How to grow Passionfruit in Australia
Plant in full sun in well-drained soil with a strong trellis or fence for the vigorous vine to climb.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 15 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 200 cm
- Time to harvest: 400 days (about 1 year)
- Time to germinate: 21 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to April | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to April | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to March | Plant Sep to Mar so the vine is established before winter. Grafted black passionfruit handles cool Sydney winters best; in the west plant after the last frost. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Hardy vines survive light frosts if mulched. Sow Oct to Nov for spring/summer crop. Frost may kill new growth but plant regrows. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to November | Plant vines Sep to Nov against a warm wall. Protect from frost for the first two winters. Water deeply through summer. |
| Perth & WA | September to November | Plant vines Sep to Nov on a sunny fence or trellis. Feed and water well on sandy soil, and shade the roots with mulch through summer. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable for reliable cropping. Vines survive in rare frost-free coastal corners but fruit rarely ripens well. |
| Canberra & ACT | November | Marginal. Plant in November after the last frost against a warm north wall. Vines are often killed in hard winters. |
| North Queensland | September to April | Spring/early wet season Sep to Apr. Passionfruit is a tropical staple; vines thrive with monsoonal wet. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to April | Spring/early wet season Sep to Apr. Passionfruit is a tropical staple; vines thrive with monsoonal wet. |
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick when the skin is fully coloured and the fruit feels heavy, or gather fallen fruit promptly. They keep ripening and wrinkling off the vine, which deepens flavour.
Storage
Bench until wrinkled, then fridge for 2 to 3 weeks. Freeze pulp in ice cube trays.