Kiwi, from planting to an abundant harvest

Kiwi is a delicious fruit to savor and it’s also full of vitamin C.

A summary of kiwi facts

Name – Actinidia chinensis
Family – Actinidiaceae
Type – vine, fruit tree

Height – 12-16 feet (4-5 m)
Exposure – full sun
Soil – Rich, well drained

Foliage – deciduous – Flowering – Spring – Harvest – fall

Discover how to grow Actinidia, the kiwi tree, and produce nice kiwis as seasons come and go.

• Better for very cold climates: hardy kiwi

Planting kiwi

Kiwi is preferably planted in spring, especially in regions with harsh and cold winter weather.

In milder, more temperate climates, you’ll also succeed if planting your kiwi in fall, of course checking that it won’t be freezing in the following few weeks.

• Kiwi loves spots that receive a lot of sun, even if part shade in the afternoon is a boon if ever the heat rises too much.
• Look for a spot that is sheltered from strong winds.
• A proper blend of garden soil, sand and soil mix is the perfect combination when planting.
• Adding fertilizer upon planting is also excellent to answer future needs.

Although most people regard it as an exotic, tropical fruit, kiwi can grow in temperate climates and productivity can be impressive when pollination was successful.

• The end of winter is when kiwi is most sensitive to frost, when the buds are bursting with sap.

Starting kiwi from seed

• Also possible: consider starting your kiwi from seed! Much more fun, but you’ll need much more patience: it takes up to 7 years to get your first flowers!

Pollinating kiwi, male and female

Kiwi is a fruit vine for which pollination is crucial and probably the most difficult practice to master.

First of all, you’ll have to plant 1 male specimen in a cluster of 4 to 5 female specimens, or, simply stated, you won’t have any fruit.

Wind often isn’t enough to ensure pollination, so you’ll have to invite bees over for the work to be done.

The first kiwi fruits appear after several years, usually at least 4 to 5 years.

Note that male and female specimens can be told apart by looking at the flowers:

• Male specimens bear cream white flowers with many gold yellow stamens.
• Female specimens bear white flowers, and each flower ovary carries 20 to 30 styles or stigmas.
• Male specimens bear many more flowers than female ones do.

Self-pollinating kiwi

Self-pollinating kiwi varieties have also been developed. They bear both male and female flowers on the same stem. One such variety is the ‘Solissimo’.

However, self-pollinating kiwi varieties tend to be much less productive, according to those who have actually tried planting them. Cross-pollination works much better.

Growing and caring for kiwi

After having planted your kiwi and provided proper growing conditions, there are a few thing you must check on every now and then.

Follow this short list to ensure growth, pollination and fruit formation for your Actinidia plants.

1 – Training your kiwi is the first thing to do, because this vine doesn’t wrap up around any lattice on its own.

• Prepare any sort of lattice, pergola or overhang that will ensure your vine has plenty of space to climb on.

2 – Kiwi needs water, especially during the first years after planting.

• Water often, especially in case of elevated temperatures.

3- Kiwi requires fertile soil to develop well.

• Organic fertilizer granules at the end of winter will help the plant stock up on nutrients.

4 – Lastly, winter protection for cool climates in winter can be relevant.

• Simply mulch the base of your kiwi with a fair layer of mulch.
• If it falls below freezing for many weeks in a row, plant hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta) instead.

Pruning kiwi: timing and method

Pruning kiwi plays an important part in fruit formation for your actinidia.

The right time to prune your kiwi plant is after the harvest, anytime from December to February while avoiding frost spells.

• Select one branch, the largest and most vigorous one, to become the main trunk and structural branch.
• Prune back secondary branches that have born fruit, ensuring that about 3 to 4 eyes remain for future budding.

In summer, it also makes sense to prune your kiwi to guide its prolific growth. The ideal timing is generally July, when fruits aren’t yet much larger than cherries.

• On each new shoot, keep only 4 or 5 buds to increase fruit formation.

Harvesting kiwi, timing and method

Kiwi, in the Northern hemisphere, is harvested before the first winter frost spells, most often sometime in November.

A good way to know if your kiwi is mature enough for harvest is to run your nail on the surface of the fruit: if it yields under that slight pressure, the time is ripe.

Kiwi fruits won’t resist the cold in winter, so everything must be harvested before the first onslaught of freezing bouts.

Productivity

Productivity can be exceptional, even in places with shorter summers: in the United Kingdom, Northern France and in Northern US states, just two or three mature specimens can give you up to 200 pounds of harvest (100 kg).

The richer the soil, the greater the harvest.

How to keep kiwi fruits for longer

To keep your kiwi fruits over the winter as long as possible, store them in a cool spot (40°F (5°C), give or take a few degrees) and well ventilated. You’ll see that they’ll keep for several months and still be as savory as ever.

• After the harvest, you can keep your kiwi for many months and savor their health benefits.

The first kiwi harvest, however, will only occur after a few years. Usually, this means you have to wait at least 4 to 5 years.