PASSION FRUIT
Passiflora edulius
family passifiloraceae
ORIGIN
It origanated from south Brazil
BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTIS
- It is a woody perennial vine which can grow up to a height of 15m
- It has tendris for supporting it self on objects
- The flowers are very showy or premiant and consist of 3 stigma 11 sepals
ECOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS
- SOIL -the soil should be deep fertile and well drain, the soil PH should range between 5.5 – 7.0
- RAINFALL -1000-1800m/pa well distributed during the growing period
- TEMPERATURE – 180c -30oc
- ALITITUDE – 1200-1800m a.s.l
VARITIES
They are two types of varieties of passion fruit which are
- Purple variety
- Yellow variety
PURPLE VARIETY
- It is egg-shaped
- The skin is deep purple when ripe
- It has excellent flavor
- It is commercially grown in Kenya
YELLOW VARIETY
- The fruits are large then those of purple variety
- The skin colour is yellow when ripe
- The fruit pulp is yellow when ripe
- It is very acidic
PROPAGATION
It is propagated through seed and grafting technology
The seeds have a very low viability and should be planted within 3 months after extraction
Seed rate 250g /ha
FIELD ESTABLISHMENT
- LAND PREPARATION deep ploughing and harrowing twice 3 months before planting
- SPACING 3m by 2m unmechanized 3m by 3m mechanized
- HOLE PREPARATION recommended size of the hole 45 cm by 45 cm separate subsoil from the top soil mix the top soil with one debe of farmyard manure and return them to the hole
- PLANTING it should be done at the onset of the rains transplanting should be done when seedlings are 20-25cm height apply 125g of DSP per plant
- TRELLSING – is a process of erecting strong poles and wire for a passion portion field
PROCEDURE OF TRELLSING
- Dig holes 60cm deep at spacing of 6m apart a long each row of the plant
- Erect the poles 2.7m long with a diameter of 15cm
- Erect the wire on top of the poles
- Ensure that the wire is tightened as much as possible
STAKING
Tie a piece of a sisal twine from the base of the young plant up to the trellis of
The young plant
Select 2 healthy shoots and allow them to grow along the stake or sisal twine by tiering them regularly
Prun off all other unwanted shoots and flowers that emerge before trellises
This should be done regularly until the two selected shoots reach the wire
When the two selected shoots reach the wire direct them in opposite direction
By twinning and tieing them regularly
Do not prun the side shoots or branches that grow along the trellis
Leave them to hung down flower and form fruits
When the hunging shoots reach ground cutoff 15cm above the ground
Remove all the tendrils that develop on the trellises wire so that the shoots can
Hung freely and also allow free air circulation and light penetration
ORCHARD MAINTANCE PRACTICES
- Weed control
- Irrigation when rainfall is adequate
- Top dressing 120g of CAN per plant in two splits during flowering as to improve the quality of the fruit
- Crop rotation it should be done every 3-4seasons
- Intercropping using low growing crops like vegetables and legumes during the first years of establishment
- Pest and disease control
Pest /disease | symptom | control |
woodiness | Virial disease
Transmitted by aphids Leaves turn yellow and distorted Fruits become small hard and very little juice |
Roughing and burning of infected plants
Carry out sterilization of tools and equipment’s Use clean planting materials |
Pest aphids
Thrips mites |
Feed on the tender parts of the plant leading to curling and distorted of the leaves
Transmit woodiness |
Spray with any recommended pesticides or insecticides |
Bearing of fruits start 7-8 months after transplanting when ripe the fruits fall naturally from the vine in a process called ABSCISSION
HARVESTING
Pick only fallen fruits
There are two harvesting peaks in Kenya
- July – august
- December -January
YIELDS
10 to 20 tonnes per/ha/yr.
Economic lifespan is up to 4years