Leslie Massey
Passionfruit is a popular garden plant in Australia, but it can be tricky to grow due to its short lifespan of about six to seven years. The best time to plant a passionfruit vine is in spring, in free-draining soil, in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot with fertile soil. Passionfruit vines grow extensive root systems, so ensure the spot you choose has plenty of space and is protected from strong winds. They will also spread up to 10 metres squared, so choose or build a structure that can accommodate it. The vine will need something to climb on, such as a fence, pergola, or trellis. Passionfruit vines require regular watering, especially when young and when flowering and fruiting. They are heavy feeders, so it is important to feed them with fertiliser or chicken manure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Planting time | Spring to early autumn |
| Sunlight | Full sun (around 6 hours) |
| Soil | Rich in organic matter, well-drained, pH 5.5 to 6.5 |
| Support | Trellis, fence, pergola, wall |
| Space | Up to 2m |
| Watering | Regular, especially when young, flowering, and fruiting |
| Fertiliser | Chicken poo, citrus food, flower and fruit |
| Pruning | In spring as new growth resumes |
| Flowering | Begins in spring and continues into autumn |
| Fruiting | Begins in summer |
| Harvest | When ripe and ready to eat (colour change depends on variety) |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right variety for your region
Passionfruit is generally a self-pollinating plant, but some varieties require another vine to provide cross-pollination and produce fruit. The commonly grown 'Nellie Kelly' and 'Panama Gold Select' are self-fertile. Nellie Kelly is a common backyard variety, bred to withstand cooler temperatures. It grafts popular passionfruit vines onto a hardier rootstock vine, making them less susceptible to disease, pests and frosts. Commercial growers recommend purple varieties for temperate regions such as Northern NSW and Panamas for more tropical regions such as Central and Far North QLD.
If you are planting a purple variety, do so in spring so that it has time to grow stronger before winter. Purple passionfruit usually peaks in summer, autumn and winter, depending on conditions.
Panama passionfruits are yellow-skinned and are largely self-incompatible, so pollinating varieties are recommended for fruit setting to occur. When planting clonal selections of these varieties, it is recommended that growers interplant with alternate rows of polliniser varieties to ensure good fruit set. Panama Red is red-skinned and has rather large fruit. It is also grafted and good to grow in the tropics.
For southern Australia, the grafted Nelly Kelly black passionfruit is a good choice. Passionfruit vines can be grown in large pots or containers, but they require a sturdy support structure as they can grow 3-6 metres tall and up to 4 metres wide.
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Preparing the soil and planting
Passionfruit vines are easy to grow when planted in the right spot and given the right care. They are strong, vigorous, evergreen climbers that originated in South America and can grow up to 3-6 metres tall and 4 metres wide. They thrive in subtropical and temperate regions and require a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, well-drained soil and regular water to thrive.
When preparing the soil and planting, follow these steps:
- Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun (around 6 hours) and is protected from harsh winds and competitive roots.
- Ensure there is a strong support structure in place, such as a pergola, fence, trellis, or screening wall, that will allow the plant to grow 2-4 metres along.
- Prepare the soil by mixing in compost, chicken manure, or a soil improver and plant fertiliser. The soil should be rich in organic matter, well-drained, and have a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
- Dig a hole that is the same depth and twice the width of your potted vine or root ball.
- Remove the passionfruit vine from its pot and gently tease the roots.
- Position the vine in the hole at the same depth it was in the pot and backfill with soil, gently firming it down.
- Form a raised doughnut-shaped ring of soil 20 cm away from the base of the main stem to help retain water.
- Water the plant well and keep the soil moderately moist for a few weeks after planting to help the vine establish properly.
- Apply a layer of mulch, such as sugarcane, pea straw, or bark chips, around the base of the plant, ensuring it doesn't build up against the stem.
Passionfruit vines can also be grown in large pots or containers by following similar steps and ensuring adequate drainage.
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$13.43
Providing support for the vine
Passionfruit vines are strong, vigorous climbers that can grow up to 3-6 metres tall and 4 metres wide. They require sturdy support to grow upon, such as a fence, trellis, pergola, or screening wall. These support structures provide a framework for the vine to climb and spread, allowing it to grow horizontally and vertically.
When planting a passionfruit vine, ensure you leave enough space for the plant to grow. Allow at least 2 metres in length for the vine to grow horizontally and provide vertical support that can accommodate its height. Position the vine next to the support structure, ensuring that it has something to twine around and climb on as it grows. Passionfruit vines are known for their tendrils, which attach themselves to structures like wire, helping them climb and spread.
If you're using a pot or container for your passionfruit vine, choose one that is large enough, with a minimum size of 50 cm deep by 50 cm wide, and ensure it has adequate drainage holes. Place the pot next to the support structure before planting, as it will be difficult to move once filled with soil. Fill the pot with a premium potting mix, gently pressing down every 10 cm and filling up to 2 cm below the rim. Dig a hole in the centre of the pot, remove the passionfruit vine from its nursery pot, and plant it into the prepared hole. Water the plant thoroughly, ensuring that the potting mix is well-settled.
For in-ground planting, prepare the soil by mixing in compost, manure, or a soil improver product. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball or nursery pot and at the same depth. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole and gently tease the roots before placing the vine in the hole. Backfill with soil, gently firming it down, and form a raised ring of soil about 20 cm away from the base of the stem to help retain water. Water the plant well, keeping the soil moist for a few weeks to establish the vine properly.
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Feeding, fertilising and mulching
Passionfruit vines are hungry and need to be fed, fertilised and mulched.
To feed your passionfruit vine, use well-watered citrus food or chicken manure twice a year, in spring and autumn. Spread the fertiliser over the entire root system. Avoid over-feeding or using fertilisers that are high in nitrogen, as this will encourage leaf growth at the expense of flowers and fruits. You can also use a product such as Seasol fertiliser every six to eight weeks.
If you are planting in a pot, fill it with a premium potting mix, gently pressing down every 10 cm, and filling up to 2 cm below the rim. Water the plant well, even if the water is draining out of the base of the pot. After the initial watering, keep the soil moderately moist. Check daily, and if the potting mix is starting to dry out, it's time to water again.
When planting in the ground, prepare the soil by incorporating compost and chicken manure to an area around one to two metres wide. Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball, gently tease the roots, plant the vine and water well.
Apply a layer of mulch, preferably organic, such as sugarcane, pea straw or compost, around the base of your passionfruit plant. Don't let it build up against the stem.
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Pruning and preventing pests
Pruning is not necessary to encourage fruiting, but it may be necessary to remove overgrown growth or keep the vine under control. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring when new growth resumes. Avoid removing main stems, just cut back unwanted twining stems. If the vine is established and well cared for, it should begin flowering in spring and continue into autumn.
Passionfruit vines are generally resistant to pests and diseases, but they can be affected by some common issues. One of the most common pests is the passionfruit vine hopper, also known as fluffy bum. These can be squashed or hosed off, and juveniles can be treated with a pyrethrum-based garden spray. Vines may also be attacked by scale, which can be treated with horticultural spray oil.
Snails and insects can be kept under control with white oil, and your local hardware store or nursery should be able to advise on products to deal with bigger pests such as possums and rats.
To reduce the risk of fungal or bacterial diseases on the leaves, avoid watering them directly. Thin out the foliage if a fungal disease outbreak occurs. Fruit flies can also be a problem, causing fruit to drop from the vine before it is ripe. Fallen fruit should be picked up daily to prevent rotting.
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Frequently asked questions
Spring is the best time to plant a new passionfruit vine, as the warmer soil allows it to establish itself before winter.
Let one main stem grow to the top of a support structure, cutting off any side shoots until it reaches the top. Once it has grown to the top, allow the side shoots to grow and attach them horizontally to the structure.
Water your passionfruit vine regularly, especially when it is young, flowering, or fruiting. Water deeply a couple of times a week, depending on weather conditions and climate.
Check if the vine has been adequately pollinated. If not, try hand-pollinating the blooms using a small paintbrush to transfer pollen from the stamen of one flower to the pistil of another.
