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

As Mumbaikars like this writer cling on to the trademark lsquospirit of Mumbairsquo 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 Soorenjirsquos home in Chembur he suggests you stand under it someday ldquoWhen I first planted passion fruit in 2017 I was surprised by how well it grew in Mumbairsquos hot and humid conditions The thick growth has significantly cooled down summers for me in the cityrdquo he smilesChetan SoorenjiFruit of labourIf you grew up believing passion fruit was an lsquoexoticrsquo 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 ldquoMost plant species in India bear fruits in the summer or winter seasons The premonsoon and monsoon phase is dubbed the dearth period in horticulture Passionflower and subsequently passion fruit makes for the perfect fillerrdquo Soorenji revealsBees arrive to pollinate a passionflower Passion fruit in the home garden The fruit consists of a tangy pulp and a spongy white pithBirds and beesSoorenjirsquos garden is home to more than just the seasonal fruits ldquoI was surprised to see pollinators like bees of the Apis cerana indica Indian hive bee and Apis dorsata Indian rockgiant bee species and butterflies like the Acraea terpsicore frequent my rooftop garden once the flowers bloomed Soon my garden had turned into a microecosystemrdquo he recallsAn aerial view of the gardenPollination 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 ldquoBut I have had to slow down after a heavy construction project was undertaken outside my home You see the bees like some peacerdquo he sighsWith a surplus of the fruits of labour some buzzing company and a cool rooftop arrangement itrsquos no surprise that Soorenji has now formulated a passion fruit wine to drink it all in ldquoPassion fruit wine has distinct sweet fruity notes and can be made by beginners without complex equipmentrdquo he assures us Sounds like one spirit of Mumbai wersquore ready to get behindLOG ON TO forestgardenmicrofarmsindia on InstagramPassion fruit wineINGREDIENTS Passion fruit pulp Sugar to taste Yeast 1 tsp WaterMETHODAdd 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 sixmonth 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 whiskeylike colour and consistency Before you growPassion 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 threefive year cycles after which they die The climbers are highly susceptible to pest attacks Homemade 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 trapsatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params