Passion fruits and maracujas are among the more exotic types of fruit in this country because they are only cultivated commercially in tropical countries. With good care, you can also grow the delicious fruits yourself and grow them in pots.

How do passion fruit plants grow?

Basically, there are different growth forms in the more than 530 subspecies of the genus Passiflora. However, these are predominantly perennial plants with a climbing growth habit, which can also become woody shrubs and trees. The impressive flowers of the passion flower can grow at different heights on the plant.

Which location to choose for growing passion fruit?

Since the passion flower is a heat-loving plant with great growth potential, you should choose a location that is as bright as possible for the plant. Since even frost-hardy varieties are only partially winter-proof in this country, they are usually cultivated as a container plant with overwintering indoors. The passion flower feels very comfortable in a sunny spot on the balcony or terrace during the summer months with sufficient water supply.

How do you sow passion fruit seeds?

You can buy seeds from a garden supply store, but then you have to clarify the edibility of the fruit of a species of passion flower based on the description. However, it is also possible to use the seeds from purchased fruit for sowing. To do this, the seeds must first be soaked in warm water, after which the pulp can be rubbed off more easily. This cleaning is important because the seeds can become moldy with the adhering pulp. The cleaned seeds can then be dried for storage or sown fresh in potting soil. The seeds should be covered with a thin layer of soil as they germinate in the dark.

Can you grow and transplant passion flowers?

When growing passionflowers, it is common to start by growing the plants on the windowsill. After the germination phase of about three weeks, it takes a while until the first leaves and the root system have developed well. If you want to grow passion fruit yourself, start cultivating it by sowing indoors around March or April. Then, in May, the plants are big enough to be planted outdoors in a larger pot when the temperatures are warm enough.

How are passion flowers propagated?

In addition to sowing, you can also propagate the passion flower by cuttings. To do this, cut off a few shoot tips, each with one or two leaves and at least one dormant eye. Then let them root in a glass of water or in soil that is kept evenly moist.

How is the passion fruit season shaping up in this country?

There are basically three options for cultivating passion fruit, these are:

  • the cultivation entirely indoors as a houseplant
  • cultivation in a year-round tempered greenhouse
  • the culture as a frost-free overwintered container plant

Some subspecies of the Passiflora genus are conditionally frost hardy to about 15 degrees below zero. Since it can get significantly cooler in winter in this country, staying outdoors all year round without special protection against the weather is only possible to a limited extent.

Which soil is optimal for the passion flower?

A permeable substrate is suitable for growing passion flowers, which can be enhanced by adding perlite.

tips and tricks

Only with really good care and the necessary conditions can a passion flower bear really ripe fruit. If you only have one plant, you can pollinate the self-fertile flowers manually with a brush.

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Trees