Grafted passionfruit are said to fruit earlier and better, but for my money I’d rather grow them from seed. My first passionfruit plant was a grafted ‘Nelly Kelly’ that I bought from my local nursery. Much to my dismay, this plant never yielded me one passionfruit! What it gave me was hours of weeding out the suckers from one end of the garden to the next. It was then that I vowed never to get another grafted plant again but grow it from seed instead.
Passionfruit only last about 7 years so it’s important to get some stock growing well before your last one dies. Before I finally gave up on the ‘Nelly Kelly’ I got started on a some seeds that I got from Diggers Club for a common black passionfruit, Passiflora edulis. There weren’t many seeds and they took a long time to germinate, maybe up to one month. So be patient if you try at home!
Being a vigorous climbing plant, a passionfruit can take over pretty quickly and can be a pain to keep tidy if left unpruned. If it’s not pruned then it becomes less productive and woody. So it’s important to train the vine onto a very secure support to get the most out of your plant.
I germinated the seed in spring and then planted the seedling into a 100mm pot to get a bit bigger. It was quite slow to start with, perhaps I didn’t give it enough compost in the potting mix to boost it along. But for the first year I only got one long shoot. This becomes the main trunk of the plant and the base for which all the next year’s growth comes from.
By the second spring, I planted my shoot out into the garden and enriched the soil with compost and mulch. This gets everything growing now and forms the framework for the entire plant. Pinch out the tip of the shoot and attach the side shoots horizontally to the vertical plane to encourage the main branches to grow. These branches will alternate along the main trunk of the plant (the bit that grew for the first season). You won’t get any flowers yet, so again be patient! It’s important to shape your vine like this because it’s going to make pruning a whole lot easier in the long run and your plant’s going to produce some mighty fine fruit if you do.
By the third spring, i.e. 2 years after sowing the seed (yikes, it takes that long!) you will get lateral shoots from the branches. These are the fruiting limbs (finally!). Flowers develop all the way down these limbs at the leaf axil. Let these limbs just fall in front of the main branches rather than letting them get tangled in with the rest of the plant. This can become somewhat difficult with very opportunistic tendrils finding anything to cling onto as soon as they touch it. You should bear fruit from this lateral growth every year now.
After harvesting fruit in autumn or winter, leave the plant to loose it’s leaves if you’re in a cool area because they act like a semi-deciduous plant. If you’re in warm temperate climates the leaves will stay green all year round.
In early spring it’s time to prune before the new growth takes over. You want to now trim back all your lateral growth from last season to about 3 leaf nodes. By doing this you shorten the laterals back close to the main branches. You’ll see the framework of the vine now. The laterals will start to put on growth with a vengeance, so now you simply do what you did last season and let the laterals hang down towards you and watch them flower. Flowers will only be produced on the new growth so if you don’t prune back last year’s branches, you’ll start getting growth starting from the tips of last year’s laterals. Each lateral is capable of growing 1 to 1 1/2 metres (yards) per season. Without pruning you’ll end up with 3 or 4 metre (yard) long branches with flowers only on the last 1/2 metre (yard) and the rest of the vine will get all woody and hard to hold up.
Good pruning means that very spring you keep taking the laterals back to the main branches to within about 20cm (8 inches) of the branch. This way it stays vertical rather than sprawling all over the place and encourages more flowers and fruit.
Remember passionfruit needs enriched soil with loads of compost and mulch every year, but don’t give too much manure otherwise you’ll end up with lovely green leaves but no flowers. Also choose a self-pollinating variety if you only have space to grow one vine. One vine can grow 2 meters (yards) high and have main branches reaching 6 metres (yards) along a fence or support structure.
Vine trained and pruned – check.
Flowers pollinated – check (make sure there’s plenty of bees around).
Fruit is on it’s way to maturity – check.
All that’s left to do now is to find that old recipe for passionfruit yo-yo biscuits … YUM! YUM!
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Hi Veggie Lady
i planted some passionfruit vines last spring and they have been growing vigorously in full sun. But they have just started to drop leaves and the leaves left on the vines seem to be withering and turning yellow: can i do anything to rescue them or are they dying and too late to save? I’m in Bendigo(central victoria) and we have had very cold temperatures and many frosts in the last few weeks, could this have affected my plants?
Cynthia
Hi Cynthia, the cold is definitely the cause if your problems. Vines become deciduous in cold regions so you should see some vigour in spring time.
Hello,
I have a volunteer Purple Passionfruit vine. It sprung up out of nowhere last year, I loved the flowers but since it was growing on my strawberry/blueberry structure I cut it down. It is back with a vengeance this year and now that I know what it is…. I’m wondering how long the gestation period is? Will the fruit turn purple? Are there any poisonous varieties? Please help.
Tia
The fruit can take a couple of months to fully develop and ripen if the weather is cool so be patient.
Not sure about poisonous varieties, sorry.
Hi Veggie Lady,
I have just moved into a new property (Queensland Australia) with bountiful fruit and veg growing in the garden. I’ve noticed two passionfruit vines (Grafted Black Passionfruit & Panama Red), looking very poorly and was looking for tips and advice to bring them back to life if possible. Would love to send some photos.
Tom
Hi Veggie lady,
Our passionfruit produced fruit but they fell off before they were completely ripe, can you please advise on what we need to do to ensure that the fruit matures correctly
Hi Veggie Lady,
We planted 6 passion fruits to cover approx two and a half fence panels, ( maybe too manny) but we wanted good coverage, they have been in now about 8-9 months with vigorous growth around 4 metres through Autumn and early winter.
We live in Perth WA, and to date have had no flowers on but the new shoots are now showing, reading your pruning notes, not sure what you mean by 3 leaf nodes, is that about 6 inches.
Also what is the best feed to ensure flowering?
Thank you Bob
A node is simply where the leaf meets the stem and develops a little lump, especially noticeable if the leaves fall off in cool climates, and they’re around 6 inches apart. Use anything that is boosted with potassium, such as one that promotes flowers and fruit on the label. You could even use a citrus fertiliser.
It’s probably too young to produce anything yet.
Consistent fertilisers and watering during the fruiting stage is critical. Also a cool snap will tend to shock the vine and make it lose its fruit.
Hi, I have a seedling that began growing well. Now top leaves are turning yellow. I’m in Melbourne could be due to the heat last week.
What can i do to save it?
Definitely heat affected. Just keep watering and a bit of seaweed solution will give it a kick along too. Hopefully it will come back to good health. Fingers crossed.
Hi, funny about the “Nelly Kelly” not yielding you any fruit.. I had two of them which grew like out of control and was the most lush cover I’d ever seen, and yes even after four years, not one fruit!
Hi Veggie Lady,
We have a panama sweet gold passionfruit vine that is covered in fruit and is about 2 years old. We have been getting ripe fruit for about a month now. I’m reading that vines should be pruned in early spring, but should this happen when the vine has fruit on it? We live in Perth, Western Australia.
Thank you.
Hi Vege Lady,
I bought a passionfruit seedling about three weeks ago and transplanted it into a raised garden bed of super soil and mushroom compost. I watered it everyday with a watering can. But, I went away for a day and came home to a leafless stem in my backyard. While I was away I feel my dad has used the garden hose to water it and gave it a full blast. The leaves were looking a little droopy and brown bits on a few before I left.
I am just wondering if the leaves can be burnt if the climate is too hot and should I rouse on my dad for killing my passionfruit?
Is there anything I can do to save my plant?
Thank you, Erin.
Hi: I live in North Perth and can not workout:
Position and preparation of the soil to plant a grafted Nellie Kelly sweet granadilla, I’m planing to plant it in a 50+ litre pot since I have not much space. Any ideas?
Thank you very much
Great idea with the pot. Add some compost and potash to a some premium quality organic potting mix. Place it where it can et at least 5 or 6 hours of sun per day. Good luck.
Don’t rouse on your Dad. It’s good to have someone to water the garden when you go away. If the weather has been quite hot then the heat and transplant shock may have been too much for the young plant. Always a good idea to put some cover (like shade cloth) over it if you know in advance. Water on the leaves can potentially burn the plant. Don’t give up yet. Keep watering and watching and it may come back yet.
Timing can sometimes be a bit tricky with fruit and flower at the same time. Generally prune it back after you harvest the fruit.
Oh no! How disappointing. Try some more potash and boron to support flower and fruit.
Hi I pruned my Nelly Kelly 3 months ago and the vine looks like it has died. all the vines have gone a light brown. I’m based in Melbourne and the weather has been cold up to 3 weeks ago. the Vine is not looking like it is doing anything other they being dead. Is it a lost cores.
Possibly time to get a replacement.
Hi my passionfruit vine leaves are being eaten by pests. Could you please let me know
a good pesticide to use.
Hi Nigel, that will depend on what sort of pest it is. Do you know if it is a grub (caterpillar), snails, beetles or even a possum?
Hi Veggie and other who grow Passion fruit in Melbourne, Victoria. I really need your help. I am searching for one butterfly species which live on these plants, a glasswing butterfly, named Acreae andromacha. I want to study on this species but still do not know where to collect them. Can you guys help me with this? If possible can you email me a photo of caterpillar, or eggs or adult if you think it is that butterfly so I can travel there to catch that.
Many thanks
Hi Veggie Lady,
I got a passionfruit plant from Bunnings earlier in the year & planted it months ago, probably in Autumn, possibly winter, can’t quite remember.
It’s in full sun, about a metre high & gets watered almost every day. It’s been warm in Adelaide for about 2 months now & there is no new growth. Should it be sprouting by now?
Thanks Veggie Lady.
You would think so by now. However, variable weather and soil fertility can affect this. Did you plant it into well prepared soil with the addition of compost and/or manures? Passionfruit are hungry and thirsty plants so good soil prep is essential. I’d give it some seaweed solution to stimulate growth and see how that goes. Good luck.
Hi Veggie Lady,
I have just inherited a passionfruit vine at my new place. It seems to be fruiting well. No idea what type as fruit is all still very green. I was advised to pick the fruit still green but have done other research that says let it vine ripen. Can you please tell me what is the best approach.
Thanks
No don’t pick the fruit green. Leave it on the vine until it is fully ripened.
Hi lovely Veggie lady, love what you are doing!
Simple question, how long does Nellie Kelly take from fruiting to ripening. Live in Tasmania, health and lovely plant with all these lovely little green babies hanging everywhere. Can’t wait, just love passionfruit, oh how long do I have to wait for ripening?
Thanks for your site, very enlightening.
Lynnie J
Hi Lynnie, it can take a good couple of months for fruit to mature, especially in cooler ateas like Tassie. Just be patient, your fruit is maturing now while the weather is warm so that’s good. The fruit will drop off when ripe.
Hi,
My passion fruit are small misshapen and woody? Foliage and general plant health looks good. Any help?
You have a virus called “woodiness of passionfruit” (inventive, I know).
Sadly not much can be done about it once infected.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passion_fruit_woodiness_virus
Hi Veggie Lady. I would love your help. I live in Tasmania and I’m trying for second time to grow a passion fruit plant. Would love to be able to send a photo to you of my sick looking plant to you to see if you have any advice. Holes in leaves like something is eating them and any new leaves seems to get eaten. The initial few shoots/grabbers are starting to get brown tips. I’ve tried bug spray – natural pyrethrum. Not sure what to do. Really don’t want to lose a 2nd plant – my kids love passion fruit!!
Hello, i am following your method to train my passionfruit vine. I am in the first step, the trunk has just reached the height required (since a few days it is even becoming higher than the wall). Can i trim it now (spring will begin after 2 months), or should i wait after the winter to cut the trunk to trigger the horizontal shoots?
How long do the flowers stay in bloom, before turning to fruit. Would 24hrs enough. Thanks
Wait until spring.
The passion fruit vine I have recently planted is growing however the tentacles won’t attach to the lattice. Is this a specific sign of a deficiency of anything in particular? I’m also interested in any good ways of getting rid of earwigs – I’m using pyrethrum fairly regularly.
It sometimes takes a while for the tendrils to find their way onto the lattice, so not something to worry about. And here’s a link for controlling earwigs: http://www.sgaonline.org.au/earwigs/
Hi there, my Panama gold vine has burst into life and growing like crazy. I have noticed it is covered in buds, do I need to do anything from now on to achieve a successful harvest? Will they need hand pollination? Any fertiliser? Or just leave it alone.
Thanks! ( I’m in Brisbane)
Glad to find out…how long it takes for the black Passionfruit to start to yeild……I started mine from drying out seeds that I took from a Passionfruit itself and now have a really healthy vine that should give me fruit then this spring….thanks for the info…..I am a Permaculture Farm Hobbyist I grow from drying my own seeds and some packet seed that I buy…..I love the results I get….especially when I get to eat my own produce……
Great work, it’s the only way to go.
Keep up a good fertiliser that promotes flowers and wait for the results. Be aware that inconsistent rain, watering or other variables can affect fruit set. Also the vine will produce way more flowers than fruit. Good luck!
Hello Veggie Lady
I have recently purchased my first passion fruit vine. It is growing very fast and is looking healthy but am interested in training it onto a trellis. It has a lot of shoots at the bottoms of the plant and want to know if I should prune these to encourage more growth on upper branches.
Thanks for your assistance
Hi there, I put in a small Nellie Kelly last winter and it has gone feral (in a good way). I have had an amazing crop of beautiful passion fruit, but the vine is out of control, I know to prune in spring, can I do a small cut back now in mid summer. I’m in the Coffs Harbour area. Thanks.
It depends on whether it is a grafted passionfruit. If it is then definitely get rid of these suckers if they are coming from the under stock. These will outgrow the good fruiting part of the plant. All suckers should be removed asap.
Yeah I’d give it a go.
Hi Veggie Lady.
I have a passion fruit that I bought from Bunnings a few years ago, it didn’t do very well so I repositioned it.
This year it’s done well and produced lots of fruit. Unfortunately it does not look like any passion fruit I’m familiar with! It’s small, orange and looks like an apricot on the out side. There is the normal red centre. The outside layer does not harden and collapses easily. I think it was Panama gold but can’t really remember.
Am I worrying about nothing. I’m not even sure if I can eat them!
Hi Veggie Lady
We have moved to a rural property in the Mary Valley and found some ‘passionfruit’ plants near the dam, in an overgrown area, we relocated these to the vege garden area and they are growning but they haven’t had any fruit? Someone in the area mentioned they might not be fruiting passionfruit? is there such a thing?
It’s more than likely to be wild passionfruit, sometimes used as understock for grafting because of its vigorous nature. Not good for fruit.