How to grow Passion fruit

Passiflora edulis · passionfruit, purple granadilla

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) — passion fruit is a vigorous evergreen climber from southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina that grips its support with tendrils and bears egg-shaped purple or yellow fruit full of fragrant, sweet-tart pulp and seeds. It is tropical and needs at least 10–16 °C in winter, so in cool climates it is grown in a large pot in a heated greenhouse, conservatory or bright room. A vine begins to bear in 1–3 years, and each fruit ripens 70–80 days after its flower is pollinated. Very young, unripe fruit contains a cyanogenic glycoside; in ripe, wrinkled fruit the level is too low to matter.

Checked against sources: October 3, 2026

Quick facts

Type	Berry
Family	Passifloraceae
Light	Full sun
Soil pH	6.5–7.5
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Soil for sowing	from 15 °C
Germination	14 days
First harvest after planting	about 1 year
Where it grows	Greenhouse, Open ground, At home

When to plant

Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.

Frost dates · When to plant

Care

Greenhouse

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 3 days	—	potassium, at the start of the stage; potassium, 35 days into the stage
Flowering	every 3 days	—	potassium, at the start of the stage
Fruiting	every 3 days	—	potassium, at the start of the stage; potassium, 35 days into the stage
Harvest	every 3 days	—	—

Open ground

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	—	potassium, at the start of the stage
Flowering	every 7 days	—	—
Fruiting	every 7 days	—	potassium, at the start of the stage
Harvest	every 7 days	—	—

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 3 days	—	potassium, at the start of the stage; potassium, 35 days into the stage
Flowering	every 3 days	—	potassium, at the start of the stage
Fruiting	every 3 days	—	potassium, at the start of the stage; potassium, 35 days into the stage
Harvest	every 3 days	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Give it full sun and lots of light; under glass, shade it lightly in hot summer weather so the leaves do not scorch.

Soil

Grow it in a large container, from 30 cm across, of loam-based compost with extra drainage, or in the ground in rich, very well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5–7.5. The roots are shallow and benefit from a thick organic mulch.

Care

Give it a strong trellis or wires to climb. Water container plants as soon as the surface looks dry and plants in the ground once a week in dry spells; dry soil makes flower buds and fruit drop, and the need is greatest as the fruit nears ripeness. From March to October feed every four to six weeks with a potassium-rich feed; too much nitrogen gives leaves instead of flowers. Purple passion fruit is self-fertile, but under glass transfer pollen with a soft brush when the flowers open to make sure fruit sets. In winter keep it at no less than 10–16 °C, water less and do not feed. Prune in early spring, removing weak growth and cutting strong shoots back by about a third, and repot every 2–3 years.

How to tell it is ripe

The skin turns quickly from green to deep purple, or to yellow in yellow varieties.
A ripe fruit falls from the vine within a few days of colouring.
The fruit is at its sweetest when the skin has started to wrinkle.
Pick fruit once it has fully coloured, or gather fallen fruit every day.
Leave picked fruit at room temperature until the skin wrinkles slightly before eating it.
Store passion fruit in bags at about 10 °C, where they keep 2–3 weeks; the pulp and juice also freeze well.

Pests and diseases of Passion fruit

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.