How to grow Passionfruit

Here is a guide to growing Passionfruit, including sun requirements, when to plant and harvest. Learn about pests and troubleshooting notes.

Passionfruit vines require rich, well draining soil. Before planting prepare the soil to an area of 1-2 meters wide and incorporate plenty of well rotted compost and chicken manure. 

Plant Passionfruit vines in a full sun position. 

No, Passionfruit is not frost tolerant, and best planted in warm climates. 

Plant Passionfruit at least 5m apart. Passionfruit vines spread very easily and can get several meters high and wide in just one season. 

Passionfruit vines are planted in spring or early autumn, although can be planted at anytime with extra protection from harsh winter and summer temperatures. 

Dig a hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball. The hole should allow the plant to sit at the same level in the soil as it was previously. Fill the hole with soil ensuring the crown of the plant, where roots and stem meet, is level with the soil surface. 

Plant out in the early morning or evening and/or on an overcast day. Avoid planting at peak sun times or on windy days, this will allow your plants to settle in comfortably and protect them from windburn and sunburn. 

Feed your Passionfruit vine with a well-balanced organic fertiliser in early spring and autumn to keep plants producing well. You can also top-dress the soil around the plant with fresh compost and chicken manure each spring. 

Add a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the vine to retain soil moisture. 

The first fruit may appear 6-8 months after planting, however the best crop will begin at 18 months from planting. Fruit will need to fully ripen on the vine. Harvest when fruit has completely changed colour and comes away from the vine easily. 

Pests that affect Passionfruit include: Aphids, Fruit Fly, Red Scale, Fruit Spotting Bug, Passion Fruit Mite, Mealybug. 

Diseases that affect Passionfruit include: Passion Fruit Woodiness, Bacterial Spot, Bacterial Spot, Root and Collar Rot, Fusarium Wilt, Anthracnose, Scab. 

Some Passionfruit varieties require a second vine for cross-pollination, however the more commonly grown varieties such as ‘Nellie Kelly’ and ‘Panama Gold’ are self-fertile. 

Give plants a light prune in late winter to early spring. 

Many Passionfruit vines are grafted. Often, the understock (the root system your vine is grafted on to) starts to grow. It can out grow the productive vine and become difficult to manage. Always remove suckers from below the graft area and avoid damaging the root system as this can encourage further suckering. 

If your Passionfruit are dropping off the vine prematurely, it could be due to irregular watering, fungal diseases or fruit fly damage.