Plant guide:ðĨ Passion Fruit
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Sunscald on Passion Fruit
Commonly affects: Passiflora edulis (Passion Fruit)
A pale, bleached, or leathery patch develops on the sun-facing side of fruit, especially after sudden exposure from pruning or leaf loss.
Potential Causes
- 1Sudden exposure to intense sun after over-pruning removed sheltering foliage
- 2Leaf loss from disease exposing previously shaded fruit
- 3A heatwave following cooler, cloudier weather
Solution Steps
- 1Prune gradually rather than removing large amounts of foliage at once
- 2Address any foliar disease causing leaf loss promptly
- 3Provide temporary shade cloth during extreme heat events
- 4Harvest affected fruit promptly since scald increases rot risk
Prevention Tip
Gradual, moderate pruning keeps enough foliage in place to naturally shade developing fruit from sudden sun exposure.
