If you’ve got a sunny patch that would be just perfect with a bit of trellising, a passionfruit vine might be just right for you. You’ll also become a big favourite with your friends when you realise you can’t possibly get through the crop on your own! Here’s how to grow your own passionfruit.
Prep the soil
Passionfruit are hardy, but like most plants, they’ll really deliver with a bit of care in the soil. Dig in some fluffy organic matter, cow manure or compost and have a good amount of mulch to spread over the root area – when you apply it, keep it away from the stem to help prevent collar rot.
Plant in spring
Spring’s the ideal time to get new passionfruit plants into the ground. They love warmth, so wait until after the last frosts of winter. Choose a spot that’s sheltered and sunny – maybe against a north-facing fence or wall. Remember they need something to climb on!
Choose the best plant
There are lots of different passionfruit varieties, but black-skinned passionfruit is still the overwhelming favourite. They’re great growers and self-fertile – other varieties need to be planted in pairs, to allow for cross-pollination, but the black skins are fine on their own. That makes them perfect for gardens with less space, because a healthy vine can quickly take over! When you’re in the garden centre, look for a plant that has been grafted – you’ll know it’ll be a guaranteed performer. But, if you spot growth emerging from below the graft point, cut it off immediately – you want the graft to flourish, not the rootstock!
Give it a prune
While passionfruit vines will thrive on their own, a careful prune to thin out crowded sections will mean every part of the vine gets access to air and sunlight.
Keep it fed
Passionfruit vines have similar nutritional needs to citrus trees, so any good granular citrus food applied in early spring and early autumn will help keep the vine happy and fed. A passionfruit vine’s shallow root system can cover a large area, so spread fertiliser at least a metre out from the trunk.
Pests away!
Watch out for insect pests, especially when the vine is flowering. A healthy passionfruit vine will generally keep pests at bay, but if you spot growing populations, it’s a good idea to take action immediately. A spray using Neem oil offers good all-purpose bug prevention and is far safer for bees and butterflies than commercial pesticides. Particular pests to watch out for are thrips and passion vine hoppers, which come in two forms, the white fluffy-tailed juveniles and the small flat-winged moth.
Passionfruit vines can also be susceptible to fungal and viral diseases. Try a copper spray (such as Champ DP) to control fungus, but virus-infected plants can only be pulled out and replaced with a healthy new plant. Plan on starting a new passionfruit vine every four or five years.
Practise patience, reap the rewards
While some passionfruit vines will yield up their bounty in the first year, many don’t. You shouldn’t let that get you down – it’s often a good sign that the plant has spent its energy putting down roots, and will be set for a bumper crop the next year!