Water Requirements for Passion Fruit?

[dkian]

Have been watering our newly planted purple passion fruits roughly every day to every other day.  The plants seem to be happy with this sort of regimen.  What sort of watering schedule do you have your newly planted passion fruits and established fruit on?

Thanks again!

[gunnar429]

My vine is growing quite well, and I have watered it from afar (with hose) only like 2 times per week....seems to be doing great.  Curious to see what others think.  I love passsionfruit!!

[jcaldeira]

The ideal watering schedule depends on the type of soil as well as natural rainfall.   It would be valuable to learn the moisture retention capabilities of your soil and try to maintain the ideal soil moisture level.   This link contains excellent information on soil moisture:  http://soilwater.com.au/bettersoils/modules.htm

For newly transplanted plants, watering every second day is usually fine, along with shade.  After that, twice a week is fine for a loam soil if there is no rain.  Rain water is usually better than tap water because it usually is more acidic and has no chemical additives.

If watered too often, the vines may develop shallow roots that could be problematic in a drought.

Passion fruit vines are only productive for approximately two years, so plan on planting a couple every year.  They grow huge, 10 meters or more.

[gunnar429]

I have read they grow from cuttings...do you recommend propagating cuttings from the vine every couple years, or planting seeds/buying a new plant every other year? 

[dkian]

I have read they grow from cuttings...do you recommend propagating cuttings from the vine every couple years, or planting seeds/buying a new plant every other year?

Patrick hooked the wife and I up with a cutting from a yellow passionfruit and within a few weeks it rooted and is getting growing nicely now...

[jcaldeira]

I have read they grow from cuttings...do you recommend propagating cuttings from the vine every couple years, or planting seeds/buying a new plant every other year?

I've had more success from seeds, though cuttings can be rooted.  Plant the seeds straight away - don't dry them. 

Climate can also influence which passion fruit variety is most productive.  In my tropical lowland wet/dry seasonal climate, the yellow passion fruit bears much heavier than purple.

[gunnar429]

yeah...the purple possum grows/fruits best here in FL...I have heard yellow requires hand-pollinating to be productive here.  Rumor has it that there's a red one that is productive here  and coming down the pipe soon.