Hand grafted
Nellie Kelly is renowned across Australia for our unique method of grafting passionfruit vines onto hardier rootstock.
To graft… or not to graft
Grafting creates plants that are resistant to disease, pests and frost, and pumps up the fruit production.
The official rootstock of all grafted Nellie Kelly Passionfruit vines is the blue passionfruit (Passiflora caerulea).
Non-grafted Nellie Kelly vines are recommended for gardens with coarse or sandy soils (where grafted vines would be prone to suckering) and tropical areas where frost isn’t a problem.
How to care for your passionfruit vine?
Plant Nellie Kelly Passionfruit vines in early spring. They love sunny, well drained areas where they are protected from the wind. Support rapid growth with a strong trellis, fence or building.
For new plants, fill the bottom of the hole with an organic blood and bone fertiliser. For developed plants spread the fertiliser over a wide area around the base of the vine in spring after pruning, and again once the fruit has been picked.
One plant is capable of fruiting heavily on its own, so there is no need to have two passionfruit vines. Flowers generally appear in mid-spring. Superphosphate around the base of your vine will encourage flower growth.
Water widely around the base of your passionfruit vine while fruit is ripening, especially on hotter days. Lack of sufficient water during this period results in fruit with poor quality pulp and little juice.
Prune your vine each spring to promote new growth and optimum fruit production. Remove a third of the previous year’s growth and leave the major runners and laterals on the trellis. Fertilise after pruning.
Fruit should be ready for harvest in mid to late summer. The passion fruit will turn from green to deep purple or yellow when ripe. Pick them when they reach full colour, or gather fruits that have dropped to the ground.
Passionfruit FAQ
Find the range of Nellie Kelly passionfruit vines and other edible plants at Bunnings and leading nurseries across Australia.