Q: I have two very vigorous Panama Passionfruit. When planted, I gave them a good dose of long-acting slow-release nitrogen. They are growing beautifully but won’t flower. What do you suggest to balance the nutrients so they flower and fruit?
Colin H., Maryborough, Qld
A: Passionfruit are actually quite demanding of nutrients. The excess nitrogen is the problem, producing lots of lush leaves and no flowers. To encourage blooms and fruiting, feeding is generally applied in spring. But in warm Queensland, even in autumn, it’s the nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), and sulphur (S) balance you need to get right.
Personally, I prefer non-chemical fertilisers and ones organically-based such as Gyganic, which has a ratio of N 7.1, P 3.8, K 9.2, Mg 0.5, S 8.6, Fe 0.3. Some growers recommend even higher ratios like N 10, P 5, K 20, but that’s too much nitrogen and potassium in my books.
Also, remember they are shallow rooting, so water the soil, apply fertiliser then water again and follow with mulch. Sugarcane and aged fowl manure are good options, but WhoFlungDung is a better nutritional mulch.
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