Can Passion Fruit Seeds Be Planted? Germination Time and Planting Methods Explained

Passion fruit is also known as foreign pomegranate, purple passionflower, passion fruit, vine pomegranate, passionflower, egg fruit, etc. It is well loved because its pulp gives off the flavors of strawberry, mango, pineapple, banana, lychee and lemon. So can passion fruit seeds be planted? How long until they germinate? How do you plant them?

Yes, they can be planted, but seeds germinate rather slowly, while raising seedlings from cuttings is faster.

The best planting season for passion fruit is March and April, so do not miss this time. Then, when choosing passion fruit, pick ones that are larger and plumper, and the more purple the skin the better, because this means the seeds will be highly mature and the probability of sprouting new shoots will also be high. Open it with an opener, then take out the seeds inside and soak them in warm water, around 30 degrees C is fine. Then rub off the pulp, leaving only the seeds, and dry the seeds in the sun for one to two days. Once the seeds are dry, soak them again in clean water. If you add a little carbendazim, it will speed up the growth of new shoots even more. When four-fifths of the seeds have sprouted, you can sow them. When choosing soil, it is best to choose sandy soil or nutrient soil with good drainage, then pour some water into it, scatter the seeds evenly in it, cover with a thin layer of soil, put on plastic wrap, and place it in a ventilated, sunny spot on the balcony. Every two days, lift the film to let in some air and water a little at the same time. After about a week, you will see the seeds germinate. Gradually, when the seedlings grow to 8 cm, remove the short ones and keep the thick, sturdy ones, and continue to place them in a sunny spot. When dry, water them a little and apply some nitrogen fertilizer. When they grow taller and taller to 30 cm, you need to set up a trellis for them on the balcony so they can climb up and grow along it. If there are railings, you can also let them climb up along the railings, and actively develop new side shoots. When they reach the flowering and fruiting stage, you can apply some phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, which can make the plant bear more fruit. When flowering, artificial pollination should be carried out to ensure fruit set, and then in autumn the fruit can be harvested.

Seed planting method:

1. Soaking seeds

Before germination, soak the seeds in clean water at 20 degrees C to 30 degrees C so the seeds absorb enough water and sprout faster. The soaking time varies with seed maturity and water temperature. The more fully mature the seeds, the longer the soaking time, and lower water temperature also requires a longer time. Generally, soaking for 5 to 6 hours is needed.

2. Germination

Seed germination needs to meet the required temperature, moisture and oxygen. It is dark-preferring with respect to light, so it should be placed in a shaded place. It germinates fastest under conditions of suitable moisture, good air permeability and 25 degrees C to 30 degrees C without light. Wrap the soaked seeds in wet gauze or a wet towel, place them in a large bowl or small basin, and wash them 1 to 2 times a day with water at 25 degrees C to 30 degrees C. It is best to mix the seeds with fine sand 3 times the volume of the seeds, put them in a water basin, and turn and move them 1 to 2 times a day, adding water when the fine sand dries. The seeds need alternating temperatures, carried out alternately at 30 degrees C for 8 hours and 20 degrees C for 16 hours each day, for uniform sprouting. Under normal circumstances, they can sprout in 5 to 6 days.

Growing environment of passion fruit:

Temperature

The most suitable growing temperature for egg fruit is 20 degrees C to 30 degrees C. Generally, it grows well at temperatures not lower than 0 degrees C, and at -2 degrees C the plant will be severely damaged or even die. Areas with an annual average temperature above 18 degrees C are most suitable for planting and are likely to achieve high yields. Therefore, it is widely distributed in the warm and humid regions of southern China, especially Hainan.

Water

Generally, egg fruit grows best under conditions with annual rainfall between 1500 and 2000 mm and evenly distributed, while areas for commercial development and planting should not have less than 1000 mm. Egg fruit is relatively drought tolerant, but in case of drought, irrigation is still needed. If the soil is too dry, it will affect vine and fruit development. In severe cases, the branches will appear withered, the fruit will not develop, and fruit drop will occur. During the rainy season, pay attention to drainage.

Light

As a tropical fruit, egg fruit likes plenty of sunlight to promote vine growth and nutrient accumulation. Long-day conditions are favorable for the flowering of egg fruit. In areas with annual sunshine hours of 2300 to 2800 hours, egg fruit has good vegetative growth, accumulates more nutrients, grows vines quickly, fruits early and yields abundantly. The most suitable growing temperature is 20 degrees C to 30 degrees C. Generally, it grows well at temperatures not lower than 0 degrees C, and at -2 degrees C the plant will be severely damaged or even die.

Soil

Egg fruit has strong adaptability and does not demand much from the soil. But for large-scale production, the soil layer should be at least 0.5 m, and the soil should be fertile, loose and well drained, with a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5 being suitable.