Hi there, I am interested to know if you can grow passionfruit in a tunnel house? What are the pros and cons? Generally, the Southland area and climate can be four seasons in one day and other times sunshine. Thanks.

Hi Rachel, passionfruit can be grown in a greenhouse, especially if you are in a frost prone region and get four seasons in one day. The only thing the plant will need help with is pollination when the plant is flowering to ensure you get fruit. This can be done by hand pollination using a small paint brush or similar transferring pollen from flower to flower, and opening the door during the day to let pollinators in. If the greenhouse is not heated there is a chance that passionfruit can get frosted, apply Tui Seaweed Plant Tonic regularly throughout the season as seaweed tonic gives frost protection up to -5 degrees, but needs to be applied well before frost is expected to be effective, and can be applied year round. The pros are hopefully you will be able to grow passionfruit, the cons are pollination of flowers, and potentially, plants could still get frosted in an unheated tunnel house. The Tui Team.