A middle-aged couple switches to farming - from a two-fen plot to 1 hectare, growing perfect golden passion fruit

 

 

The sweet-and-sour taste of passion fruit is so addictive after one bite, making it a refreshing summer fruit. The vine-ripened red passion fruit at "Shihui Organic Farm" in Qishan, Kaohsiung, naturally ripens on the vine and drops into pre-set hanging nets. The farmers use nets to protect their hard-earned harvest, and also net the most perfectly balanced sweet-and-sour flavor!

 

In mid-June, the weather in southern Taiwan is unbearably hot. Chen Shih-kung and Huang Hui-chuan, the couple at Shihui Organic Farm who had already been busy in the fields all morning, feared neither the scorching sun above their heads. Holding freshly harvested, brightly red passion fruit in their hands, they wiped their sweat and said they were used to it, their faces full of satisfied smiles.

 

The redder the color, the riper it is; when it turns purple-red, the sweetness rises, and the sweetness is highest when the skin has obvious wrinkles. 

 

 

The Orchard Grew from Small to Large, and the More They Planted, the More Experience They Gained

 

In 2013, Huang Hui-chuan came to know the previous owner, who had succeeded in growing organic passion fruit, through contact with organic farming methods. She took a liking to the soil and climate here, which were very suitable for passion fruit, was very satisfied with this orchard, and so leased it. "At first, I had no experience and only dared to plant a small plot, but unexpectedly, the more I planted, the more experience I gained, and the more confidence I had." The couple, who switched to farming in middle age, expanded their planting area from a bit over two fen of land to 1 hectare!

 

"Vine-ripened red" (tsāi-tsâng- âng) is pronounced in Taiwanese and refers to the most perfectly ripe state of the fruit on the branch. After comparing various passion fruits, Chen Shih-kung chose to grow Tainung No. 1 because it has a particularly rich aroma and a well-balanced sweet-and-sour taste. Seedlings are planted in early November each year, flowers bloom in March the following year, fruit harvesting begins in mid-May, and by June, the peak production period, it is the busiest time, with the trellises inspected and fruit collected every day until the season winds down in August. "During peak season, we can harvest as many as 6 bamboo baskets of 20 kg each!" From seedlings, watering, fertilizing, and pest removal to harvesting, the couple handles everything themselves, and beneath the sweat is a full sense of accomplishment and joy.

 

A Pure Environment Attracts Lovely Birds to Nest

 

During the growth process, passion fruit must go through flowering and pollination before young fruit can grow. Therefore, the help of bees is very much needed. "But who knows where all the bees have gone?" Huang Hui-chuan sighed. Facing fewer and fewer wild bees, they had also tried artificial pollination, but because there were only the two of them at the orchard, it was not only physically overwhelming but also inefficient. For this reason, Shihui Organic Farm keeps quite a few bees to take on the important role of little pollination angels.

 

The two are quite proud of keeping the orchard lush green, clean, and fresh. While patrolling the orchard, they happily said, "We'll take you to see the little birds nesting on the trellises." Everyone carefully looked up to search and indeed found several bird nests "hidden" on the trellises! Chen Shih-kung said that Japanese white-eyes, Chinese bulbuls, black-crowned night herons, and other birds often come here to nest. "To get these lovely guests to grace us with their presence, the prerequisite is a non-toxic, pesticide-free environment!"

 

During the growth process, passion fruit must go through flowering and pollination before young fruit can grow. Therefore, the help of bees is very much needed...

During the growth process, passion fruit must go through flowering and pollination before young fruit can grow. Therefore, the help of bees is very much needed Image / pexels

 

The Sweet-and-Sour Sense of Happiness, the Taste Buds Know Best