How to Grow a Passionfruit Vine

There are so many different types of Passionfruits to try of varying colours, sizes and subtle flavour differences including Black Passionfruit, Panama Gold, Panama Red, and Banana.

The most common and popular of all the Passionfruit in Australia, is surely the Black Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis). There are a number of cultivars to choose from, so check the plant label to see which one suits your climate and taste buds.

Black Passionfruit fruits in summer and autumn. Fruits are medium sized, purple to black coloured, and wrinkle as they ripen. Pulp is yellow and is sweeter when ripe. Flowers are white and purple.

Panama Red Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis-panama red) fruits in summer and autumn. Fruits are large, red and smooth. Pulp is juicy and mild in flavour. Flowers are white and purple.

Panama Gold Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis-panama gold) fruits in summer and autumn. Fruits are large, yellow and smooth. Pulp is juicy, sweet and strong flavoured. Flowers are white and purple.

Banana Passionfruit (Passiflora mollissima) fruits in autumn and winter. Fruits are yellow and are longer and thinner than regular Pasionfruits. Pulp is orange coloured and tastes a bit like Banana. Flowers are soft-pink in colour.

A grafted Passionfuit has the leaves and stems of one plant (shootstock or scion), grafted and grown onto the roots (rootstock) of another plant.

The pros of grafted Passionfruit plants is that it can help with better fruiting, and plants can tolerate pests, diseases, and different soil types better.

The major con of grafted Passionfruit plants is that the rootstock can become a weed in the garden, especially gardens with sandy soil.

So, if you have sandy soils, or you live in a frost-free climate, grow a non-grafted Passionfruit.

If you decide to plant a grafted Passionfruit, be sure to remove any of the leaves coming from the rootstock, otherwise the rootstock will reduce the health of the shootstock, or take over completely.

It really depends on the variety and the climate you live in. Most flower and fruit in summer and autumn. Warm climates will have a longer season than cool.

Choose a spot that is frost-free, has well-draining soil, gets at least five hours of direct sun, and is protected from strong winds. Plant next to a strong support structure such as a pergola, fence or trellis, allowing at least 2 m in length for the plant to grow on.

Apply Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser and a 10 cm layer of compost, then gently turn the top 15 cm of soil over, mixing everything together. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well.

Dig a hole the same depth and twice the width of the plastic pot. Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Don't plant the Passionfruit too deeply - the roots of the plant should only be slightly under the surface of the soil.

Form a raised doughnut shaped ring of soil 20 cm away from the base of the main stem - this helps keep water where it's needed.

Water in well after planting to help settle the soil around the roots. Keep the soil moist for a few weeks as plant establishes.

It can take up to a year for plants to establish, so keep the soil moderately moist at all times. In summer, you will probably have to water the plant everyday. In winter and rainy weather, avoid watering until the soil starts to dry out slightly again.

If you notice the soil isn't absorbing water, apply a wetting agent such as Yates Waterwise Granular Soil Wetter.

Apply an 8 cm layer of organic mulch - such as sugarcane or pea straw - about 50 cm around the plant and keeping the mulch away from the base of the main stem.

In the plant's first year you can continue to apply Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improve & Plant Fertiliser. After the first year, throughout the warmer months feed every six weeks with Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food - this will encourage healthy growth, and improve fruiting and flowering.

Passionfruit should start to produce good fruit in their second year. Allow fruits to fully ripen on the vine before picking. Ripe fruit should be deep in colour and plump.

No, this means the water is being lost from the fruit and the pulp is starting to dry out. Eat when they are plump.

Once the plant is well established, you can prune plants in early spring. Remove up to one-third of last year’s growth but leave the major branches on your support system. Prune off anything that is dead, diseased or damaged.

Keep the plant well watered around the time of pruning and feed to help promote fresh growth.

Yes you can, however, as they need lots of water, space and nutrients, they do best in the ground. The vine will also be smaller as there is less room for the roots to grow. If you do decide to plant one in a pot you'll need to take extra care with watering and feeding.

Choose a large pot at least 500 mm wide.

Put pot in a spot that gets at least 5 hours of direct sun, is frost-free, and is protected from strong winds. Position next to a strong supported structure such as a pergola, fence or trellis, that will allow the plant to grow 2 m along.

Fill the pot with a premium potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix, gently pressing down every 10 cm, and filling up to 2 cm below the rim of the pot.

Dig a hole the same size as the plastic pot, then remove the Passionfruit plant from the plastic pot, and plant into the pot freshly filled with potting mix. Don't plant the Passionfruit too deeply - the roots of the plant should only be slightly under the surface of the potting mix.

Water the plant in really well. Even if the water is draining out the base of the pot, keep watering as you want the potting mix to settle.

After the initial watering, keep the soil moderately moist. Check on your plant daily, and if the potting mix is starting to dry out, then it's time to water. In summer, you will probably need to water the plant everyday. In winter and rainy weather, avoid watering until the potting mix starts to dry out slightly.

You can apply a 5 cm layer of organic mulch, such as sugarcane or pea straw, however, it will make it more difficult to keep an eye of the soil moisture. If you do decide to use mulch, don't forget to keep it the mulch away from the base of the plant.

Throughout the warmer months feed every six weeks with Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food - this will encourage healthy growth, and improve fruiting and flowering.

Passionfruit should start to produce good fruit in their second year. Allow fruits to fully ripen on the vine before picking. Ripe fruit should be deep in colour and plump.

Once the plant is well established, you can prune plants in early spring. Remove up to one-third of last year’s growth but leave the major branches on your support system. Prune off anything that is dead, diseased or damaged.

Keep the plant well watered around the time of pruning and feed to help promote fresh growth.

If you find your Passionfruits are falling off before ripening, there are pin pricks holes in the fruit skin, and there are maggots inside the fruit, then it's Fruit Fly. To lure Fruit Fly away from Passionfruits and other susceptible fruiting plants, use Yates Nature's Way Fruit Fly Control.

Sap-sucking pests - including Aphids, Mealy Bug, Scales, Whitefly, Leafhoppers, Passionvine Hoppers, and Mites - cause the leaves to wilt (especially the new leaves) and generally makes the plants look sick and unhealthy. There may also be a black, sticky and powdery substance on the leaves know as Sooty Mould. As soon as you notice these pests on your Passionfruit vine spray with Yates Nature's Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray (excluding Mites) or Yates Nature's Way Vegie & Herb Spray - Natrasoap (excluding Scale Insects).

There are lots of different pests that chew Passionfruit leaves, but the most common is Caterpillars. If there are only a few here and there chewing leaves, simply pick them off the plant and squish them underfoot. If they start to harm the plant and are eating many of the leaves, spray Caterpillars directly with Yates Nature's Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray.

Passionfruit Woodiness Virus and Cucumber Mosaic Cucumovirus are two common viral diseases of Passionfruit. Both diseases cause the leaf to pucker and become distorted. Leaves also have yellow spots that cover the entire leaf.

There is no chemical to control these diseases, but there are ways avoid it in your garden. 

Aphids carry and spread these diseases, so keep watch and spray them with Yates Nature's Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray as soon as you notice them. Aphids often live on weeds, so control weeds anywhere on or near the property. For a more natural alternative to weed control, spray annual and perennial growing weeds with Yates Zero Naturals Weed & Moss Killer.

Brown Spot, Septoria Spot, and Phytophthora Blight all of which can be treated with Yates Leaf Curl Copper Fungicide Spray.

Brown Spot symptoms looks like dark brown spots on fruits that are sometimes sunken, and leaves with brown spots with yellow rings (halos) around the spot.

Septoria Spot symptoms on leaves and fruits looks like brown spots with brown rings (halos) of dead tissue around each spot. Eventually, the spots spreads and caused the leaves and fruits to fall off.

Phytophthora Blight symptoms on leaves and fruit look like large patches of light-brown, stems go purple and then to brown, plants are wilted, and leaves all fall off.

All of these fungal diseases happen in cool and/or wet weather, and when the soil is too wet. Avoid watering during these times.

Pick up any fallen leaves or fruits, and place all clippings into the rubbish or burn.

Disinfect tools (especially pruning tools like secateurs) after using on or near the plant. First washing tool, then dip into a mixture of 4 mL bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and 196 mL water. Allow tool to dry before reusing elsewhere in the garden.

Wash hands, gloves or clothes after handling a diseased plant.

Always use sharp pruning tools - a smooth cut is harder for microbes to infect.

Avoid overwatering especially in winter, and overhead-watering (i.e., don't water the leaves).

Control weeds anywhere on and near the property as weeds can carry pests and diseases.

Passionfruit can be sensitive to frosts, if you area is known for frosts, choose a frost tolerant variety such as Panama Red and Panama Gold. To protect your plants from frost, spray with Yates Waterwise DroughtShield.

If your grafted Passionfruit vine is growing well and you notice there are few suckers, simply prune them off as you notice them.

If your grafted Passionfruit vine is already dead, or is old and no longer fruiting well, then remove the aboveground parts of the plant, and spray any suckers as they appear. To kill Passionfruit suckers, roots and all, spray with Yates Zero Weedkiller Super Concentrate. Once the suckers of the rootstock have been controlled, do not plant anything in the same area for at least two weeks after spraying.

Use the right fertiliser that is high in Potasssium for good flowering and fruiting, use it regularly but don't overdo it - use according to label instructions. An ideal fertiliser for Passionfruit is Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Pelletised Fertiliser and apply every six weeks throughout the growing, flowering and fruiting season.

Passionfruit are very shallow rooted and need watering almost every day, especially during the warmer weather. Mulch can help to keep the roots moist and cool, so apply a 5-8 cm layer of a fine grade mulch (e.g. sugarcane). Wetting agents will also help water get into and stay in the soil - apply Yates Waterwise Granular Soil Wetter as treatment for Water-Repellent Soils.

Avoid watering in cool and/or wet weather as this is when fungal diseases can happen.

Passionfruits need at least 5 hours of direct sun for most of the year. If there isn't enough light, then the plant can't make and store enough energy to make good flowers and fruit.

Passionfruits generally do best in sub-tropical and tropical climates where the weather is warmer for longer. You can still grow Passionfruits in temperate and cool climates, just be sure to grow a variety that is suited to your area.

It takes about 1-2 years after planting for a Passionfruit to fruit well, with peak fruiting generally between 2 and 5 years. After 5 years, some plants tend to produce less fruit, so it'd good to plant a new Passionfruit every couple of years.

Passionfruit do not tolerate frost, either the plant will be injured, or if there is a late frost and the plants are in bud, then this will affect the flowering and fruiting. If your area is known for frosts, choose a variety that is tolerant of frost.

Passionfruit are susceptible to a variety of garden pests and diseases, and if left untreated can harm the plant's health, and prevent flowering and fruiting.

Honey Bees are the main pollinators of Passionfruit. To encourage more Bees into your garden, plant white, yellow, purple, and blue flowering plants, especially plant like Salvias, Lavenders, and Rosemary that have special landing pad flowers (labiate). To attract Bees and other pollinators, sow Yates Bee Pasture Pollen & Nectar Mix Seeds near your Passionfruit Vine.

You can also hand pollinate flowers by taking the pollen (fluffy yellow powder) from one flower and brushing it onto the centre of the flower of another. This is best done in mid-morning when the flowers are fully open.

Passionfruit plants only need one plant to pollinate, so growing more than one plant in not necessary.

Passionfruits ripen best when left on the vine. Harvest when fruits are deep in colour, and plump, or wait until they fall off naturally.

Remove pulp from passionfruit and wash to remove the pulp from the seeds.

Fill seed trays or a small pot with Yates Seed Raising Mix, sow seeds 5 cm apart and 1 cm deep.

Place spots in a spot that is warm but not too hot, and protected from the wind. Seeds can remain indoors until germination.

Water seeds in well and keep the potting mix moist at all times.

Seeds should germinate within 3-4 weeks.

Once the seedlings are 5 cm tall, transplant into a larger pot, ideally a 140 mm size pot. Once the seedling's roots have filled the 140 mm pot, you can plant into it's final home - see How to Grow a Passionfruit Vine in a Garden/Pot.