When to Plant Passionfruit in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Plant November to December. Right now in September it is out of season. The next planting month is November.

Also called passion fruit.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Passionfruit guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Passionfruit

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Vigorous climbing vine that produces abundantly in warm climates. Purple passionfruit (Nellie Kelly, Pandora, Sweetheart) is the standard Australian backyard variety. Yellow (Panama) types are more tropical and disease-resistant but more acidic. Grafted plants on disease-resistant rootstock (usually P. caerulea or Panama Gold) are strongly recommended as ungrafted purple vines are susceptible to Fusarium wilt. Vines are relatively short-lived (5-7 years) but produce within 12-18 months.

Best Planting Window for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - - - P P

P = Planting window

Plant November-December. Warmest north-facing position.

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How to Grow Passionfruit in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Plant November-December. Warmest north-facing position.

Soil
Well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic. Rich in organic matter. Avoid heavy clay.
pH Range
5.5-6.5
Sunlight
Full sun on foliage. Roots prefer cool, shaded, mulched soil.

Companion plants: Nasturtium (ground cover), Marigold

Avoid planting near: Tree roots (competition), Shady positions

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Passionfruit

Recommended Varieties

  • Nellie Kelly (grafted on cold-hardy rootstock)

Key Challenges

  • Frost kills unprotected vines
  • Short growing season
  • Lower yield

Pro Tips

  • Marginal to good in Melbourne with Nellie Kelly on P. caerulea rootstock.
  • North-facing brick wall with overhead eaves is ideal.
  • Vine may die to ground in cold winters but reshoot from grafted rootstock in spring.

Harvesting Passionfruit

When ready: Fruit turns purple (or yellow for Panama types) and drops from vine. Wrinkled skin indicates peak sweetness. Collect fallen fruit daily.

How to harvest: Pick up fallen fruit or twist ripe fruit from vine. Wrinkled fruit is sweeter than smooth.

Where to next

What passionfruit costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

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Common Questions About Passionfruit

When do you plant passionfruit in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

What else is passionfruit called?

Passionfruit is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it passion fruit. Same plant, same growing advice.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.