passion fruit

After waiting 6 months for my �£3 packet of seeds to germinate I finally gave up and bought some rooted cuttings - 3 for �£2.50 on ebay - not bad!

I'm wondering what's the best thing to do with them

a) Get a really large pot (16" or so), put all 3 in the same pot and build a structure for them to climb up and bring them into the unheated conservatory over winter

b) Put each in their own smaller pot until they're a bit bigger and bring them into the house over winter

How tender are they actually? I hope I can get away with the conservatory.

When I was young my dad grew one in an enormous pot, probably about 2' diameter. We got about 40 fruits a year off it but after a while it gave up. Do they have a finite lifespan?

Thanks all.

 

Hi Sparkle, i'd keep them in smaller pots to begin with and bring them in...option B, i believe!! They won't be hardy enough to begin with + after the disappointment of your seeds you will want to see these flowering, at least. the cons will be perfect, though i have kept mine in my shop over winter before + it gets awfy cold here......one of mine has opened 3 flowers today!

 

I used to grow them from the seed from supermarket fruit, think they used to fruit in their second year.
Definitely not hardy unless you've got a really frost free wall to plant them against.
I'd grow them on in single pots as bettyblue says, once they get going they're going to need lots of feeding to come up with the goods.

 

cheers both, small pots it is.

Pete were they hard to germinate from fresh? I think I was a sucker buying seed when I could have just bought a fruit and ahd some left over to eat!

 

They germinate much quicker and more reliably fresh from the fruit I found.
Still you've go some now, so there's no stopping you from now on. :D

 

Just have to say, Pete, it's always nice when you come on line ... there's always a few waiting for answers that are in your league ... thanks, you're appreciated by many!

 

Must also say, Sparkle, I've almost totally given up on the seed thing and pay that bit more for an "instant" plant ... worth it in the long run! :D