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Tropical Garden Grow Guide

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Plant of the month October 2024
Passionfruit

by Mary Loan

Overview about the plant:  The passionfruit plant is native to South America and grows widely in tropical climates as far north as southern Florida.  The flowers of the plant are exquisite and ornamental; they produce two main fruit varieties, purple and yellow, that grow profusely on the woody stemmed vines.  The ovoid fruits, about 1 1/2  to 2 inches in diameter contain  rich, sweet/sour multi-seeded jelled fruits which are encased in tough outer shells.  The yellow variety is larger than the purple.  Both contain small amounts of delicious fruit in each berry.  Purple passionfruit is less acidic with a richer aroma and flavor.  Another name for passionfruit is granadilla, a common variety. 

How to grow: Plants may be started from seeds or cuttings.  Seeds germinate within 2 to 3 weeks after they are sown.  Plants may also be started from cuttings of the mature wood of the vine.  Plant each vine about 2-3 feet apart. It can take up to 18 months to 2 years for a newly planted vine to produce.  A trellis or sturdy fence is required to grow passionfruit as the fruit bearing vines can grow to be up to 30 feet in length.  Plants do not grow well in waterlogged soil, but must be kept evenly watered, especially in the dry season.  Honey bees and 'drunken baymen' bees (Xylocopa sonorina) are the primary pollinators of passion flowers.  In the event of a lack of bees, flowers may be pollinated by hand.  There is a plethora of information on the internet about how and when to hand pollinate the flowers.  Charles Boning, author of 'Florida's Best Fruiting Plants', states that purple passion fruit is self-pollinating. He recommends that hand pollination is sometimes practiced to increase the fruit set.  Fruits mature between 2 and 3 months after bloom.  Vigorous pruning post harvest is recommended to increase fruit production and prevent your passionfruit vines from becoming a mass of tangled foliage,

Disease and insect control:  Unfortunately passionfruit is susceptible to many plant pests and diseases. For some viruses bacteria and fungus there is no cure.  Infected plants must pulled up and destroyed, not composted.  Squirrels are fond of passionfruit and love to share the harvest.

To harvest:  The fruits are ripe to pick when the rind starts to pucker.  When in doubt, pick a fruit and hold it between the palms of both hands and squish firmly.  If ripe, the fruit will ooze out ready for a sample taste which may be a messy one.

Health benefits:  Passionfruits are a rich source of vitamin A and C.  They contain antioxidants, fiber, calciom iron and potassium.

Recipes:  Fruits are enjoyed 'out of hand' by cutting open the fruit and scooping the delicious fleshy pulp.  Passionfruit can also be made into juice and many creative drinks with the addition of complementary fruits.