Passion fruit

Family Passifloraceae. The word "maracuja" is the Spanish name for the passifloras, comprising more than 100 species (the best known in indoor culture is the blue passiflora).

Strictly speaking, maracuja is the passiflora "yellow granadilla". The plant is climbing, grown like a grapevine. The main area of cultivation is Brazil.

The fruits of maracuja are yellow-orange, oval fruits about 6–12 cm in size. Fruits with smooth shiny skin are preferable, but they are sweeter when the skin is rough and cracked.

Care:

Maracuja prefers full illumination and tolerates diffused light well, so it is best placed in rooms with windows facing south or east. Keep it at 20–25°C in summer; in winter the temperature should be lower but not below 12°C. In winter protect the plant from cold drafts when airing and do not place it under a partly open window. The soil mix can be made of 2 parts topsoil, 1 part humus and 1 part sand. Water moderately, only when the soil has dried out. From May to September, during the active growth period, apply fertilizers.