| How to Grow Granadillas |  |
The purple granadilla, also known as the purple passion fruit, is locally grown
commercially as well as for home use.
Climatic requirements
• Granadillas prefer moderate temperatures throughout the year.
• They are sensitive to severe frost (especially the purple granadilla).
• In hot areas, they should be planted on cool slopes and in cool areas on the warm northern slopes. The average maximum monthly temperature should not exceed 29 °C and the minimum should not fall below 5 °C.
• Granadillas prefer a high relative humidity and well-distributed rainfall of not less than 1 200 mm/year (irrigation can supplement low rainfall).
Soil requirements
Deep soil preparation is important because granadilla plants develop shallow root systems in compacted soils. Thorough soil preparation will also improve drainage. This is very important, because granadillas are sensitive to excessively wet soil conditions. It is best to avoid clay soils.
Seed
Granadillas are mostly grown from seedlings.
• When seed is used, be sure to use seed from ripe fruit selected from healthy plants.
• Scoop out the contents of a granadilla that has been cut through.
• Wash the contents to separate the seed andpulp.
• Dry the seed in the shade and sow it in seedling trays or planting bags filled with a well-prepared soil mixture.
• To enhance germination, the seed together with the pulp can be placed in a plastic container and allowed to ferment for 1 to 3 days. It is then thoroughly washed, dried and sown as soon as possible.
• Seed may be stored in closed containers at 13 °C for about 4 months.
Transplanting
• The seedlings should be ready for transplanting about 3 to 6 months after sowing the seed.
• The optimum time for transplanting is during August/September.
• The yellow granadilla is more susceptible to cold than the purple granadilla and grafted plants should therefore not be planted in areas where frost occurs.
Planting distance
Generally plant spacings of 1 to 2 m are used. The average lifespan of a healthy granadilla plantation is about 3 years. Bearing in mind the effect of viruses and soil-borne diseases, plant spacing of about 1 m could ensure high production over the short term.
Trellising system
Erecting a trellising system is the main initial expense. A sturdy construction is necessary because the trellis has to support a heavy mass. The wooden posts must be solid and resistant to termites.
Construct it as follows:
Draw a single strand of 12-gauge wire (taut) about 2 m above the surface of the ground and along the tops of the wooden posts 2 m high and about 6 m apart along the row.
Training the plants
• The granadilla vines should be trained systematically so that the framework gets a good shape.
• Tie a selected leader of each plant loosely to a stake or train it up a string until it reaches the top wire. Remove all side shoots, but not the leaves.
• As soon as the main leader reaches the top wire, it is progressively wound loosely round the wire as it grows.
Selective pruning
• The main leader is trained along the wire and the fruiting laterals are trained so that they hang down freely.
• Cut off all laterals at ground level if they start growing along the ground.
Fertilisation
The recommended fertiliser programme for granadillas is given in the table. These are only general guidelines and should be supported by soil and leaf analyses.
Diseases
Major diseases affecting granadilla crops in South Africa include:
• Damping off of seedlings caused by fungi as a result of poor seedbed management.
Control
– Plant on a well-drained site in virgin soil, or sterilised soil or growth medium.
• Foot rot (dikvoet) where the base of the stem thickens, causing cracks in the soil surface through which numerous secondary organisms can enter, resulting in total rotting of the stem. Waterlogging and overirrigation increase the incidence of the disease.
Control
– Plant in well-drained soils.
• Various viruses causing symptoms such as spots, mosaics and distortion. It is usually very difficult to identify the specific virus involved.
Control
– Affected shoots can be broken off the plant
– Frequent washing of hands reduces transmission
– Wipe instruments with 10 % of a household bleach after pruning each plant.
Pests
Pests which frequently occur on granadillas include stinkbugs and tip wilters.
Control
• Field inspections must be carried out frequently.
• Collecting insects by hand can help to control them.
Harvesting
Depending on the time of transplanting, the first fruit is usually ready for harvesting 6 to 9 months after planting. At about 18 months after planting the crop should have reached its full bearing potential. Thereafter, there are 2 main crops annually, namely a summer crop from November to January and a smaller winter crop during June and July. In the Northern Province and Mpumalanga growers sometimes have a third crop during March and April. A limited quantity of fruit will, however, be available throughout the year.
When to pick the fruit
• Fruit for the fresh market is picked 2 to 3 times a week in summer when fully developed and with a light purple colour.
• Fruit should not have a deep purple colour when harvested, because it will arrive at the market in a shrivelled condition and will not have a good market value. A wax treatment protects the fruit from drying out and could delay the shrivelling process.
• During the cooler months fruit is harvested weekly.
• Fruit for processing can be harvested when it has reached a deep purple colour.
• Fruit should be harvested early in the morning.
commercially as well as for home use.
Climatic requirements
• Granadillas prefer moderate temperatures throughout the year.
• They are sensitive to severe frost (especially the purple granadilla).
• In hot areas, they should be planted on cool slopes and in cool areas on the warm northern slopes. The average maximum monthly temperature should not exceed 29 °C and the minimum should not fall below 5 °C.
• Granadillas prefer a high relative humidity and well-distributed rainfall of not less than 1 200 mm/year (irrigation can supplement low rainfall).
Soil requirements
Deep soil preparation is important because granadilla plants develop shallow root systems in compacted soils. Thorough soil preparation will also improve drainage. This is very important, because granadillas are sensitive to excessively wet soil conditions. It is best to avoid clay soils.
Seed
Granadillas are mostly grown from seedlings.
• When seed is used, be sure to use seed from ripe fruit selected from healthy plants.
• Scoop out the contents of a granadilla that has been cut through.
• Wash the contents to separate the seed andpulp.
• Dry the seed in the shade and sow it in seedling trays or planting bags filled with a well-prepared soil mixture.
• To enhance germination, the seed together with the pulp can be placed in a plastic container and allowed to ferment for 1 to 3 days. It is then thoroughly washed, dried and sown as soon as possible.
• Seed may be stored in closed containers at 13 °C for about 4 months.
Transplanting
• The seedlings should be ready for transplanting about 3 to 6 months after sowing the seed.
• The optimum time for transplanting is during August/September.
• The yellow granadilla is more susceptible to cold than the purple granadilla and grafted plants should therefore not be planted in areas where frost occurs.
Planting distance
Generally plant spacings of 1 to 2 m are used. The average lifespan of a healthy granadilla plantation is about 3 years. Bearing in mind the effect of viruses and soil-borne diseases, plant spacing of about 1 m could ensure high production over the short term.
Trellising system
Erecting a trellising system is the main initial expense. A sturdy construction is necessary because the trellis has to support a heavy mass. The wooden posts must be solid and resistant to termites.
Construct it as follows:
Draw a single strand of 12-gauge wire (taut) about 2 m above the surface of the ground and along the tops of the wooden posts 2 m high and about 6 m apart along the row.
Training the plants
• The granadilla vines should be trained systematically so that the framework gets a good shape.
• Tie a selected leader of each plant loosely to a stake or train it up a string until it reaches the top wire. Remove all side shoots, but not the leaves.
• As soon as the main leader reaches the top wire, it is progressively wound loosely round the wire as it grows.
Selective pruning
• The main leader is trained along the wire and the fruiting laterals are trained so that they hang down freely.
• Cut off all laterals at ground level if they start growing along the ground.
Fertilisation
The recommended fertiliser programme for granadillas is given in the table. These are only general guidelines and should be supported by soil and leaf analyses.
Diseases
Major diseases affecting granadilla crops in South Africa include:
• Damping off of seedlings caused by fungi as a result of poor seedbed management.
Control
– Plant on a well-drained site in virgin soil, or sterilised soil or growth medium.
• Foot rot (dikvoet) where the base of the stem thickens, causing cracks in the soil surface through which numerous secondary organisms can enter, resulting in total rotting of the stem. Waterlogging and overirrigation increase the incidence of the disease.
Control
– Plant in well-drained soils.
• Various viruses causing symptoms such as spots, mosaics and distortion. It is usually very difficult to identify the specific virus involved.
Control
– Affected shoots can be broken off the plant
– Frequent washing of hands reduces transmission
– Wipe instruments with 10 % of a household bleach after pruning each plant.
Pests
Pests which frequently occur on granadillas include stinkbugs and tip wilters.
Control
• Field inspections must be carried out frequently.
• Collecting insects by hand can help to control them.
Harvesting
Depending on the time of transplanting, the first fruit is usually ready for harvesting 6 to 9 months after planting. At about 18 months after planting the crop should have reached its full bearing potential. Thereafter, there are 2 main crops annually, namely a summer crop from November to January and a smaller winter crop during June and July. In the Northern Province and Mpumalanga growers sometimes have a third crop during March and April. A limited quantity of fruit will, however, be available throughout the year.
When to pick the fruit
• Fruit for the fresh market is picked 2 to 3 times a week in summer when fully developed and with a light purple colour.
• Fruit should not have a deep purple colour when harvested, because it will arrive at the market in a shrivelled condition and will not have a good market value. A wax treatment protects the fruit from drying out and could delay the shrivelling process.
• During the cooler months fruit is harvested weekly.
• Fruit for processing can be harvested when it has reached a deep purple colour.
• Fruit should be harvested early in the morning.
I have yellow sweet granadilla plants enough for farms and backyard gardens.Karloz Exotic Plantsand foods.0778075374
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