Passionfruit vines are vigorous climbers and need specific care to thrive, especially around the graft point.
1. Planting
- Position: Choose a spot in full sun with shelter from strong winds. A north-facing wall or fence is ideal.
- Support: Provide a sturdy support structure like a trellis, wire fence, or pergola, as the vine can grow 3–6 metres long.
- Soil: They are hungry and thirsty plants! Plant in rich, fertile soil that has excellent drainage. If your soil is heavy clay, plant in a raised bed or mound.
- The Graft Point: Crucially, ensure that the graft union (the swollen or knobby joint low on the stem) is kept well above the soil line. Planting it too deep can cause the top variety to fail.
2. Watering and Feeding
- Water: Requires regular and deep watering, especially during the warmer growing and fruiting months. Irregular watering can lead to fruit drop.
- Fertiliser: They are heavy feeders. Apply a complete citrus and fruit fertiliser in spring and again in autumn, or use regular liquid feeds of a high-potash (potassium) formula during the flowering and fruiting season.
- Mulch: Apply a thick layer of organic mulch (like sugarcane or pea straw) to keep the shallow roots cool and moist, but keep the mulch away from the stem to prevent collar rot.
3. Pruning and Maintenance
- Suckers (The Graft Rule!): The most important rule for a grafted vine is to remove any shoots that appear below the graft union immediately. These are suckers from the hardy rootstock, and if left, they will grow vigorously and take over the ‘Flamenco’ variety, ruining your fruit crop. The rootstock foliage often looks different.
- Pruning: Do not prune heavily, as fruit forms on new season’s growth. Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to remove dead, weak, or tangled growth, and to encourage new lateral shoots, which will bear the fruit.
