How To Grow Passion Fruit

This month we are going to talk about how to grow passion fruit! Passion fruit is in fact not a fruit, it’s more like a berry. It grows in clusters of round fruits with thick juicy skins that taste delicious when consumed. They can be dried and eaten as a snack or use in recipes.

Passionfruit comes from Chile where they speak natively Spanish. The name “passion fruit” was given because the berries would either make people passionate or distract them due to their sour flavor.

Many consider passion fruit one of the greatest delicacies in the world and it can cost up to $20 per kilo! That means 1kg (2.

Provide plenty of sunlight

Like most tropical fruits, passion fruit grows under warm-season berries that require warmer temperatures to bear fruit. They also need adequate rainfall to produce leaves and flowers.

Passion fruits are grown in tropical climates where it is hot all year round. This means they can experience very high temperatures. In fact, frosts are not uncommon!

As passionfruit plants grow taller, they will eventually head into areas with less sun exposure. If this happens, then you must re-pot or transplant them to ensure they get enough light.

General tips: remember to update your seed packets every other season to make sure their description changes correctly.

Give it a warm location

For your plant to grow, it must have a source of light to help it thrive. Plants need around one hundred hours of direct sunlight per week to survive!

Passion fruit is a low maintenance crop that does not require large amounts of water or frequent watering. However, it will not sprout new leaves without sufficient sun exposure. Therefore, you should give your passion fruit a space with adequate natural light for it to photosynthesize and grow.

It will also benefit the plant if the soil has some structure. When they are in season, fruits can develop thick skins which make them more durable and resistant to bruising or damage. A high quality pot designed for growing plants helps pass on some heat which aids growth.

Monitor and water consistently

If you are growing passion fruit in the spring or summer, make sure to keep an eye on them and give it enough water! The plants will need at least one good watering per day, and possibly more depending on how much growth they have.

Passion fruits like other tropical foliage plants grow quickly and require close monitoring. They can easily dry out so try to remember to check them every few hours during this time of the year.

Also, love those berries! Once they start developing, thinning them off is necessary to let some sprouts develop into full size fruits. This happens around late May through June!

And don’t forget to save your seeds for later use! After all that work, take some time to process and store them properly. You can find lots of tips and tricks here.

Patience is a virtue

This lovely fruit originates from South America, where it was first cultivated over 5,000 years ago! It took them centuries to figure out how to grow passion fruits properly, so there are different varieties of cultivars and growing methods for this plant.

Today, most people know about one type of passion fruit — the white or yellow sweet ones that contain a lot of sugar. These are probably familiarized as “passion berries” due to their resemblance with the fruit of the same name.

However, did you ever hear of kumquats before? They're not like your average berry – they're tart and have a slightly citrusy flavor. The reason they're special is because in the process of harvesting them, the skin stays on the fruit which preserves some of the tanginess.

Harvest when ready

The second most important factor in growing passion fruit is knowing when to pick them! If you choose your season wisely, there are several methods that can help you know when they are ripe.

One of the easiest ways to tell if a passion fruit has ripened properly is by smelling it. As soon as it smells like sweet fruit, it’s time to take it off the vine!

Another way to determine if a passion fruit is mature is to pull one apart. When you do this, make sure to check both the top and the bottom first. If the skin looks dry and tight, then it’s time to harvest!

Whatever method you use, be careful not to tear the passion fruits! They will taste less delicious if you don’t let them fully develop their flavor.

Don’t plant passion fruit too close to each other

When planting your passion fruits, make sure you leave enough space between plants for them to grow. You can start with an empty plot and then use that as a basis to add more plants.

Passion flowers will also sprout new leaves and shoots in areas where there is lots of sunlight, so ensure they get adequate light.

If needed, thin out weak plants by simply taking some seeds or small clusters off the vine.

Try different varieties

The most important thing when growing passion fruit is choosing your variety! There are many types of passion fruits, each with their own unique look and flavor.

You can grow any color passion fruit, but red ones will usually taste more sour than yellow or green ones. This does not mean one is better than the other, it just depends on what you like!

There are several types of white passion fruits as well, so do not worry if you cannot find one at first! As your plant grows, it may produce new shoots which develop into white passion fruits.

Any type of passion fruit can be planted in spring or summer, however, plants that experience cold during winter time should be put in a pot outside for the season.

Enforce good garden hygiene

After you have your soil, compost, seeds, and plants ready, it’s time to grow your passion fruit! The next stage is enforcing good gardening practices. This includes having adequate water and energy for the plant, as well as protecting it from any kind of pest or disease.

Ensure that it gets enough light by placing it in direct sunlight or using an indirect lamp. You can also try growing it under a cover if needed.

Once every week, make sure to check out whether the roots are interacting with the potting mix and whether the soil looks fresh and rich. If they look dry, consider investing in a new batch of soil.