Passionfruit Flowers Drop, Banana Harvest Timing: Pollination & Ripening Off-Plant

Passionfruit 12 months, flowers open/close/dry/drop. Hand-pollination failed. Bananas on tree—when to pick? Karratha, WA.

Passionfruit

• Some self-fertile, some need cross-pollination. ID your species.
• Carpenter bees = best pollinators. Attract with nesting blocks.
• Hand-pollinate at night (stigma receptive) with fresh pollen.

Bananas

1. Wait until fingers plump, stop swelling, lighten green.
2. Cut whole bunch or hands. Hang inverted in cool, dark (garage/shed).
3. Inverted = prevents peeling/falling as they ripen fast off plant.
4. Don't ripen on plant = starchy taste.