My first share house had a dusty old passionfruit along the back fence and, although it sometimes produced tempting fruit, most of us were too afraid to go near it. The overgrown plant served as a spider den of sin as well as a decorative wall covering. Who were we to disrupt this important business? Nevertheless, our plant emphasised two important passionfruit qualities: its relentless vigour and the importance of pruning.
Anything that grows quickly has high nutrient and water needs, and passionfruit is no exception. During the summer, a monthly feed with seaweed extract will fuel it to produce new growth, while an application of liquid potash will help towards fruit production. Passionfruit originated in the Amazon and therefore does best in warm/tropical conditions. However, hybrids/grafted varieties have been developed to tolerate cooler climates. Its love of heat is equally matched by its intolerance of wind, so be sure to plant in a warm, protected location.
The vine can be trained up trellises and along walls. All it needs is a little bit of wire and encouragement. Fruit only sets on new growth, so we give our own vines a hard, lavender-like pruning to a third of their original size at the end of winter. Light pruning during the summer will allow more light to reach/ripen fruit and discourage fungal disease. When planted in spring, vines should bear fruit within about 6 months and continue to be productive over the next 5 years.
PLANTING
Plant seedling, preferably a grafted variety that will flower and fruit off the same vine, or plant both a female and male plant. Make sure you have an extensive trellising system set up from the outset.
WATERING
In ground: Water daily for the first 2 months while establishing and then cut back to 3-4 times a week in the warm season, otherwise 2-3 times a week during the cool season in the absence of rainfall.
In Pots: Water daily while establishing and through the entirety of the warm season, otherwise 3-4 times a week during the cool season in the absence of rainfall.
MAINTENANCE
Two weeks before planting, prepare your best A-grade space with plenty of compost and chicken manure that is high in nitrogen.
Plant seedling, preferably a grafted variety that will flower and fruit off the same vine, or plant both a female and male plant. Make sure you have an extensive trellising system set up from the outset. Mulch with 3–5cm of pea straw or lucerne hay.
A heavy feeder, the passionfruit will appreciate a monthly feed with a liquid seaweed solution, with the exception of when the plant is fruiting, as it may cause the fruit to prematurely drop.
Attach the vine to a trellis as it grows. Remove any sucker growth that flares from the root zone. Anything below the graft point will need to be cut off.
After 26 weeks give another application of compost and some slow-release nitrogen-rich fertiliser and re-mulch arounds its base.
HARVESTING
Time until first harvest: Although you may get a small amount of first year fruit, expect at least a year or more until your first meaningful harvest. A passionfruit vine is a long term investment, so be patient.
How to harvest: Fruit is ready to cut from the vine when it starts to pucker and dry out. The ultimate sign of ripe fruit is when it falls from the vine itself (or dislodges with minor effort), so the best fruit can be found at the feet of the plant.
TIP
Choose a well-grafted variety that has both male and female parts for pollination and beware of suckers shooting from the root zone.
