Passion Fruit Pruning Cheatsheet

Healthy pruning keeps passion fruit vines productive, airy, and easy to harvest. Use this quick-reference to time your cuts, bring the right tools, and follow safe, plant-friendly steps.

Download the printable PDF cheatsheet.

Best time to prune

• After harvest: Once all fruit is picked.
• Late winter to early spring: Before vigorous new growth begins.

Tools you need

• Clean, sharp secateurs or pruning shears
• Gloves
• Disinfectant (to wipe blades between cuts)

Step-by-step pruning

1. Inspect the vine: Remove dead, diseased, or damaged stems first.
2. Cut old wood: Take out stems older than two years and weak shoots to refresh growth.
3. Thin overcrowded growth: Open the canopy so air and light can reach interior leaves.
4. Shape the vine: Keep a few sturdy framework branches and shorten side shoots for manageable structure.
5. Make clean cuts: Cut at about a 43° angle just above a healthy node; remove at most one-third of the vine to reduce stress.
6. Clean up debris: Dispose of trimmings away from the plant to limit disease spread.
7. Aftercare: Mulch the base to retain moisture and protect roots.

Quick tips to avoid stress

• Disinfect blades between cuts on suspect wood.
• Skip pruning during extreme heat or drought; water well a day or two before if soil is dry.
• Train new shoots along trellis wires soon after pruning to keep a balanced shape.

Happy pruning and sweeter harvests!