how long this vine has been growing, but I cut it back almost the whole way and it grows back along the entire trellis in a year. This is a yellow variety which is slightly tart; I have another purple variety which is sweeter.
Usually there is too much Lilikoi so we give away heaps. It is essentially the size of a fruit tree.
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808Mike
Hawaii
27th February 2013 1:21pm
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Peter1 says...
No worries Brendan,

I did not use spreadmax as yet, I was using liquid soap mixed with Copper Oxychloride but will be purchasing SpreadMax next week.

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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3rd March 2013 12:33am
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Peter1 says...
Brendan,
Yes it is 2ml to 10L of water.

Seems like 2mls is not enough but I won't risk going past the recommended dose.

Geeting more flowers and have more success in fruit development. Vine still abit under stress so I'll be placing some phosphate of potash in the next day or two.

I've identified one sap sucking bug...monolith beetle, other pests are a bit smaller.

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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12th March 2013 12:24am
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Brendan says...
Don't forget Peter1, don't spray any flowers with copper oxychloride, it will kill them.

Yeah, sometimes leaves are very hard to wet, so you can add more wetter, try 20ml or so. I use about 40ml (in 4½ L water), to wet my custard apple tree, otherwise, it just runs off :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
12th March 2013 8:55am
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Peter1 says...
Brendan,

Thanks mate, I was just about to, lucky for me the flowers where still closed at the time. I hope none were partially open.

Still finding small drill type holes at the base of each flower bud, signs of some other nasty bug getting around still doing damage.

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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13th March 2013 1:00pm
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Peter1 says...
forming. I've removed it, cut it in half, found no bugs as such but two hard round spots in the pith.

How odd.

I have some fruit which has formed and still have a few not setting, turning black and dropping off.

Here is the pic
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Peter1
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10th April 2013 10:52pm
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Brendan says...
You may have to spray the fruit & vine with something like Ambush, Peter1. It's a synthetic pyrethum.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
11th April 2013 10:39am
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Peter1 says...
Brendan, Thanks for your advice. I've never come across anything like this previously.

Cheers
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Peter1
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17th April 2013 11:48pm
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Peter1 says...
Is now the best time to cut / trim the vine. It has stopped flowering some time ago and had some fruit formed, some matured but bulk of flowers had turned brown then dropped off.

Leaves were yellowish again, motley colours, I have provided real potash (burnt wood), blood and bone, rotted cow manure, I'm a bit susc on that rotetd cow manure from Bunnings, it looked more like wood particles with heavy bitumen..Cant get the real manure from the bush these days, not many cattle farms are obliging.

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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17th June 2013 9:19am
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Anniebops says...
Hi all - just thought I'd add my 2 bobs worth on the growth of my Red Panama passionfruit. I planted it (in clay soil!) beside the chook pen in about 2009 and it never flowered until we had the floods of 2010-2011 (the plant was in knee-deep water several times over about 3 weeks and at the biggest flood it was in constantly underwater for about 3-4 days).

We had the biggest, most flavoursome, juicy, packed fruit and the vine was covered in them! Yummo!

Then last year (no flood) and no flowers! This year (flood again for several days - underwater) - absolutely covered in fruit - it actually looked like Christmas baubles hanging down from the wire roof of chook pen! Have just harvested the last of them - yes, very late in the season, I know. They weren't all as sweet as the first crop, but still pretty impressive.

My problem now, though, is there's lots of dead leaves on the branches from way back when it first started flowering, and I'm not sure how to prune it as it's now getting away on me.

Any help, greatly appreciated. Thanks heaps.
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Anniebops
Dalby, Qld
24th August 2013 12:07pm
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Peter1 says...
Hi Anniebops

Sorry to hear about the flood. I'm sure there will be someone who can address the question you raised. I've not had the same problem what your experiencing. I've had some dead branches, I just trimmed back to the spot where it emerged from the main branch. I still have problems with foilage, yellowing, small bite holes, burrowing in the leaves. Earlier this year I only had 10 fruit compared to previous year of 240.

I pruned mine in winter, leaving the thicker stronger branches and removing the thinner branches...the ones that have beared fruit...branches that beared fruit previously will not regenerate fruit the following year from my understanding, hence they are removed. Only new emergent lateral branches will bear fruit when matured. I'm definetly no expert by any means but thats what I have found myself and comments made by other people which have been helpful.

I hope what I said might be of some help to you.

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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2nd September 2013 9:19am
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Miarikki says...
Hi all,
Very informative reading. I have had several varieties over the years with very limited success. However, last year my panama red went crazy and produced over 100 fruit. The black passionfruit also produced but a little less. The problem being they seemed to produce it very late and the early fruit got to near the size of cricket ball on the panama around July with the latter fruit reaching half that size. After waiting for the fruit to drop, which it didn't I tried some of the larger fruit, which still looked slightly underdeveloped inside and was very sour. I left other fruit on the vine and tried again a few weeks later, still same result. Ended up with a quarter otto bin of uneatable passion-fruit which broke my heart. Any help appreciated. I live in sydney and the have had a few fruit prior but not in these numbers. I introduced a heap of worms to the soil and that was the only change i have made to get the improved numbers but still no fruit hitting the table.
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Miarikki
Sydney
4th September 2013 10:00am
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Peter1 says...
Greetings Mairikki,

Your panama red was like mine last year, this year was 25 and end up with 10.

I've trimmed mine back, some signs of dieback in the branches...both of mine are in a pot 400mm x 450mm. Going to completely change change the old soil with new and add rotted cow manure, blood and bone, boron, sulphate of potash and spraying the vine to control a fungus and leaf minor.
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Peter1
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8th September 2013 10:40pm
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Adrian 03 says...
I planted last year what was labeled a Nellie Kellie black passion fruit but it grew dozens of large green ones with thick skins and plenty of seeds. We are very happy with it but would like to know what it is called. Now that the last passion fruit is about to drop, should we cut it back?
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Adrian 03
Sydney
16th September 2013 7:36pm
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Adrian 03 says...
Sorry I attached a photo of my grapes by mistake. Here is the photo I meant to attach. (I think I need advice on my grapes anyway):)
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Adrian 03
Sydney
16th September 2013 7:43pm
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georgy says...
Passion fruit is known here in the USA as maypop vine. It is a nuisance and grows everywhere. Some people call it Brier vines and we are always having our gardeners pull the vines from our fences and azalea vines.

I have tasted the fruit and it is sweet with a little acidity to it.
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24th September 2013 3:42am
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Miarikki says...
Hi Peter,
What are you spraying yours with?
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Miarikki
Sydney
27th September 2013 10:49am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Miarikki,

I'm spraying my vine with "Searles" Copper Oxychloride fungicide with "Searles" Mancozeb.

It's not normally the practice to combine the two fungicides together but I had no choice. Spray as a mist in the cool of the evening, use with a wetting agent such as "Spreadmax" as this will allow the fungicide to stick to the leaves, otherwise it will just run off.

Dont spray on a hot day as it might burn the leaves and try to avoid gusty wind days to control spray drift.

For sap sucking bugs, I will be using "Neem" this will leave a nasty taste in the mouth of a bug and will not come back to chew or suck on the leaves, somthing to do with leaf association, so I've been told.

I also spray "Seaweed solution" directly over the plants.

Hope this might help you, I'm sure there will be others that could assist beter than I but they might be shy.

Good luck with it.
Peter1
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Peter1
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28th September 2013 8:37am
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amanda says...
Miarikki - what a shame! Your fruit would have ripened in spring if you had left them! :-(
Peter1 - that's a lot of toxic stuff you are putting on your vine..?! Yukk!

I have never had a passionfruit as plethoric as yours seem to be - what are you doing to them!? ;-)
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amanda19
Leschenault (150km south of Perth)
28th September 2013 10:29am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Amanda,

I don't like spraying them either but don't have much choice. All the new leaves seem to have some type of bug that leaves miniature bullet holes in the leaves, not penetrating all the way but in between the surface and underside. Others are going the dreaded yellow, (mineral deficiency). Green colouration of the outer bark has become scaley brown.

Some offshoot branches are suffering dieback, going from green, to yellow then dead wood, brown.

The vines are in pots 400 x 450mm. Original premium potting mix that has had fertliser and trace elements added over time.

I'm seriously thinking of completely removing the old mix and replacing it with fresh new mix. Whatever nutrient there was is well gone by now.

Surrounding soil outside the pot is Acidic 4.2 originally, now its about 5.6
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Peter1
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2nd October 2013 8:43am
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Miarikki says...
Amanda, im not so sure they would of ripened as they were starting to shrivel up and drop on there own. Some were still totally green and starting to shrivel up. The middle of winter gets pretty cold in south west sydney. I have given it a good prune this year, which i have never done. Hoping for better results after reading all the tips on here, especially from yourself
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Miarikki
Sydney
7th October 2013 7:26pm
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Peter1 says...
Found a lot more red spider mites causing damage to my vines...out with the spray again with wetting agent.

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Peter1
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9th October 2013 11:56pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, maybe you should try this product: http://www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=EN
They reckon it's for mites?
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
10th October 2013 8:09am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Brendan,

I purchased a new bottle of Eco-Neem last week.

Many thanks for letting me know though.

From what I understand about Eco-Neem, if any insect, including grasshoppers start munching at the leaves it will leave a very bad taste in the bug's mouth and they will stop and avoid the vine.

That's the theory but whether they will in practice. I'll find out soon.

I'll be spraying the entire vine on Sunday 13th October 2013, in the evening. No rain as yet, just the odd mist .045 of a mm if that.

Cheers.
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Peter1
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12th October 2013 11:38am
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Anonymous says...
Hi Peter and Amanda:

I have had good results with Spider mite control by spreading Lady Bug Eggs in the area. I am now having Lady bugs all over my place but the Spider mites have all but disappeared.
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georgy
 
15th October 2013 12:22am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Anonymous
Lady Bug Eggs, hmmm, that's food for thought, I would have never had thought of that

Where did you get the Lady Bug Eggs, apart from Lady Bug on the vine at the time?

Cheers
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Peter1
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16th October 2013 2:43pm
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Anonymous says...
I fond Lady Bug eggs in one of the Perkin/Elmer Catalogues. This company lo longer exists now but you will find Lady bugs eggs on line I am sure.
I obtained the eggs to try to control spider mites as they were eating away at my roses. I plant about 30 to 36 a year, and used to have trouble with spider mites .
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georgy
USA
30th October 2013 1:04am
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Peter1 says...
Hello Anonymous,

Oh ok, I'll make some enquiries with entamologists and see if they know where I can get some. Cheers
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Peter1
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31st October 2013 7:47pm
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Peter1 says...
Hello Anonymous,

Oh ok, I'll make some enquiries with entamologists and see if they know where I can get some. Cheers
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Peter1 says...
Hello people,

I've been looking at my passionfruit vine lately and does not look good, after giving it a heavy prune it looks as if has some form of die back disease.

What use to be nice green main branches and lateral branches are turning a brown colour with some laterals dying. Very little flowers, spurt open and quickly die off.

Time to empty those large 400mm x 450mm pots and start new again.

I'll endeavour to have the right balance of nutrient / manure/ minerals an trace elements.

I'm going away from Panama Gold and keep with Panama Red and might try a different variety this time. One that's self fertilising.

I'll let you know how it goes. Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year to everyone, including the people who run this very good forum.

Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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12th December 2013 1:02am
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Peter1 says...
Update,

I've completely uprooted Panama Gold and Panama Red from the 450mm x 400mm pots and will start afresh with new vines.

The roots from the above panama's had went through the small holes at the base of the pot and started to anchor into the ground below...The ground below the pot is hard and very much clayish. The profile under the pot is very acidic 4.2pH.

In the pot itself it was about 5.6pH.

As I'm starting from fresh. Can anyone recommend how I should structure the layout in the pot prior to planting a new plant?

What layer do I start with at the base , what layer of material should go next, e.g. cow manure, fertilizer? , what layer is next , all the way through to the top layer.

Hot days are ahead now due to Summer. Cheers, Peter1
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Peter1
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18th December 2013 12:14am
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, I fairly sure passionfruit like a pH of 6.5 to 7.5, so your soil/potting mix was way out. (not to mention the soil under the pot was 4.2! If it was a child, you'd be had up for child abuse :-)
Why not try this brew for you pot: 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss & 1/3 vermiculite. Mix these by volume not weight.
I'd dig in a ship-load of Dolomite into the soil where the pot is going to live.
Good luck!
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
18th December 2013 12:27pm
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Original Post was last edited: 18th December 2013 12:27pm
Peter1 says...
Brendan,

Thanks for your info. It was over a year ago when the pH of the pot soil was tested.

The entire area (whole street, above the river) where I reside is all acidic. Bloke next door had lived in the district for 50 years and informs me the area in which we live has never been developed for farming or agriculture due to high acidic level, rocks and clay.

After digging about 40cm from the top, the ground below is hard like concrete, with solid clay particles. Jack-Hammer job. Cheers
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Peter1
Brisbane
19th December 2013 12:14am
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Brendan says...
Peter1, might pay to dig in a lot of Gypsum as well, if it's that bad. Gypsum helps break up clay soils, I have to use a lot where I live :-(
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
19th December 2013 7:57am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Brendan, No worries, I'll be adding gypsum, dolomite, cow manure, blood and bone as well as what you suggested earlier.

How long should I rest or allow the mix to work before adding the vine?

Cheers
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Peter1
Brisbane
20th December 2013 12:28am
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Brendan says...
Hi Peter1, Two weeks is plenty. Are you planning on growing your p/f's in the soil, or in pots on the soil? Try both! :-)
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
20th December 2013 10:04am
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Peter1 says...
Hi Brendan,

I might try all three again, soil and both pots. At least I manage to get a good crop 1st year in the pots, even though most of the fruit were sour and did not ripen fully except the panama red.
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Peter1
Brisbane
20th December 2013 11:23pm
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dkatbena says...
Hi ! Nematodes hate amarillo plants. Planting amarillo plants control nematodes in the soil.
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dkatbena
wat is dis?phil.
22nd August 2014 9:17am
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Julie W says...
What are amarillo plants? I haven't heard of them.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
22nd August 2014 9:23am
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dkatbena says...
Amarillo plant is flowering annual type belonging to adder family. I don,t know the other name of that plant but it has yellow or yellow orange flower and sometimes with taint of red brown.of all flowering annuals it has disgusting smell once touched or disturbed. I will search the scientific name of it.
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dkatbena
wat is dis?phil.
22nd August 2014 9:51am
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Original Post was last edited: 22nd August 2014 9:54am
dkatbena says...
Ok. Amarillo is Marigold with scientific name Tagetes Erecta linn.
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dkatbena
wat is dis?phil.
22nd August 2014 9:55am
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Julie W says...
We know it as African marigold. Actually, for nematodes, the less decorative Tagetes minuta is more effective.

But I read in very authoritative book some years ago that it is not enough just to put in a few plants. The ideas is to grow lots of Tagetes minuta and dig them in when quite small, rather like you would do with a green manure crop.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
22nd August 2014 9:17pm
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Phill says...
I just did a Google For when and how much to prune a Passion Fruit Vine that went Feral this summer. We had the first crop of Hundreds of Fruit , It is a bit bigger than the Photo at the top of the page. SO when and How Much It is strangling the Golden Cane palms to Death. OI like the fruit more than the Palm so that is just Collateral Damage against the War against Plane Vanilla Ice Cream. Been saving the seeds what and how do we get them to grow . I look forward to your responses- Regards Phill
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Phill
Shellharbour Wollongong
7th March 2015 5:39pm
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Waterfall says...
usually cut back by about 1/3 at the start of spring.

Our pandora just started flowering for the first time too, something was eating the flowers so I had to net it.
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Waterfall
Waterfall
7th March 2015 5:52pm
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bernie says...
Hi People

Have read this forum for years but today decided to participate.

I was wondering whether anyone has a purple passionfruit that is very sweet full of pulp large fruit and strong grower. I have even visited a large commercial grower but couldn't find anything sweet enough out of several varieties he grows.

A few years ago I bought a purple vine from Bunnings and it was absolutely superb but died after the first crop and I didn't have any seeds to replant unfortunately as I didn't expect it to die. I then bought about 6 more and all were complete rubbish.

If anyone has a good purple vine I would love some seeds and I can supply you with the most amazingly sweet yellow variety if you want one.

It is most likely a variety of Panama according to the passionfruit farmer so I grow from seed. It is a large fruit, chocked with pulp, firm and juicy inside and good colour and the most amazingly sweet fruity taste you would find. It is a prolific bearer. I grow them from seed every year so I never run short of vines. Usually get 100% seed strike and plant out in Sept to fruit by May the next year. This is by far the best tasting yellow passionfruit I have ever found. I grow about 12 vines and eat a lot of passionfruit but always fresh picked from the vine.. any that drop off the vine I give to family and friends because I prefer the really fruity taste direct picked from the vine. They are heavenly.

Love to hear from anyone with outstanding purple fruit type.
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bernie
clear island waters
31st March 2015 2:29pm
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bernie says...
Phill

To strike seeds just put some potting mix in a pot - poke a hole about a centimetre deep and drop a seed in the hole make sure the soil covers the seed. Water daily and within a month or two depending on temperature you will have a seedling.

I then plant into a 6 inch pot till they are about 2feet high then plant out on the trellis.

My 3 inch seedlings have just been planted into 6 inch pots last week with a feed of fertiliser to boost them along.

You could also plant a few seeds straight into the large pot and remove the weaker seedlings when they come through. They are very easy to grow.
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bernie
clear island waters
31st March 2015 2:42pm
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wazza101 says...
Hi, Just found your forum. Looks great. Living in FNQ in a townhouse, I have planted a Panama Red 12 months ago and so far have 10 fruit, but about another 50 flowers forming. I haven't seen any bees, so I had to hand pollinate those 10. I may be busy doing the rest by hand. I'll let you know how they turn out.
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wazza101
Cairns
18th April 2015 2:31pm
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wazza101 says...
Hi,
Can anyone tell me what the normal success rate is with hand pollination? At the moment I'm getting about 60%.
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wazza101
Cairns
6th May 2015 10:06am
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Yoda on DMT says...
Depends. They need tonnes of water to flower well, and this to taper off to set well. Rain will significantly reduce the amount of fruit set, because it washes off the pollen before it can do its business.This is because the nodes are below the stamen; the pollen does not wash into them, but instead off onto the ground. From observation, I have isolated this as the main cause of abortion. It has nothing to do with bees, ants, or anything else--it's water washing away the pollen either by rain, or by hosing. The secret is to drown them in water and hope that it doesn't rain while the plant is in full bloom.

60% is pretty good, I get around this with hand pollination.

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Yoda on DMT
Trafalmadore
6th May 2015 12:07pm
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denise1 says...
If your vine is in a lot of good soil it will naturally want to grow much bigger before putting out fruit. Then you are best with a larger climbing structure and will need less pruning and give more fruit. If you only have a smaller structure it could get too dense and lessen the cropping potential. In that case you should limit the available soil/water to slow down its vigour. I would tend towards a bigger vine. It usually means a much bigger crop.
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denise1
auckland NZ
6th May 2015 1:41pm
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wazza101 says...
We've had no rain up here since the vine started flowering, so I guess I've been lucky.
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wazza101
Cairns
6th May 2015 3:31pm
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TrishaB says...
I looked here for correct pruning advice. Thank you. Comment: My purple Kelly variety passion vine is 5+ years old. I've 'pruned' it twice. I mulch around with grass clippings. It's an extremely prolific vine and fruit producer - some fruits are huge and heavy with lots of pulp. Have only lightly fertilised a couple of times when younger. SE Qld, good position, good soil & passion variety, I guess.
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TrishaB
Gold Coast
26th July 2015 11:45am
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JN says...
This may interest someone... I have a ned kelly passion fruit vine which I think was approximately 10years old that hadn't flowered for years, I decided to keep it for decorative purposes. But when we had a massive hail storm in Queensland it pulverized the vine, only left a few leaves and had chunks taken out of the vine. It grew back so quickly and the nitrogen from the hail was like an insane tonic... it starting flowering again and I got heaps of fruit.
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JN
moorooka
23rd August 2015 10:16am
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bernie6 says...
Have you ever seen a passionfruit vine almost 3 inches in diameter - this one is mammoth and growing in the local park. Will see if it is sweet now.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2

Picture: 3

Picture: 4

Picture: 5
 
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bernie6
CLEAR ISLAND WATERS,4226,QLD
5th March 2016 9:24pm
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Alberto09 says...
Hello everyone!

I have planted two passionfruit in my garden, they are plants that I have transplanted from my neighbor's garden (these plants were bothering him). From what he told me they have one two years of life. Here where I live spring is approaching and has begun to sprout.

Since I am totally new to the pruning of a vine I have been looking for information, I have not found so much information, perhaps the most complete is this article about pruning passionfruit https://howandwhentoprune.com/passionfruit-vines/ (but the truth does not make things clear to me).

Therefore I go to this forum where I see there are many people who know the subject. What should I do to start with my newly transplanted seedling to start forming it? Can I let it grow freely without any support structure?
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Alberto09
Colonia Caroya
8th September 2019 11:30pm
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Original Post was last edited: 8th September 2019 11:33pm
Kephas says...
Alberto,
From personal experience, I don't know anyone (myself excluded) that has a Passionfruit vine under 10 years of age. I've been planting one about every three years. My fourth is going in this week. My first is showing no signs of slowing down.
I'd say it factors down to variety, soil, environment and, care. That being said, mine are mostly in clay and, my original has had no care beyond watering and the odd handful of fertiliser.

The site you mention appears to be largely oriented toward commercial production. If you brush up on some basic information regarding soil and nutrients, you won't go wrong.

Passionfruit is a climbing vine. if you don't provide a support, it will creep and climb up the first thing it finds. (I've had melons climbing my corn!).
All you need is a couple of stakes and, you could get away with just running a couple of wires between them. Chicken wire will also do the trick although, large mesh (150mm squares) is better, so you can reach fruit that develops behind the supporting wire.
Just loosely tie the runners in the layout you desire, as it grows.

When small, you can pinch out the side runners to encourage vertical growth. When desired height is reached, pinching out the leader bud will encourage side growth.

When older, because it fruits on the current years growth, a 'bare' patch can develop at the center of the vine. Each year, or two, you can cut a main branch right back to within one or two buds from the leader, to encourage fresh growth from the centre of the vine.

I've never pruned mine (nine years) but, the vine is starting to 'bush' up a bit now, blocking sunlight to parts of itself and, restricting airflow. So, it's time to perhaps tidy that up a tad.

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KANGAROO FLAT
20th October 2019 1:42pm
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