Edible Fruit-Bearing Vines & Climbers

Grapes

• There are dozens of varieties of grapes, and the one you pick depends on your location and its intended use. There are grapes specifically for wine-making and for eating. They grow in bunches or individually. Some grapes are more cold-hardy than others, and most bunch grapes won't grow in warmer climates. Muscadines are native grapes that have been hybridized over the years and are more suitable for Southern gardens. To find the best grape for your climate, contact your local extension service, where an agent can recommend varieties and suggest local sources.

Kiwifruit

• Because of their name, most people think that kiwifruit originated in New Zealand, but it is originally from China. Kiwifruit has been cultivated in China for over 300 years, but Chinese fruit isn't exported. Seeds were introduced into New Zealand in 1909, and they now grow 99 percent of the world's production. Kiwifruit needs one male vine to every five female vines to produce fruit. This fruit needs to be grown at altitudes of 2,000 to 6,500 feet in a climate similar to Virginia or North Carolina. Vines die when temperatures drop below 29 degrees Fahrenheit. Kiwifruit grows best in a friable, sandy loam soil.

Passion Fruit

• Several of the more than 200 species of passiflora produce edible fruit, including the native P. incarnata, but two species are preferred for fruit production: P. edulis has yellow and purple fruited varieties, and are the most widely grown in home landscapes, and P. ligularis -- also known as giant granadilla, sweet granadilla or just granadilla -- is a subtropical vine from Mexico with large, purplish fruit up to 3 inches long. This vine is grown in Hawaii, Jamaica and Haiti, but seldom survives elsewhere for long, even in a greenhouse. The pulp of edible passiflora, along with the edible seeds, is eaten with a spoon or strained to produce beverages and sherbet.

Melons

• Melons need ample sun and heat, fertile soil and a long growing season to mature. The most commonly grown melons are watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew, but tropical melons such as horned melon and pepino can be grown in warmer climates. Melons are sensitive to overwatering, but inadequate water can also stress them. It's best to grow melons directly in the ground, because their roots do not like to be disturbed. To find the best variety for your location, visit a local garden center or contact your extension service.