our successful passionfruit is sending roots out underground 3 metres in all directions.

i call it ‘successful’ but we had no fruit last year even tho’ it flowered and formed fruit they proved to be phantoms.

when Lucky1 came out to look she ripped up all the suckers and said that was our prob. but they are fruiting again and the suckers have gone too far.

it’s a nusery bought nellie kelly. should i poison it?

pepe said:

our successful passionfruit is sending roots out underground 3 metres in all directions.

i call it ‘successful’ but we had no fruit last year even tho’ it flowered and formed fruit they proved to be phantoms.

when Lucky1 came out to look she ripped up all the suckers and said that was our prob. but they are fruiting again and the suckers have gone too far.

it’s a nusery bought nellie kelly. should i poison it?

Was it a grafted plant? The rootstock might be the problem…just a thought…

I wouldn’t poison it…can you pile lawn clippings where the suckers were? Fresh, green and thick…they heat up something shocking those piles do (besides “ammoniating”), and may well kill any attempts by the suckers to revive…

Dinetta said:

I wouldn’t poison it…can you pile lawn clippings where the suckers were? Fresh, green and thick…they heat up something shocking those piles do (besides “ammoniating”), and may well kill any attempts by the suckers to revive…

thanks – it’s a good looking plant but the first one we’ve had.
seems an incredibly aggressive root system.

Dinetta said:

I wouldn’t poison it…can you pile lawn clippings where the suckers were? Fresh, green and thick…they heat up something shocking those piles do (besides “ammoniating”), and may well kill any attempts by the suckers to revive…

Oooh, maybe I could try this for the neighbour’s $*#(@ing plumbago!

Except for not having any lawn to mow, that is. Would black plastic work?

Nellie Kelly is usually sold as a grafted plant on a vigorous rootstock to cope with southern climates. It will be the rootstock that is suckering and can become weedy if left to its own devices. I agree with Lucky that it would be the reason you didn’t get good fruit as the suckers would be taking up to much energy.

bluegreen said:

Nellie Kelly is usually sold as a grafted plant on a vigorous rootstock to cope with southern climates. It will be the rootstock that is suckering and can become weedy if left to its own devices. I agree with Lucky that it would be the reason you didn’t get good fruit as the suckers would be taking up to much energy.

rootstock is too vigorous – agreed – but what to do ? – it’s such a common plant that i’m wondering do other people fight their passionfruit – every year !!!

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

Nellie Kelly is usually sold as a grafted plant on a vigorous rootstock to cope with southern climates. It will be the rootstock that is suckering and can become weedy if left to its own devices. I agree with Lucky that it would be the reason you didn’t get good fruit as the suckers would be taking up to much energy.

rootstock is too vigorous – agreed – but what to do ? – it’s such a common plant that i’m wondering do other people fight their passionfruit – every year !!!

I don’t, as such, but then my plant, which is a vigourous, heavy cropper, is a self-sown seedling from the compost. Perhaps it would be worthwhile sowing some seed from someone elses fruit and when it gets to a decent size replace the existing plant with it? I transplanted 2 more self-sown passionfruits a few months ago and they already have fruit on them. So IMHO the grafted plants aren’t worth it.

Here is a photo of mine from a couple of year’s ago. I haven’t taken any photos of it yet this year, but it already has some good big fruit on it. It’s now about 4 years old. Last year the fruit was magnificent. I’m hoping this year will be the same.

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The only problem with it is that it isgrowing in amongst the star jasmine.

bon008 said:

Dinetta said:

I wouldn’t poison it…can you pile lawn clippings where the suckers were? Fresh, green and thick…they heat up something shocking those piles do (besides “ammoniating”), and may well kill any attempts by the suckers to revive…

Oooh, maybe I could try this for the neighbour’s $*#(@ing plumbago!

Except for not having any lawn to mow, that is. Would black plastic work?

On the plumbago? Yes. I have read suggestions that you give it a good feed of nitrogen first, lay on some really thick newspaper and then the plastic…the nitrogen forces the plant to try to grow and the newspaper supresses it the new growth…hopefully the black plastic will heat things up … and eventually the suckers die … so the theory goes. Is it possible to insert a root barrier along your fence line after hacking the plumbago back and before killing the suckers on your side?

pepe said:

rootstock is too vigorous – agreed – but what to do ? – it’s such a common plant that i’m wondering do other people fight their passionfruit – every year !!!

I think my parents (father) used to save seed from a “good” passionfruit (read “yummy”) and plant this about March so that the p’fruit could make the most of our mild winter…I always thought passionfruit was an annual…

Shouldn’t they advise what the rootstock is? I know they do for citrus…

Dinetta said:

bon008 said:

Dinetta said:

I wouldn’t poison it…can you pile lawn clippings where the suckers were? Fresh, green and thick…they heat up something shocking those piles do (besides “ammoniating”), and may well kill any attempts by the suckers to revive…

Oooh, maybe I could try this for the neighbour’s $*#(@ing plumbago!

Except for not having any lawn to mow, that is. Would black plastic work?

On the plumbago? Yes. I have read suggestions that you give it a good feed of nitrogen first, lay on some really thick newspaper and then the plastic…the nitrogen forces the plant to try to grow and the newspaper supresses it the new growth…hopefully the black plastic will heat things up … and eventually the suckers die … so the theory goes. Is it possible to insert a root barrier along your fence line after hacking the plumbago back and before killing the suckers on your side?

Thanks Dinetta, I’ll copy and save that advice for later use :)

I’m hoping we can put a root barrier in when we have the fence replaced, but the giant cactus may complicate things somewhat =/

Sorry for the thread hijack! :)

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

Nellie Kelly is usually sold as a grafted plant on a vigorous rootstock to cope with southern climates. It will be the rootstock that is suckering and can become weedy if left to its own devices. I agree with Lucky that it would be the reason you didn’t get good fruit as the suckers would be taking up to much energy.

rootstock is too vigorous – agreed – but what to do ? – it’s such a common plant that i’m wondering do other people fight their passionfruit – every year !!!

You might have to remove the plant and find another variety more suitable for your area.

I’d whip it out Pepe, and try growing one from seed. I planted a p’fruit many years ago and I am still pulling out suckers over 17 years later. Some suckers have travelled to neighboring yards and I can see them growing up big trees.
Here’s my local garden nurserys page on ID-ing the rootstock from the grafted plant.

http://www.grevilleanursery.com.au/kbm/pages/Garden-Doctor.html

Happy Potter said:

I’d whip it out Pepe, and try growing one from seed. I planted a p’fruit many years ago and I am still pulling out suckers over 17 years later. Some suckers have travelled to neighboring yards and I can see them growing up big trees.
Here’s my local garden nurserys page on ID-ing the rootstock from the grafted plant.

http://www.grevilleanursery.com.au/kbm/pages/Garden-Doctor.html

umm – good reading and exactly my dilemma.
ok – thanks HP. i’ll consult my other half and see if we give it one more year or if we whip it out

bluegreen said:

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

Nellie Kelly is usually sold as a grafted plant on a vigorous rootstock to cope with southern climates. It will be the rootstock that is suckering and can become weedy if left to its own devices. I agree with Lucky that it would be the reason you didn’t get good fruit as the suckers would be taking up to much energy.

rootstock is too vigorous – agreed – but what to do ? – it’s such a common plant that i’m wondering do other people fight their passionfruit – every year !!!

You might have to remove the plant and find another variety more suitable for your area.

you can be very right – at times – thanks

tell bon the hijack was welcome relief – where’s that girl gone.

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

pepe said:

rootstock is too vigorous – agreed – but what to do ? – it’s such a common plant that i’m wondering do other people fight their passionfruit – every year !!!

You might have to remove the plant and find another variety more suitable for your area.

you can be very right – at times – thanks

tell bon the hijack was welcome relief – where’s that girl gone.

Had a very painful physio session :D

bon008 said:

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

You might have to remove the plant and find another variety more suitable for your area.

you can be very right – at times – thanks

tell bon the hijack was welcome relief – where’s that girl gone.

Had a very painful physio session :D

they are brutes those physios.
i hope it helps.

I have seen this same thing so many times lately, ie. the grafted passionfruit growing superbly but not fruiting. I also reckon it might be worth growing fom seed to find out what difference there is, soil is also a factor eg, ph, nutrients, as is aspect, do they get enough sun etc.
Why do they use non fruiting as a characteristic of the stock, surely this must contribute to the problem?

trichome said:

I have seen this same thing so many times lately, ie. the grafted passionfruit growing superbly but not fruiting. I also reckon it might be worth growing fom seed to find out what difference there is, soil is also a factor eg, ph, nutrients, as is aspect, do they get enough sun etc.
Why do they use non fruiting as a characteristic of the stock, surely this must contribute to the problem?

thanks trichome
the aspect is north with westerly shade – the soil is clay with bulldung and compost. it’s growing tres bon – but not fruiting properly so might be hard to collect a seed. we have decided to give it this year to fruit properly – i doubt that it will – so i’ll be giving the local nursery a bit of advice come autumn.

pepe said:

thanks trichome
not fruiting properly so might be hard to collect a seed.

not sure if i would bother collecting seed from that plant, instead from someone else with a seedling, non grafted type, or from a packet of seed.
Either way it would be a good test, good luck :)

trichome said:

I have seen this same thing so many times lately, ie. the grafted passionfruit growing superbly but not fruiting. I also reckon it might be worth growing fom seed to find out what difference there is, soil is also a factor eg, ph, nutrients, as is aspect, do they get enough sun etc.
Why do they use non fruiting as a characteristic of the stock, surely this must contribute to the problem?

The rootstock is not shooting, is it? How well would the plant grow in, say, a half 44 gallon drum?

Dinetta said:

trichome said:

I have seen this same thing so many times lately, ie. the grafted passionfruit growing superbly but not fruiting. I also reckon it might be worth growing fom seed to find out what difference there is, soil is also a factor eg, ph, nutrients, as is aspect, do they get enough sun etc.
Why do they use non fruiting as a characteristic of the stock, surely this must contribute to the problem?

The rootstock is not shooting, is it? How well would the plant grow in, say, a half 44 gallon drum?

I mean, the rootstock is not part of the foliage that you’re looking at for fruit?

Dinetta said:

The rootstock is not shooting, is it?

the ones i have seen, no not shooting from root stock :)

Dinetta said:

Dinetta said:

trichome said:

I have seen this same thing so many times lately, ie. the grafted passionfruit growing superbly but not fruiting. I also reckon it might be worth growing fom seed to find out what difference there is, soil is also a factor eg, ph, nutrients, as is aspect, do they get enough sun etc.
Why do they use non fruiting as a characteristic of the stock, surely this must contribute to the problem?

The rootstock is not shooting, is it? How well would the plant grow in, say, a half 44 gallon drum?

I mean, the rootstock is not part of the foliage that you’re looking at for fruit?

we are pulling out all the rootstock shoots – so hopefully the only leaves and flowers we are seeing are the original grafted nellie kelly.

trichome said:

pepe said:

thanks trichome
not fruiting properly so might be hard to collect a seed.

not sure if i would bother collecting seed from that plant, instead from someone else with a seedling, non grafted type, or from a packet of seed.
Either way it would be a good test, good luck :)

right – someone with an old fashioned passionfruit – thinking -

pepe said:

trichome said:

pepe said:

thanks trichome
not fruiting properly so might be hard to collect a seed.

not sure if i would bother collecting seed from that plant, instead from someone else with a seedling, non grafted type, or from a packet of seed.
Either way it would be a good test, good luck :)

right – someone with an old fashioned passionfruit – thinking –

Arvo. I agree trichome. It’s what I suggested earlier in the thread, or as Dinetta suggested save the some of the seed from a yummy passionfruit that you have started to eat.

Arvo. I agree trichome. It’s what I suggested earlier in the thread, or as Dinetta suggested save the some of the seed from a yummy passionfruit that you have started to eat.

———————-
simple – thanks anne – i didn’t think of that.

ps – how many p’fruit do you start to eat ….without finishing?

pepe said:

Arvo. I agree trichome. It’s what I suggested earlier in the thread, or as Dinetta suggested save the some of the seed from a yummy passionfruit that you have started to eat.

———————-
simple – thanks anne – i didn’t think of that.

ps – how many p’fruit do you start to eat ….without finishing?

When you grow your own….mmm…infinite??? LOL

pepe said:

Arvo. I agree trichome. It’s what I suggested earlier in the thread, or as Dinetta suggested save the some of the seed from a yummy passionfruit that you have started to eat.

———————-
simple – thanks anne – i didn’t think of that.

ps – how many p’fruit do you start to eat ….without finishing?

Just separate a couple of the seeds…I don’t know, put them on an envelope or an old cloth to dry?…then you can consume rest of passionfruit! lol :D

Strongly suspect that Yates supplied my Dad’s PF seeds…as everything else gardening…back in the 60’s there wasn’t much to choose from…grafted PF and plant nurseries did not exist back then…not out our way or even in the city…(for general public)…

trichome said:

I have seen this same thing so many times lately, ie. the grafted passionfruit growing superbly but not fruiting. I also reckon it might be worth growing fom seed to find out what difference there is, soil is also a factor eg, ph, nutrients, as is aspect, do they get enough sun etc.
Why do they use non fruiting as a characteristic of the stock, surely this must contribute to the problem?

Growing suberbly.. good water and nutrient

not fruiting… not good sunlight or daylength/temperature. growing from seed.. you’d have to select your seed well.

Rootstocks don’t affect the scion growth other than protect against drought, flooding, disease etc. The banana passionfruit which is the main rootstock .. does fruit but not in southern Australian climes. The grafted scion has its own properties ie: you can graft a plum or an apricot onto a peach and still get a plum or an apricot.

The Nellie Kelly is a great variety. Collect the seed from good full fruit .. ie: full means those that are chockka when you cut them open, big heavy fruit. The rootstock is a pain in the khyber pass..

Preferably grow passionfruit from seed. Why pay big money for a wild rootstock?

Grow on a north south trellis.. they’ll fruit on east/west sides but always more on the eastern side.

roughbarked said:

Growing suberbly.. good water and nutrient

not fruiting… not good sunlight or daylength/temperature. growing from seed.. you’d have to select your seed well. Rootstocks don’t affect the scion growth other than protect against drought, flooding, disease etc. The banana passionfruit which is the main rootstock .. does fruit but not in southern Australian climes. The grafted scion has its own properties ie: you can graft a plum or an apricot onto a peach and still get a plum or an apricot.

thanks roughbarked, i am aware of this information, however not sure that banana passionfruit not fruiting in southern climes is entirely corect though :)
I thought they did, i wonder if it was grown more as an annual? gee, its been so long since i was in the southern climes, trying to remember much about gardening when there.

trichome said:

roughbarked said:

Growing suberbly.. good water and nutrient

not fruiting… not good sunlight or daylength/temperature. growing from seed.. you’d have to select your seed well. Rootstocks don’t affect the scion growth other than protect against drought, flooding, disease etc. The banana passionfruit which is the main rootstock .. does fruit but not in southern Australian climes. The grafted scion has its own properties ie: you can graft a plum or an apricot onto a peach and still get a plum or an apricot.

thanks roughbarked, i am aware of this information, however not sure that banana passionfruit not fruiting in southern climes is entirely corect though :)
I thought they did, i wonder if it was grown more as an annual? gee, its been so long since i was in the southern climes, trying to remember much about gardening when there.

They flower nicely here.. but no fruit.

just reading some random forums and talk of fruit in Tassie, anywho, here is some info on cultivation

With the yellow form seedling variation provides cross-pollination and helps overcome the problem of self-sterility.

from here

even though the passion friut is self pollinating, afaik, suggests here to provide a pollinator to help avoid self sterility, now i wonder if the self sterility is the problem as such? I haven’t considered that before, could be interesting. And also suggests planting from seed.

all my gardening books are in boxes at the moment, when the bookcase is sorted out they will come :)

trichome said:

just reading some random forums and talk of fruit in Tassie, anywho, here is some info on cultivation

With the yellow form seedling variation provides cross-pollination and helps overcome the problem of self-sterility.

from here

even though the passion friut is self pollinating, afaik, suggests here to provide a pollinator to help avoid self sterility, now i wonder if the self sterility is the problem as such? I haven’t considered that before, could be interesting. And also suggests planting from seed.

all my gardening books are in boxes at the moment, when the bookcase is sorted out they will come :)

I had a Nellie Kelly which my wife’s aunt gave to us as a gift.. I planted it where the toilet ran into a trench.. it spread some 12 to 15 metres over a seven year period suckers from the rootstock came up but i restricted them by uprooting.. under the main vine and allowed them to add afew extra metres of north wall cooling shade, further to the wes side of teh house. I am not aware that having these flowering, helped fruit set.. but I’m fairly sure the aspect and the water/fert supply was adequate.. By the way.. We left after the seven years.. and the passionfruit died that year after we left.

well my thoughts on passon fruit being self pollinating in the whole has just been destroyed, not sure why i thought this, probably because i have just wily nilly grown the fruit and not wondered about it, they have fruited for me in the past. Ahywho, some further reading just now goes on to say that they are not self pollinating except some.

from here

Passionfruit flowers are not self-fertile and many varieties are self incompatible therefore cross-pollination is necessary for seed and fruit set (McGregor 1976). Wind pollination is not effective because of the weight and stickiness of the pollen (Souza et al. 2004) thus pollen transfer must occur via either pollinating insects or manual hand pollination (Snow 1982). In Australia, pollination of passionfruit is predominantly achieved through the use of honey bees (McCarthy and Dick 2007; QLD.DPI 2009), however, if carpenter bees (Xylocopa sonorina) are abundant they are doubtless the better pollinators because of their larger size. Unfortunately, although these bees occur in the major Australian passionfruit growing regions they are rarely in strong enough numbers to adequately pollinate a crop, whereas honey bees can be established in strong numbers wherever required.

The flowers of passionfruit are self-sterile due to the flower morphology, being structured so that the anthers are placed below the stigma (Souza et al. 2004). Additionally, plants can be either self-compatible or self-incompatible depending on their variety. The purple passionfruit (Passiflora edulis) is mostly self-compatible, however, some selected varieties and hybrids may show signs of partial self-incompatibility and should not be planted in large blocks of a single variety (McCarthy and Dick 2007).

Hooray! RoughBarked to the rescue! :)

how ever :)

Pollinisers

The need for pollinisers will depend on the passionfruit variety being grown. The purple fruit types (P. edulis) and most of the current hybrid passionfruit varieties have self-compatible flowers so no pollinating varieties are required (McCarthy and Dick 2007). However, for the largely self-incompatible yellow fruit varieties (Passiflora flavicarpa) such as ‘Panama’, pollinising varieties are essential for optimal seed set to occur. Therefore when planting clonal selections of these varieties, it is recommend that growers interplant with alternate rows of polliniser varieties to ensure good fruit set (QLD.DPI 2009).