Summer love: passionfruit and how to grow them

This time each year I yearn for my passionfruit vine and feijoa tree to spring into blossom. I drool in anticipation of the small window of opportunity to harvest, which seems to intensify their summer flavours even more.

It is ‘indulge, indulge’ for a few brief weeks, then a long wait until the next season.

The most remarkable blossom I think I’ve seen, the passionfruit blossom is almost alien. Blooming now (October/November) it is only a matter of weeks before the fruit starts to form.

How to Grow Passionfruit

• Passionfruit like to be sheltered from the wind and have plenty of sun.
• Plant after the worst of the frosts (after spring) in soil with good drainage.
• You can plant in a large pot or raised garden bed, but regardless will need a climbing frame for support: a dedicated trellis or side of the shed will do the trick.
• If planting in a pot, make sure that drains well. Layer the bottom of the pot with the likes of scoria or pebbles before the potting mix so the water doesn’t pool and make the roots too wet.
• Best to harvest once the fruit is deep purple and wrinkled (although they will also wrinkle once picked). They are perfectly fine to eat fallen from the vine.
• Once the season has finished which generally is February/March, trim back the dead stems but don’t be too harsh (eg: don’t prune it like you would a grapevine)!

I personally found that snails took a liking to the passionfruit, particularly coming out of spring where some older wood provided shelter from the sun. That took frequent plucking to remove them but worthwhile as they made a heck of a mess with the beautiful passionfruit blossom, decimating them with speed.

How to use fresh passionfruit

Well, I’d be delighted to tell you!

• Cut in half, scoop out spoonfuls and consume!
• Liberally dollop spoonfuls into breakfast smoothies or drizzle over icecream
• Passionfruit Shortbread
• Passionfruit Coconut Slice
• If you have an over supply, scoop out plenty and keep in an airtight jar in the fridge
• Freeze into ice cubes and simply defrost and use at your leisure

To be brutally honest I was slightly saddened to see my gorgeous passionfruit vine bloom this year as I won’t be able to enjoy its harvest come February. We are moving house!  What? Ahhh yes, that’s a whole new blog and I will spill all in time.

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