Golden passion fruit, with its vibrant orange appearance and rich flavor, boasting a sweetness level of 19-21 degrees, is highly favored for its suitability for fresh consumption. It is one of the most popular varieties of passion fruit. But when is the best time to plant and how should it be done? Let's find out.
Planting Time for Golden Passion Fruit
Golden passion fruit can be planted throughout the year, but for same-year planting and fruiting, it is best to plant in spring, around March to April. When planted during this time, flowering typically occurs around July of the same year, with maturity from August to December.
Planting Method for Golden Passion Fruit
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Selection of Planting Site: Choose fertile and well-drained land with loose soil and strong drainage capacity. The soil should be rich in organic matter with a pH value around 5.5 to 5.7.
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Excavation and Fertilization: Before planting golden passion fruit, dig planting holes with a spacing of 4 meters by 5 meters, planting 25 plants per acre. The holes should be 60x60x60 centimeters deep. Apply 25 kilograms of organic fertilizer and 0.5 kilograms of phosphate fertilizer per hole as base fertilizer.
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Planting Seedlings: Choose a cloudy or sunny day after rain for planting. Dig a small hole 20 centimeters deep in the hole, straighten the roots of the golden passion fruit seedlings, place the main root vertically in the small hole, fill with soil layer by layer, compact and firm the soil, and water thoroughly after planting to keep the soil moist until the seedlings are established.
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Planting Density: Planting density varies according to the trellis system. For horizontal trellises, plant around 70 plants per acre with row spacing of 3 meters and plant spacing of 3-3.5 meters. For fence trellises, row spacing is usually 2 meters with plant spacing of 3 meters, planting about 110 plants per acre. For curtain trellises, plant spacing is 3.3 meters with plant spacing of 1.65 meters, also planting about 110 plants per acre.
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Trellis Construction: Golden passion fruit vines require trellises for climbing. Typically, cement pillars with pergola-style construction are used, with a height of 1.8-2.2 meters. Place a cement pillar every 4 meters between planting rows and weave iron wire into a 30×30 centimeter grid at the top of each pillar to form the trellis surface.
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Post-Planting Management: After the golden passion fruit seedlings are established, promptly remove shoots below 40-50 centimeters to promote the rapid and robust growth of the main vine. When the main vine reaches 50-60 centimeters, insert support stakes to guide the main vine to climb.
In summary, the prospects for planting golden passion fruit are promising. Mastering the planting time and method makes cultivation relatively easy, with stable market demand, making it suitable for promotion and development.