Want to grow passion fruit? Take tips from this Mumbai-based urban farmer

Passion fruit vines grow in the rooftop garden. Pics Courtesy/Forest Garden Microfarms India

As Mumbaikars like this writer cling on to the trademark ‘spirit of Mumbai' to brave the sweltering heat, urban gardener Chetan Soorenji has found relief in a passion of a different kind. A tall rooftop draped in lush passion fruit vines watches over Soorenji's home in Chembur; he suggests you stand under it someday. "When I first planted passion fruit in 2017, I was surprised by how well it grew in Mumbai's hot and humid conditions. The thick growth has significantly cooled down summers for me in the city," he smiles.

Chetan Soorenji

Fruit of labour

If you grew up believing passion fruit was an ‘exotic' fruit that was too cool to share the same table as the humble apples and oranges, the pulpy fruits are actually more familiar than you think. Known as Krishna Kamal locally, the passionflower has been long known among farmers as a supplementary crop. "Most plant species in India bear fruits in the summer or winter seasons. The pre-monsoon and monsoon phase is dubbed the dearth period in horticulture. Passionflower, and subsequently passion fruit, makes for the perfect filler," Soorenji reveals.

Bees arrive to pollinate a passionflower; Passion fruit in the home garden; The fruit consists of a tangy pulp and a spongy white pith

Birds and bees

Soorenji's garden is home to more than just the seasonal fruits. "I was surprised to see pollinators like bees of the Apis cerana indica (Indian hive bee), and Apis dorsata (Indian rock/giant bee) species, and butterflies like the Acraea terpsicore frequent my rooftop garden once the flowers bloomed. Soon, my garden had turned into a micro-ecosystem," he recalls.

An aerial view of the garden

Pollination, aka the most vital step in reproduction for flowering plants, is the reason any flora thrives in the city, Soorenji tells us. The gardener recently turned to beekeeping to house these pollinators, and even launched his own line of natural honey. "But I have had to slow down after a heavy construction project was undertaken outside my home. You see, the bees like some peace," he sighs.

With a surplus of the fruits of labour, some buzzing company and a cool rooftop arrangement, it's no surprise that Soorenji has now formulated a passion fruit wine to drink it all in. "Passion fruit wine has distinct sweet, fruity notes, and can be made by beginners without complex equipment," he assures us. Sounds like one spirit of Mumbai we're ready to get behind.

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Passion fruit wine

INGREDIENTS
. Passion fruit pulp
. Sugar (to taste)
. Yeast (1 tsp)
. Water

METHOD
Add the pulp, yeast and water to a container and mix well. Add sugar as per taste and the sourness of the fruit. Let the mixture sit for a month for primary fermentation. During this period, swirl and stir the mixture once in two days. After a month, transfer the mixture to a bottle for secondary fermentation. During the five to six-month long process, rack the wine. Racking involves straining the mixture until no visible sediment remains. The more you rack the wine, the smoother it will be. For a pleasant taste, rack the wine until it achieves whiskey-like colour and consistency.

Before you grow

Passion fruit vines can grow in testing conditions, but only with due monitoring and caution. Soorenji shares tips to consider before you sow the seed

. Unlike many fruiting plants, you cannot plant a passion fruit sapling once and reap its benefits for decades. They usually have three-five year cycles after which they die
. The climbers are highly susceptible to pest attacks
. Home-made kitchen composts can help your climbers thrive
. In the flowering season, the plants are vulnerable to fruit fly attacks. Consult an expert to learn more about pheromone traps