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I’ve got two newly planted passionfruit vines that are taking a beating from something.
They are in somewhat sandy soil with fertiliser on top, they get a drink most days but they’re looking sad. I’ve sprayed a bit of natural insecticide to keep caterpillars etc at bay but they’re still being munched and not thriving…
any tips?
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @skyzablue. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about passionfruit care.
It's great to hear that you've taken steps to ward off the insects attacking the leaves. However, this attack would be somewhat inconsequential if the plants were thriving. I suspect they are struggling as the planting conditions don't appear to be particularly conducive to promoting a healthy plant. One concern I have is the limited growth space. It might be the angle of the picture, but the depth of the bed appears very narrow. How wide is it? Also, the Colorbond fencing could potentially be getting very hot due to its colour and radiating that heat onto the plant. It's a similar issue with the bricks; those, too, will be radiating heat onto the plants and transferring it to the roots.
The quality of the soil is also likely playing a part. Passionfruit are heavy feeders, and your sandy soil must be enriched with compost before planting. Fertiliser is not enough for healthy growth.
Here's a helpful guide: How to grow and care for passionfruit. Also, you might like to read through this informative discussion: Tips for growing passionfruit. There's also a wonderfully in-depth Best Advice article on What are your tips for growing passionfruit?
Were you able to place raised garden beds along that area and grow in them? That would at least allow the plant's roots room to expand, and you could stake or trellis the plants to prevent direct contact with the fence by allowing an air gap.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
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