Passion Fruit Vine Care
The passion fruit plant is a large twining vine that produces ornate flowers in varying colors and sizes depending on the cultivar. There are types that grow 2- to 3-inch egg-shaped fruit and types that only flower. This American tropics native is winter hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Planting Zones 8 through 11, except for the maypop cultivar, which is hardy in zones 6 through 11. Does this Spark an idea?
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Sun and Soil
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Plant the passion fruit vine in a sunny location with loose soil that is sandy or gravelly. Small pieces of brick rubble mixed into the soil create an ideal root environment. The brick pieces retain heat for the roots throughout the cold winter months. Planting the vine along a south-facing brick wall with an overhang is ideal in U.S. Department of Agriculture Planting Zones 6 through 9. The brick's heat-retaining properties will provide a warmer environment for the vine, and the overhang will protect it from drenching rain.
Support
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A sturdy trellis or other support structure made from strong fence posts or lumber with number 9 or 10 galvanized steel wire must be provided for the passion fruit vine. It should be constructed to hold the vine, which can grow to 30 feet long, 5 to 6 feet off the ground. The support structure should be set at a north/south orientation to allow for maximum sun exposure. Plant multiple vines 10 feet apart to allow for room to grow and plenty of air circulation between plants.
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Fertilizer
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Use a light balanced fertilizer comprised of 5 or 6 percent nitrogen, 6 or 7 percent phosphorous and 5 or 6 percent potassium, represented by the numbers 6-6-6 or 5-7-5 on the label. Apply the amount of fertilizer recommended on the product label every four to six weeks beginning in early spring and continuing through July in northern U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 6 through 9 and through October in southern zones 10 and 11. Spread the fertilizer in an 18-inch-wide swath around the plant stem and water it into the soil.
Water
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Give the vine 1 inch of water once per week. Infrequent watering will encourage the roots to grow deeper in search of water. This will help establish a healthier root system that will be more likely to sustain the plant through drought conditions or freezing winter temperatures.
Pruning
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Prune passion fruit vines in February or March. They flower on new growth so there is no need for concern about pruning away pre-existing flower buds. Trim three or four stems back to 1 to 2 inches from the ground. Pinch out the terminal buds (the tendrils that grow between the leaf stems or branches and the vine) for better branching growth. Never prune off all the green foliage. Leave at least a little green foliage along the entire length so it will continue to pull sap all the way to the end of the vine for healthy new growth.
Excessive pruning can result in weakened roots and a possible fungal infection. Do not over-prune by removing all the branches from the vine in an effort to keep it neat and compact. Branches that are left on the plant to hang down from the support structure are most likely to produce flowers.
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References
- Photo Credit passionfruit image by Glenn Jenkinson from Fotolia.com
