Trellising Lilikoi

[Rumi in Hawaii]

I am starting some new lilikoi vines (purple passionfruit), and I was wondering if they can be trained along a fence similar to grapes? Any special advice on growing them in Eden Roc? I understand the yellow variety won't grow there? Jay Jay...will your cross variety grow in E.R.?

Wherever you go, there you are.

[JayJay]

Well first of all I think it should be noted that the passion is loaded with anti-oxydents and I suspect they are the same as the mangosteen since the effect of eating a couple of passion each day is dramatic in terms of how one feels only a few minutes later & I never miss a day without them. I think everyone should have a source for passion fruit and espeially our kids and btw ... most kids love them ... just slice several, and be careful since they're slippery, and place them on a platter with spoons and watch the kids go to town ... they absolutely love them! My hybrid was just one of those things really. I had had yellow and a wonder purple type growing up the side of a treeline of guava on the south side of the property and one day I noticed a very large unusually colored fruit which had dropped to the ground. Hum? It looked like a cross between the twain, and so it was. I took it into the kitchen and sliced it open and I was amazed at the color ... it's close to a flourescent burgandy/orange color (?) I grew the seeds out ..this has been several years ago, created a trellis with nylon rope between tall guavas and built a special bed just for those plants for when they were ready. In they went and I could see the hybrid vigour right away. This strain will be eventually available at the M- Market since it's now ready to have a commercial amount of cuttings come off the two parent plants ... they are quite sour yet sweet at the same time and almost as big as the yellow.

In re: about yellow not growing where you are, this is one of the plants which has virtually no infestation problems so I don't understand why you've been told they won't grow in your area. My yellows come from Kapoho at I'm at close to 1000 and they love it here also. I'd think I'd just put them in anyway ..the secret is sun either where you plant them or partial sun where you plant them and full sun in an area they can grow to and of course they can be trellised up the side of trees when there is medium light levels availabe on the ground. They like good soil and the deeper the better and throw you mulch right on top of the rooting system. Twice a year I go around and cast Osmocote lightly. Bottom line ... if they like where they are and you do everything properly, the production you can receive from just two or three vines becomes tremendous and I think that's the idea ...to have more than one needs so we can give to others.

JayJay

[Kapohocat]

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...In re: about yellow not growing where you are, this is one of the plants which has virtually no infestation problems...

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Something ate all the tops right off my young tender 1" tall sprouts! All that was sticking up was little sticks - all the leaves gone. Munched!

Any suggestions because I have more to plant.

[Hotzcatz]

Did it get munched over night or during the day? If it is night time munching, then perhaps it was slugs or snails, if it is daytime munching then perhaps grasshoppers, caterpillars or beetles. Japanese beetles have been eating all my rose bush's leaves lately. Probably time to go put Sevin dust on them otherwise they will just be sticks. You could try Sevin dust on your lilikoi at least until it starts to make fruit, then you probably wouldn't want dust on it. A platefull of beer set into the ground near the garden will attract all the slugs and snails and they fall in, get drunk and drown.

[mella l]

Even used tuna tins or cat food tins with water level with the ground will attract the earwigs and slugs! Perhaps attracted by the smell of beer and tuna mix!

mella l

[Michael K]

We have both purple and yellow at the 1700 ft. level and both do great. The yellow variety fruit later and longer. Once the vine is established, it certainly doesn't need babying! If only everything was this easy to grow.

I like the purple best for just eating. The yellow is a little sour for my tastes so it goes in smoothies, mixed, drinks, desserts, and some more mixed drinks.

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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A platefull of beer set into the ground near the garden will attract all the slugs and snails and they fall in, get drunk and drown.

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How do you get the beer away from the carpenters? ha ha ha


I didnt look at them for 3-4 days so I am not sure about day time or night time. I am goign to guess snails as we have quite a few of the African snails around.