Passion Fruit Growing

This passion fruit growing guide will help you grow a vigorous tropical vine, so you can harvest bucket loads of your own passion fruit. Growing well in tropical gardens, the passion fruit is a type of climbing vine that can live up to 10 years. It also grows well in the sub-tropics.

The botanical name for the passion fruit is passiflora edulis. Indeed it is a vine species of the passion flower family (passifloraceae) originating in South America (native to Venezuela through Paraguay and northern Argentina). Passion fruit is also grown commercially in tropical and subtropical regions for its sweet, seedy fruit.

Passion Fruit Varieties

The most popular varieties of this tropical vine are the purple and the yellow. Indeed the yellow has more vigorous vine growth and grows extremely well in tropical lowlands. Furthermore, yellow panamas are the best variety to grow in tropical locations such as Far North Queensland.

The purple is richer in aroma and flavour, and has a higher proportion of juice 35 – 38%. However, we actually prefer eating the yellow, but it is a matter of taste.

Passion Fruit Growing Conditions

This plant likes well draining soil. A sandy loam soil is perfect. If you have more of a heavy clay soil (as I do) find a part of your property that drains well and locate your plant there.

If you are planting a seedling you have purchased, firstly, make the hole you dig two times as wide and the same depth as the root-ball. Then remove your plant from the container, place in the hole and backfill with soil.

This plant likes full sun. However, if you plant it in a shady location it will grow towards any nearby sunshine and spread there.

Passion Fruit Growing from Seed

If you have a passion fruit you want to grow (your preferred variety) first check that variety grows true to seed before you begin.

Passion Fruit Growing Stages

Passion Fruit Growing in Pots

When your seedling is roughly 10cm (4in) high, re-pot your plant in a larger pot, around 18cm (7 inches) in diameter.

However, before transplanting into the ground, apply a commercially available soil improver, or dig in well matured compost and/or matured manure. Then gently work the seedling free, taking care to protect the root system. 

Water

Water in well and water weekly for six weeks as the plant becomes established. In addition, mulch around the base with sugarcane, lucerne or other organic material.

Water regularly throughout the dry season. However, during the tropical ‘wet’ it should be fine without any additional water.

Fertilising

Fertilising is one of our passion fruit growing tips. Provided soil is adequate, you need to fertilise just once each year, usually in spring. However, commercial growers or anyone seeking to have their vine fruit very heavily, should fertilise 4 times a year.

Consequently we use a liquid seaweed fertiliser to improve growth, flowering and fruiting.

How to Grow Passion Fruit on a Fence

Work out where you want your passion fruit to climb up. For example, you may locate your vine next to a fence, trellis or appropriate tree. The vine should find the nearby support all on its own. We plant near our fence and the vine grows all over it!

If you need to prune, stay away from the central core branch that emerges from the ground or pot. You can prune the branches that come out of that central branch if you need to do so.

Passion Fruit Growing Problems

The major pests and diseases are mites, fruit flies, aphids, mealy bugs, scales and brown spot disease. However, regular application of ‘white oil’ can help address these pests. Indeed, white oil is an effective organic pesticide that you can make at home.

Passion Fruit – The Fruit

The colour of the fruit is either yellow or purple.

The yellow passion fruit is round and about 6-7cm (2.5in) in diameter. In addition, it has a thick, waxy exterior, that becomes wrinkly as the fruit ripens. However, inside the fruit is filled with a pulp of orange-coloured juice and small, crunchy seeds. 

Passion Fruit Growing – Health Benefits

The best part of passion fruit growing is eating the fruit. Indeed it is tasty and extremely healthy, some even describe it as a ‘super food’.

The yellow passion fruit contains riboflavin and niacin and is rich in amino acids. They also are higher in citric acid and carotene than the purple passionfruit. However, they have a lower ascorbic acid content.

Weight Loss and Diabetes

Consumption of passion fruit tea helps to reduce the levels of glucose in the blood. Consequently, adding the insulin filled bark of passion fruit to tea can help diabetics.

Fibre

Passion fruit contains a large amount of soluble fibre which can help to improve digestion. Consequently, it can help with constipation.

Immune System  

The vitamin C in the fruit can boost your immune system. 

Antioxidants

Furthermore, the fruit is one of the antioxidant foods that can assist in your physical and mental health. 

Finally, thank you for reading and good luck growing passion fruit.

Other Tropical Fruits

• Black Sapote
• Custard Apple
• Dragon Fruit
• Grumichama
• Guava Tree
• Jaboticaba
• Kumquat Tree
• Mamey Sapote
• Mulberries
• Natal Plum
• Paw Paw
• Rambutan
• Star Apple
• Watermelon

Relevant Content

• Tropical Herbs
• Tropical Vegetables
• Indoor Ficus Plants
• Tropical Fruit
• List of Tropical Fruit Trees

Tropical Gardening