Orange lilikoi

[jhonvar]

I started an orange lilikoi from seed and I have lots of beautiful and fragrant flowers, but no fruit set. Do I have to plant another variety like purple or yellow to cross-pollinate? Mahalo for any suggestions.

[Ed Smay]

Lilikoi is pollenated by carpenter bees. If you don't have them around, the fruit is usually empty.

"From knowledge comes understanding"

[jhonvar]

Yes, I read that the pollen is too big for regular bees. Carpenter bees are around, but I haven't seen them on the lilikoi yet. I tried to pollinate by hand, but no success so far.

[allensylves]

I do not know about orange lilikoi, but yellow lilikoi is self-incompatible. That means it needs to be pollinated with pollen from a genetically different plant of a compatible type. The genetics are fairly complicated, so trial and error is needed. I think pollen from purple lilikoi will work, but the seeds will no longer produce orange lilikoi plants.
Allen
Baton Rouge, LA

Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP

[Carey]

We have one 'water lemon' passion fruit, aka Passiflora laurifolia that fruits & flowers throughout the late winter to summer (largest fruit output in April-May). We do not hand pollinate, but do have plenty of carpenter bees & they do like lilikoi blooms (we also have a common yellow & a giant granadilla). For the carpenter bees, have some old wood near by - some folks use old wood in the trellis work for the lilikoi)

For some links:
http://www.hear.org/starr/images/species...laurifolia&o=plants
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morto...lemon.html

[pslamont]

Carey, I have dried seeds from the ones yu gave me and am now trying to get them to sprout. Nothing so far but I am TRYING to be patient; not one of my best attributes. If you have any starts I would love to get them going.

I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says

"Oh Crap, She's up!"

[allensylves]

Pam,
Make sure you keep those lilikoi seeds quite warm when you are trying to get them to start.


Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP

[Bill]

jhonvar,

for the first two years, our vines would make flowers but not produce fruit; I asked all the same questions.

Then, the third year, and thereafter,the fruit production has been wonderful.

I think it just takes a while.

Bill

[Carey]

Pam, I'll see if I can start some cutting for you (trimming is something I do a lot here....)

[jhonvar]

Thanks for all the responses. Bill, mine is just a year old so maybe it will produce in the future. I have a purple one even younger but hasn't started flowering yet.