Altitude range

Altitude requirement ranges between 0-2000 masl depending on variety e.g. Esther Variety and Purple passion require high altitude areas or cool climate at 1200-2000 masl. Sweet yellow does well in low to mid altitudes 0-1500masl

Soil type and conditions

Passion grows in a wide range of soils but performs best in light to heavy, well-drained and well-aerated sandy loams of medium texture soil. A pH of between 5.5- 7.0 is optimal. Liming is necessary if the soil is too acidic. Passion fruit requires nutrients such as; N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Cu, Fe, e Mn, Zn, S, and B

Temperature range

The temperatures should be 16-30^oC, Does well in well-illuminated field e.g. adequate sunlight for flowering and fruiting

Rainfall

The rainfall should be 900-2000 mm p.a.

Steps during land preparation

1. Plough deep and harrow the land 2-3 months and ensure the hard pans are removed before planting
2. Prepare planting holes 45 x 45 x 45 cm
3. Fill the holes with topsoil mixed with up to 10kg of compost or manure
4. Add manure and fertilizers to the soil in the right amounts to provide the required plant nutrients for vigorous crop growth

Raising rootstocks for grafting

Raising rootstocks for grafting

Yellow passion recommended for grafting while purple passion fruit scions used for grafting

Seedlings as rootstocks take 2-3 months in nursery, cleft graft after 3-4 weeks when 45 cm

If cuttings are used, set them in coarse sand and later transplant into bags or a nursery bed

Grafting recommended to purple passion fruits as sweet yellow varieties already have desired rootstock characteristics

Undertake grafting, potting, adequate watering and hardening off. Grafting perpetuates hybrids for tolerance and good yields

Raising seedlings

Use seeds stored for less than 3 months

Treat seeds with hot water at 50⁰C for 15-30 minutes. Germination takes 2-3 weeks

Raise seedlings in bags, 15cm wide and 25cm deep

Sow three seeds per bag at a depth of cm and thin after two months to leave only one

Planting can be done in pure stand or in a mixed cropping system

Transplant at 3 weeks after grafting at the start of the rainy season

Firm down the soil around the plants to establish good root and soil contact

Keep the grafted spot out of contact with soil during to avoid fungal infection

Water transplanted seedlings to ensure quick rooting and establishment of the plant

Spacing of 2 by 3m is recommended for hand cultivation and 3 by 3m for mechanized cultivation

Commercial plantations should adopt a row spacing of 1.2-1.8 m and a within-row spacing of 3m. This gives around 1900- 2700 plants per ha

Passion is heavy feeder hence appropriate fertilizer should be added during the growing season

Variety include;

Sweet yellow passion (KPF4, KPF11, KPF12), Purple passion fruit, Yellow passion, Banana passion, Giant passion, Esther variety.

Seeds

Transplanting

Plant certified seeds treated with hot water to break seed dormancy

The seedlings raised in a nursery bed grow slowly hence they are transplanted 3-4 months at a height of 15-25 cm.

Irrigation is required during dry spells but sparingly 

Over irrigation may predispose the crop to root rots and other soil borne diseases

Passion fruit is sensitive to water logging.

Weed control should be done regularly.

Ensure application of 1-2 debes of manure per year per plant before rains

Foliar and trace elements should be applied at every 3 months based on the recommendations of soil testing and analysis.

Passion fruit should not be grown for more than 5 years on the same plot

Pruning and training

Trellising should be done at 2.7m high wooden posts of 15cm diameter for plants to climb and well-made metal wire used over the top of the posts

Copper wire is expensive and too soft while wooden top posts can be used however they are less durable

Train 2 healthy shoots above the graft union with sisal strings

Prune to remove old unproductive shoots and dead wood

Pruning enhances aeration and light penetration for flowers and fruits production

Pruning equipment should be sterilized to prevent contamination

All pruned plant parts should be applied copper-based fungicide to avoid fungal infection.

Pests include;

Nematodes, Leaf miner, Mealybugs, Aphids, Coreid bugs, Broad mite or yellow tea mite Caterpillars and Thrips

Nematodes

Leaf miner  

Mealybugs

Aphids

Thrips

Pest control strategies

Timely weeding and pruning

Apply chill extract to repel pest

Natural enemies for aphids and mealybugs

Nematicide for nematodes

Insecticides for insects

Miticides where mite infestation is heavy

Intercropping with pest repellent crops e.g. garlic and onion.

Major diseases include;

Fusarium wilt, Brown spot, Woodiness, Septoria spot, Phytophthora, Blight, root rot

Fusarium wilt

Caused by many forms of the soil-inhabiting fungus Fusarium oxysporum

Control

Use clean seeds and remove infected plant tissues from the area and plant resistant varieties

Deep ploughing beyond 45 cm

Brown spot

Caused by Altenaria passiflora (fungal) enhanced by lack of aeration

Control

Thinning vines to promote air flow

Septoria spot disease of passion fruit

Caused by fungi Alternaria spp. Prolonged rains and mild temperature favours the disease development

Control

Pruning and spraying with approved fungicides

Phytophthora blight

Caused by Phytophthora nicotianae

Control

Use of pathogen free seedlings, prune to eliminate affected areas, improve ventilation and light conditions.

Fruits should not be harvested during wet conditions

General disease control strategies

Field sanitation

Graft to resistant rootstock

Pruning

Control vector that causes disease-apply IPM

Crop rotation

Use copper-based fungicides

Timely spraying

Proper site selection.

Maturity is determined by time after transplanting after bloom and external skin colour changes from green to yellow or purple, depending on the type of passion fruit

Seeded yellow passion fruit are mature 10 months after transplanting with full production occurring after 18 months

Grafted passion fruits begin initial production after 7 months.

Harvest is done manually by cutting or clipping the fruit off the vine using sharp knife or clippers with a sharp edge

Passion fruit for processing fruit drops to the ground when fully mature and they look shrivelled and unattractive, hence they are collected every second day

For fresh fruit and export markets fruits are picked after full colour development when the whole fruit is purple or canary yellow but before shrivelling and drying sets in.

Pack in 4.5 and 6 kg fibreboard cartons, sometimes in one or two layer trays or cell packs

Passion fruit subjected to free aerated place will shrink.

Harvested fruits should be handled with care and they should be placed in a plastic bucket or field container without dropping or throwing them

The harvesting container should also be clean to avoid any contamination.

Much higher yields are possible e.g. 50 tons per ha annually for purple passion fruit in Kenya.

Yields increase up to 3^rd year. Beyond that the yields decline

Yields of over 6-8 tons per acre are attainable on Purple variety and 8-10 tonnes per acre of Esther purple variety.

Passion fruit is processed to make juice and jam

Juice

Jam