Vigorous evergreen vine with deep green shiny leaves and attractive mauve and white flowers. Roundish dark purple fruit with juicy aromatic flavour.

Cultural

For quick establishment plant in spring with plenty of organic matter. Plant in a sunny spot with excellent drainage. Mulching with non-organic materials such as gravel, stones or broken concrete may lengthen the lifespan of the vine as this will avoid soil splash onto the stem as well as any root disturbance close to the plant. Avoid mulching in a way that will encourage snails as these will ringbark young vines.

Passionfruit are heavy feeders during the growing season and require high nitrogen based NPK fertiliser, such as citrus feed. Apply fertiliser regularly during the growing season. Train your vine up a fence or wall removing all laterals until it obtains the height you require then pinch out the top and allow to branch. Remember fruit is formed on current seasons wood therefore, prune in spring to encourage new fruiting growth. Water in dry weather to help maintain juicy fruit.

Harvest

When fruit changes from green to dark purple.

Pollination

Self-fertile. Insect pollinated.

Flowering will occur over a long period of the growing season, but some early and later flowers will not set unless temperatures are high enough for the flowers to be fertile.

More Information

• www.passionfruit.org.nz
• Bramble Production - Perry C Crondall, PhD