Trellis Systems

Overhead trellis

Vertical trellis

T trellis

Photos taken at Brian Westwood’s property at Mutchilba with thanks

A Frame trellis (library image)

Passionfruit grow on a vine structure and are highly adept climbers – commercial orchards use a trellis system
The most common trellis system in use in Australia is vertical fence-style trellis with large stay posts at either end of a row and wooden posts strung with steel wire at the top level
The young plants are planted in line with the posts equidistant and trained up a wire or string to reach the top wire
Once a plant reaches the top wire, two opposing leaders are trained along the wire to provide the vine with support as it grows and begins to bear fruit
Alternative growing systems in use are overhead trellis, T-trellis and A-frames
Each growing system has pro’s and con’s

	PRO	CON
OVERHEAD	+ Higher yield + Better protection from sun damage	– More training required – Poor spray penetration in year 2 canopy – Fruit loss where fruit develops on top of the canopy
VERTICAL	+ Cheapest & quickest to install + Good spray penetration + Less training required	– Poor protection from sun damage – Lower yield vs. overhead
T TRELLIS	+ Good spray penetration + Increased canopy = increased yield	– More expensive to install – Some fruit loss from fruit developing on top of T canopy area – Less vine training required
A FRAME	+ Increased canopy = increased yield + Good spray penetration	– More expensive to install – Medium training required