Passion fruit (known locally as "grenadine") is a vigorous climbing vine that produces aromatic, tangy-sweet fruit. It is used for juice, desserts, and cocktails in Mauritius. The purple variety is most common, thriving in the tropical climate with minimal care.

Local names: Grenadine, Fruit de la passion, Passion fruit

Months: September, October, November, December

Plant from September to December at the start of the warm season. Vines need a strong trellis or fence for support.

• Soil type: Rich, well-drained sandy-loam soil
• pH: 6.0–6.5
• Compost: Add generous compost and aged manure to the planting hole. Passion fruit vines are heavy feeders.

• Seed type: Seeds from ripe fruit or nursery seedlings
• Spacing: 3–4 metres between plants along a trellis or fence
• Watering: Regular watering, 2–3 times per week. Keep soil moist during flowering and fruiting.
• Sunlight: Full sun (6–8 hours daily)

Organic options:

• Compost
• Cow manure
• Fish emulsion
• Seaweed extract

Chemical options:

• NPK 10-10-10 every 6 weeks
• Potassium sulphate at fruiting

Fruit fly

• Natural remedy: Protein bait traps and collecting fallen fruit
• Chemical fallback: Malathion bait spray

Woodiness virus

• Natural remedy: Remove and destroy infected plants. Control aphid vectors.
• Chemical fallback: No chemical cure — prevention only

• Days to maturity: 12–18 months from planting; fruits mature 70–80 days after flowering
• Indicators: Fruit turns from green to deep purple (or yellow for yellow variety). Skin wrinkles slightly. Fruit drops from the vine when fully ripe.
• Yield tips: Collect fallen fruit daily. Hand-pollinate flowers in the morning for better fruit set if bee activity is low.

• Duration: 1 week at room temperature, 2–3 weeks refrigerated
• Temperature: Refrigerate at 5–10°C
• Tips: Scoop out pulp and freeze in ice cube trays for juice and desserts. Wrinkled fruit is sweeter than smooth fruit.