Passionfruit

[Jesse]

I've got an edible passionfruit (grown from supermarket bought seed earlier this year) growing in my conservatory. It's grown very well this summer and has reached roof height and has trailed once across the roof, in all it's about 5-6m long. Trouble is the leaves are starting to turn yellow and falling off, mainly the ones near the base of the plant but gradually spreading along. Should it lose it's leaves during the winter months or is there a nutrient problem. The conservatory is warm during the day at around 16C and cold but frost free at night. I haven't been watering it much so it does get quite dry before it gets a little water. It's in a pot and probably could do with potting up but I was going to wait until early spring, perhaps it needs potting up now. Can anyone offer advice, it was doing so well and now I'm worried I'm killing it.

[Jesse]

[the_snail]

Potting up in spring is a good idea if the plant is not to pot bound already. If so then the sooner it is potted up the better.

Yes passifolias do drop there leaves over winter and then sprout new ones in mid spring. I think it may be due to the lower light levels in winter.

Well done with growing them from a supermarket seed. I have never tried to grow them from seed. Must try this year.

The_Snail

[Jesse]

That's good news then Snail, thanks for that info. :)

[Nathan]

I have no helpful advice Jesseveve, but your post reminded me of a friend in South Africa, where I grew up, who had a lovely passion fruit hedge.  We used to sit on the lawn in summer and eat dozens of them......

[Jesse]

I too grew up in SA and used to stuff myself silly on passionfruit in the summer ;D