Passion Fruit Farming in Africa

Most farmers don’t grow the fruit because of lack of information regarding the growing of the fruit.To grow passion fruits for commercial purpose, very little initial investment is required. An acre of land can give about half a ton per week on a minimum for a period of 3 years with a ton going for approximately US$700 then passion fruit farming is a good investment.

Land preparation involves loosening the soils and adding compost or manure. The passion fruit plant requires well drained, well ventilated and fertile soils to grow. The passion fruit plant also requires enough water to grow. Preparation should ideally be done a month before transplanting.

The vines are planted on the prepared field at least ten feet apart. Transplanting should ideally be done in an overcast day when the weather is cool. If the passion fruit is grafted, the graft should be well above the ground to maintain the disease resistance advantage. The vines should be supported with wooden props or wire trellises at least seven feet high. The support should be strong enough to hold the crop for its productive span usually 3 to 5 years. Tall trees could also form support though this is more ideal for the yellow variety of passion fruit.

In passion fruit farming in Africa Maintenance of the vine yard is of utmost importance to getting high yields and longer crop per plant. Dressing with fertilizer high potassium and calcium is key especially when deficiencies are observed. Magnesium is also important but lesser so than the former two nutrients. Too much nitrate will cause premature falling of the fruit though it is required for good fruit yield and about 900 grams per plant is optimal. Fertilizer ((10-5-20 NPK) is ideally applied at a rate of 1360 grams per plant 4 times a year for a continuous yield. Water is of vital importance to the vines. Dry vines tend to collapse and dry up prematurely.

Water requirements are especially high when the fruit is approaching maturity and approximately 8-12 liters of water will be required per vine of passion fruit, it is important to note that with adequate water, the vines would yield fruit continuously especially in Africa where the winter is less severe. After attaining the age of two years the passion fruit vine should be pruned. Failure to prune would lead to lower flowering rate and hence lowered yield from the vines. Pruning should be done once a year after the second year.  The passion fruit farming in Africa has little known pests and diseases. Common among them are nematode infections, and attacks by tobacco white fly, cut worms, and beetles.

Passion fruits can either be picked from the vines or let to fall on the ground once they are ready. The former method is more preferred since the fruit is said to lose some of its nutritional value if it falls to the ground. If picked for the export market, the fruit should be picked at the moment it turns from green to greenish purple and before it wrinkles.