Passion fruit vines are an incredible plant to grow in any garden. Not only do they produce mouth-wateringly delicious fruit, their vine can also serve as a stunning camouflage over unsightly walls and fences. 

​

1. Planting

​

Position your passionfruit vine in full sun with protection from strong winds. Passionfruit vines grow extensive root systems so ensure the spot you choose to plant has plenty of space, free from weeds, competing plants, and grass.

 

They will also spread up to 10 meters squared so choose or build a structure that can accommodate it.  Passionfruit vines can be trained to grow along your fence, on a wooden or wire trellis, or over an arbour. Just install some wire or mesh to support its tendrils.

​

2. Pollination

​

Yellow passionfruit flowers are self-sterile. Carpenter bees are most efficient at pollinating passionfruit flowers and if they are not available, hand-pollination is the next best alternative.

​

3. Soil

​

Passionfruit vines are grown on many soil types but light to heavy sandy loams, of medium texture are most suitable, and pH should be from 6.5 to 7.5. If the soil is too acid, lime must be applied. Good drainage is essential to minimize the incidence of collar rot.

​

4. Seedling

​

Passionfruit vines are usually grown from seeds. With the yellow form, seedling variation provides cross-pollination and helps overcome the problem of self-sterility. Some say that the fruits should be stored for a week or two to allow them to shrivel and become perfectly ripe before seeds are extracted. If planted soon after removal from the fruit, seeds will germinate in 2 to 3 weeks.

 

Cleaned and stored seeds have a lower and slower rate of germination. Sprouting may be hastened by allowing the pulp to ferment for a few days before separating the seeds, or by chipping the seeds or rubbing them with fine sandpaper. Soaking, often recommended, has not proved helpful.

 

Seeds are planted 1/2 in (1.25 cm) deep in beds, and seedlings may be transplanted when 10 in (25 cm) high. If taller–up to 3 ft (.9 in)–the tops should be cut back and the plants heavily watered.

​

Some growers prefer layers or cuttings of matured wood with 3 to 4 nodes. Cuttings should be well rooted and ready for setting out in 90 days.

​

5. Culture

​

The highest yields in yellow passionfruit are obtained when the vines are set 10 ft (3 m) apart from each way. Commercially, vines are trained to strongly-supported wire trellises at least 7 ft (2.13 m) high. 
 

After a vine of either the yellow or purple passionfruit attains 2 years of age, pruning once a year will stimulate new growth and consequently more flower and fruit production. Judicious pruning of lateral branches after fruiting aids in disease control and can extend plantation life to 5 or 6 years.

​

Regular watering will keep a vine flowering and fruiting almost continuously. Water requirement is high when fruits are approaching maturity. If soil is dry, fruits may shrivel and fall prematurely. 

​

6. Fertilizing

 

Fertilizer (10-5-20 NPK) should be applied at the rate of 3 lbs (1.36 kg) per plant 4 times a year, under normal conditions. Annual supplements of 8 oz (220 g) urea and 7 1/2 oz (210 g) potassium sulfate per plant per year of age will have a highly favorable effect on production. It is said that 32 to 36 oz (900-1,000 g) of nitrogen is required to produce 66 lbs (30 kg) of fruits, but excessive nitrogen will cause premature fruit drop. Passionfruit vines should always be watched for deficiencies, particularly in potassium and calcium, and of less importance, magnesium.

​

7. Fruiting

​

The passionfruit vine, especially the yellow, is fast-growing and will begin to bear in 1 to 3 years. Ripening occurs 70 to 80 days after pollination. Ripe fruits fall to the ground and will roll in between mounded rows. They do not attract flies or ants but should be collected daily to avoid spoilage from soil organisms.

​

In South Africa, they are subject to sunburn damage on the ground and, for that reason, are picked from the vines 2 or 3 times a week in the summertime before they are fully ripe, that is when they are light-purple. At this stage, they will reach the fresh fruit market before they wrinkle. 

 

For juice processing, the fruit is allowed to attain a deep-purple color. In India and Israel, the fruits are always picked from the vine rather than being allowed to fall. It has been found that fallen fruits are lower in soluble solids, sugar content, acidity, and ascorbic acid content.

​

8. Weeding

​

Injuries to the base of the vine that will allow entrance of disease organisms, can be avoided by hand-weeding or the application of herbicides around the main stems. These practices will also protect the shallow root system. 

​

9. Storage

​

Underripe yellow passionfruits can be ripened and stored at 20º C with relative humidity of 85 to 90%. Ripening is too rapid at 30º C. Ripe fruits keep for one week at 2.22º-7.22º C. Fruits stored in unperforated, sealed, polyethylene bags at 23.1º C, have remained in good condition for 2 weeks. Coating with paraffin and storing at 5º to 7º C and relative humidity of 85 to 90%, has prevented wrinkling and preserved quality for 30 days.

​