Growing Passionfruit in Canberra
I am keen to hear of anyone’s experiences growing passionfruit in Canberra. I’d like to do it, but have heard they are a bit temperamental. I have been told Nellie Kellie is the best variety, what other growing advice can people offer?
Thanks,
Ray (in Holt)
6 January, 2010 at 7:20 am
Find a north face brick wall, better if a chimney of a used fire place. Build a winter chicken roost against it. Grow over both. The objective is to create a micro climate that is frost free.
11 January, 2010 at 10:29 am
Hi,
we moved into a new property in Wanniassa on Friday – and have found passionfruit growning down one entire fence.
There is plenty of green fruit on the vine at the moment – (but not sure which variety). The fence runs N-S and faces W. It faces a white brick wall – so gets a lot of light and heat – which seems to stay there all day.
Ive been told that it should provide fruit before the frosts set in later in the year – happy to take a few snaps and post to keep you updated.
Im just getting into gardening for the very first time, its pretty exciting – i just hope I can keep things alive!
Good Luck
Rod
15 January, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Good luck Rod! I’ve found it to be very much trial and error in our garden over the last 8years. I’d appreciate your updates over the season too. Frosts will be the big killer I imagine.
Thanks Leigh, I had planned to grow it along one wall of the chicken run I haven’t built yet – but am busy planning!
Ray
30 January, 2010 at 3:10 pm
May I suggest you try banana passionfruit. They are a lot more tolerant of cold conditions than the tropical ones, nelly kelly being the most commonly sold in the nurseries. I have managed to germinate a dozen this year from a friends crop in Victoria.
cheers
Bev
4 February, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Hi,
I planted 6 Passionfruit plants in late September, not really knowing what I was doing and hoping for the best. They are North East facing and I have been training them daily to climb singular wires and string – they are very happy and are growing like wildfire – they are not against a wall but are on the edge of my pergola from ground to roof with plenty of ventilation and sunshine. They are panorama red and gold and a black variety. The red is a little slower to take off but once it gets going it’s quite impressive. I have been advised to use white oil when pests are eating them (although not at fruiting time) and that seems to work. I have also been told to cover them (as in the drape/tent effect) with plastic in winter, so that they still receive their sunlight, but are not directly exposed to frost…fingers crossed I can keep them alive in winter – that’ll be the test – but over 5 months they have grown 8ft. I’d say give it a go Ray! I am absolutely enjoying this gardening business!
23 February, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Awesome Caz! I think I am just going to have to bite the bullet and do it! When’s the big taste test and I’ll bring some ice-cream!
Thanks every one for your responses.
Ray
28 May, 2010 at 9:04 pm
I was googling banana passionfruit when I stumbled across this :
http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&ibra=all&card=E04
Can’t imagine too many taking over in Canberra as the conditions are unlikely to suit, but I thought it worth a mention anyway.