Passion Fruit Stages of Growth | From Seed to Harvest

Passion fruit is one of those fruits that has a vibrant appearance with an exotic flavor that many people want to grow themselves but know very little about their stages of growth. If you are one of these beginner gardeners, don’t worry we are here to help.

Just like other plants, passion fruit also goes through different stages of growth, which include germination, fruit growth, flowering, and much more. Each of these stages requires proper care, and only it will give you a healthy ripe fruit.

In the article below, we explain how passion fruit grows along with . We also provide some practical tips that I learn from years of planting passion fruit myself.

Passion Fruit Growth Stages

There are more health benefits related to passion fruit than you think, which is why everyone wants to grow their own. Knowing and understanding passion fruit growth stages is very important to grow it properly. below, we define its growth in stages in detail, so let’s get to it.

Spot Selection:

In those stages, spot selection is one of the first and considerably an essential step. Even before when passion fruit season start you should choose a place with draining, soft soil and proper sun light for your passion fruit. The passion fruit needs a place in your garden where it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight during the day. It also needs a place where it has some sort of structure, arbor, or fence that supports its vine when it grows.

Also Read: Do Cucumber Plants die after Fruiting

Germination:

The first growth stage of passion fruit is germination. In this stage, we have to prepare the seed for successful germination. For that, first we have to get the seeds from a reputable supplier to increase the chance of germination. After that, take the seeds and put them into hot water for about 24 hours.

Now take those seeds and start planting them in the soil about half an inch deep. Now, water the soil regularly to keep it moist. The process of germination for the passion fruit is 15 to 20 days, and during those days, you need to keep the temperature around 68 to 82 F (20 to 30 C), which is is an ideal temperature for passion fruit growth.

Seedling Stage:

After the seed is germinated, then it enters into the seedling stage, in which a small baby seedling emerges along with some tiny leaves. This is the stage you have to take care of your sprout because, now it become most vulnerable to heat, pests, and diseases. When the seedling grows 4 to 5 inches, then it’s ready to transplant, if you want to move it somewhere else.

Flowering Stage:

After the passion fruit plant matures, it enters the flowering stage, which is usually 6 to 7 months after planting the tree. After growing the flower, it is time for pollination, and the passion fruit requires cross-pollination. It can either be polluted by bees and other insects, or you can also transfer pollen from one flower to another manually. 

Fruit Development Stage:

After pollination is successful, the plan will start having small green fruits, which, in the next 3 to 4 months, grow into bigger and larger fruits. During this stage, you must keep the fruits from pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. You also need to keep the temperature between 68 to 82 F according to expert by keeping the plant under a shade if possible.

Fruit Growth:

The passion fruit gets to the fruit stage, when it get into mature vines with lush leaves. Passion fruit is a vine plant, which means it is a climber and needs support. You need to prepare and install the proper structure on which it grows. I made Arches for it climb.

During this fruit stage, it starts growing fruits, which is the stage it need a lot of nutrients. To fulfill its nutrient needs, you need some of the basic elements in your fertilizer, and that is NPK, which stands for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Apply the fertilizer every 4 to 5 weeks along with regular pruning, which also encourages growth.

Here are the timelapse of passion fruit growth.

Harvesting:

The fruits will ripen after 3 to 4 months, which you can harvest after words. It is ready to harvest when its fruit turns yellow, purple, or red (depending upon the variety you used). When it’s ready, it can be easily detached it from its vine, just with a small twist.

During the harvest, you need to use clean tools to avoid breaking the plant. You should also need to harvest the fruits as soon as possible to prevent them from getting affected by pests, because ripen fruit attract more pest as compare to baby fruit. Now you can store it in the refrigerator for months, or you can make preserves that can store and last for an entire season.

Conclusion:

Knowing the different stages of passion fruit is considered important for gardeners to get a successful harvest. You need to understand each stage because having or harvesting ripened fruit is the combination of all stages.

I hope you know the different stages of passion fruits, but if you still have any questions in your mind feel free to ask.