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GRAPE
Vitis vinifera
Size: Canes can grow 10m or more.
Climate: Humid subtropical, Mediterranean, temperate and semi-arid zones are most suitable but also milder parts of cool temperate zones. Possible in hot arid zones with summer water. High humidity is not helpful.
Frost tolerance: To -10C.
Flowering season: Early spring.
Fruiting season: Late summer and autumn.
Cross-pollination: Not necessary; self-fertile.
Watering: Deeply but infrequently. Grapes won’t produce good fruit after dryness.
Feeding: Fertilise sparingly. If soil is deep and fertile, no feeding is needed; on poorer soils, complete plant food once in spring.
Problems: Fungus diseases, birds, aphids, mites and caterpillars.
KIWI FRUIT
Actinidia deliciosa, syn. A. chinensis
Kiwi fruit is a good climber for a pergola. You’ll be able to pick kiwi fruit in late autumn and winter.
Size: Canes can grow to 10m.
Climate: Temperate zones are most suitable; possible in humid subtropical, cooler parts of Mediterranean and the warmer parts of cool temperate zones.
Frost tolerance: To -10C but fruit will be damaged; ideally no severe frosts and a mild to warm summer.
Flowering season: Middle to late spring.
Fruiting season: Late autumn and winter.
Chilling requirement: At least 500 hours below 10C.
Cross-pollination: Grow a male and a female plant, and brush pollen from male flowers directly onto all the female flowers.
Watering: Very generously while the vine has leaves, less in winter. Soil must drain freely.
Feeding: Feed with a high-nitrogen complete plant food in early spring and again during summer.
Problems: Caterpillars, thrips and fruit fly, grey mould.
PASSIONFRUIT
Passiflora edulis
This is a pretty and very productive vine. Passionfruit mature from late spring to early autumn.
Size: Rampant; can run to 15m.
Climate: Humid subtropical, coastal parts of Mediterranean and the warmest places in temperate zones.
Frost tolerance: Takes the odd -2C but prefers frost-free areas.
Flowering season: Early spring, but rain then can reduce the fruit set.
Fruiting season: Late spring to early autumn.
Cross-pollination: Not strictly needed but hand-pollinate the female flowers to get a good crop. Do this in the morning.
Watering: Keep soil moist from the time flowers appear, increasing water as summer nears. Decrease in autumn. Soil must drain freely.
Feeding: A very heavy feeder that needs extra rich soil. From spring to early autumn (late summer in cool places) apply a high-nitrogen fertiliser.
Problems: Bugs, scale, aphids and mites. Vines are short lived and need to be replaced every 4-5 years.
ROCKMELON
Cucumis melo
Pick your rockmelons in summer and early autumn.
Size: Varies with type; some are bushy but the traditional rockmelon grows on a groundcovering vine.
Climate: Grows best where there is a long, hot, not too rainy summer. Mediterranean, semi-arid and hot arid zones are ideal but rockmelons can be grown in humid subtropical, dry subtropical, temperate and even the warmer parts of cool temperate zones.
Frost tolerance: None. Rockmelons are annual, summer vines.
Flowering season: Spring.
Fruiting season: Summer and early autumn.
Cross-pollination: Not necessary; self-fertile.
Watering: Keep the soil moist, gradually giving more water as summer nears. When fruits are fully formed, reduce the watering.
Feeding: Grow in fertile, well-drained soil enriched with rotted manure and no extra feeding is necessary.
Problems: Mildew, which requires spraying.
Source: Gardening: A Commonsense Guide (Murdoch Books)
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