No I haven't heard of it here Rita. But with the globalisation of pests and disease I dare say it is making its way here apace.
We have a native lily borer (a moth Brithys) that burrows under the epidermis and turns bulbs to a putrid mush. But I wonder if it is actually native when you note it is also in the Mediterranean.

I at last have a picture of the bloom of my passionfruit you sought @pod.



I don't know if you know the story of the origin of the usage of "passion" here. (The history of plant nomenclature is very fascinating).

"The association with the word 'Passion' was given by Catholic missionaries in South America;
The corona threads (radial filaments) of the passion flower were seen as a symbol of the crown of thorns, the five stamens for wounds, (four by the nails and one by the lance);
The five petals and five sepals as the ten apostles (excluding Judas and Peter) and the three stigmas for the nails on the cross;
The pointed tips of the leaves were taken to represent the Holy Lance;
The tendrils represent the whips used in the flagellation of Christ;
The chalice-shaped ovary with its receptacle represents a hammer or the Holy Grail;
The blue and white colours of many species' flowers represent Heaven and Purity."
(From the Society for Growing Australian Plants.)

Interesting history on the passion fruit. Are they winter hardy, or do you start them from seed each spring?
The softer squash that you're talking about must be what we call summer squash, like a zucchini or yellow croke neck squash. I guess they are called summer squash because the need to be used shortly after picking, and don't keep into the winter. What we call winter squash have a harder outer shell, and when ripe will keep well into the winter. I still have some in storage that I piced last fall, and they are still firm and good.

I thought it might be fun to grow some of these, but when I search for them I don't find any sources for Kent Pumpkins in the US. Darn, I would like to try them.

Glen ~ that is the one I was thinking of. Yes, I had heard the origin of the name. I've had birds spread those seeds and now have a small patch of them growing on the edge of my driveway. Probably while the birds were perched on the power line. Thanks for sharing the pretty photos and the information.

Tom, I don't think their roots would be winter hardy in your area but you could keep it in a container or start from seed. I know many in the US grow it simply for the ornamental factor rather than a food source. If you notice the foliage in Glens' early photo, it is very pretty and distinctive. I haven't saved seeds from the wild ones but perhaps I should do so.

Tom. I am unsure whether or not they grow in the very cold. I have a friend who has two different vines in Tasmania (approx. coordinates 42.8806° S, 147.3250° E). But there are so many crop cultivars and grafted ones as well. Mine are supposedly Hawaiian Purple and are from seed. They look like the pictures on the web.

If you do get one, ensure its planted over a cow's liver or a heart - it is a folk thing but apparently this has a real agricultural basis. See here:

http://www.abc.net.au/gardenin...

Interesting link! I need to explore their other information also. Thanks Glen.

Kristi, the ABC gardening program is long-running and very highly regarded: the website is one of my main gardening information sources.

The present TV presenter is quite famous and interesting.

- but don't get a shock when you see Costa Georgiadis for the first time.

Tom, do you have Mr Fothergills?

http://mrfothergills-seeds-bul...

The great Costa Georgiadis. Presenter of the Australian Broadcasting Commission's 'Gardening Australia'.

Glen, I had found that link when doing a search, but we don't have that supplier in the US. I'm not sure if they would, or could send seeds to the US? I have imported irises from Aus. but I had to get a permit to import plants, as they were live rhizomes.

Tom, I have sent a message asking Mr Fothergills about OS ordering . We will see what they say.

Thanks!

This is my first crop of Tamarillos. Sorry about the rain drops, which have been most welcomed. This was grown from seed planted October 2011. They will turn pinkish purple when ripe.

Those are genius. I have never been able to grow any even close to those.

Thanks David . They are not far off ripening.

I'll try again now!

I checked this afternoon - mine are turning pink!! Please Lord, don't let the flying-foxes eat them on me tonight before I photograph them.

Flying Foxes are fascinating. So far the varieties of Bats we have here including the Fruit Bats have left us alone here in the gardens, yet most of the smaller types help a lot with Mosquito control.

Looking forward to seeing the pic's of the turned Tamarillos, and may your prayer be answered!

The tamarillos ripening.