Our passion fruit/maypop vine saw to it that we got LOTS of fruit before it passed on. I usually wait a bit longer before harvesting, when the fruit starts to wrinkle, but the plant was suffering so that I put it out of its misery.
Passion vines are very susceptible to root knot nematodes and fusarium wilt (both are in our soil) and they eventually succumb in 3-7 years.
Cut fruit in half and use a spoon to scoop out. I used a quart zip freezer bag with a canning funnel in it to put the juice and seeds into the zip bag.
I made three bags of these. Freeze then break off a piece when you want to use for a drink or smoothie. You can eat the seeds, spit them out, or strain them out.
When I bought this plant, I thought I was getting a purple variety instead of the green Maypop variety. The replacement plant will be either a Panama Red or Possum Purple passionfruit. Or perhaps one of each and stagger their planting years so when this happens again we won't miss a year of fruit!
We LOVE the way it covers our metal fence and provides natural privacy.
