Raising Hardy Kiwi

[drobinson]

This is the first year that my Hardy Kiwi vines have really produced. They are a great plant for those who like new things. The fruit gets about the size of large grapes, grows in bunches like grapes, is green, looks like and tastes like the store bought Kiwi when cut open but is fuzzless and can be eaten skin and all when ripe. I took a branch loaded with fruit up to the Cooperative Extension service in town and they had never seen one grown in this part of the country (central AR). If anyone is interested in growing this very hardy vine, I will be glad to supply more info.

[wildseed2u]

Hi I live in Missouri I've been wanting to start a few for myself many for home produce, jellies and such along with fresh eating. I have been trying to get seeds as I can't afford to by plants, I'm disabled and living on a small check, and buying potted plants would just cost to much. What variety are you growing, I have some vines from a fuzzy type started, but my zone is the wrong one for this type I started them from seed which came from a fruit that I bought at walmart. Even though they are very nice plants and are doing well they just can't take zone 5 and I would like to get some seeds or rooted cutings.
George W. Z5 Mo.

[drobinson]

wildseed2u: I have no experience growing hardy kiwi from their seeds. It would probably work with the small hardy kind as well as with the larger variety. One problem I forsee in trying to grow your own is they require both a male and female vine to produce. I can't tell by looking at my vines which is which. When I ordered the plants, they sent a male and two females, clearly marked. I'm sure one can tell when they are mature and one vine produces fruit (the female) and the other male does not produce anything but flowers. You have my curiosity peaked and I will try growing some plants with the seeds. They are still producing fruit this summer.
The variety that I am growing is Actinidia arguta, and is native to northern China, Korea, Siberia and possibly Japan. This is why they are cold hardy. I would be glad to send you some seeds to experiement with if we can figure out how to share addresses without putting it on the forum.

[GreenZone]

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[drobinson]

An update to those interested in raising hardy Kiwi: I ate my last fruit of my Kiwi on Nov. 8, '05. They started producing edible fruit sometime in August, I think it was, and I picked the last ones about 2 weeks ago. They ripen on the vine over a long period. They will also keep in the frig. for a long time, but will ripen outside the frig. in a shorter time. They do taste very similiar to the fuzzy store bought variety.
I saved seed from the "last" ripe fruit, dried them, and stored in an envelope until spring when I plan to plant them in my starter pots and see what happens. If anyone knows when to plant, how deep, etc., let me know. Thanks!

[JereGettle]

I have been buying them at the stores trader joes and wal-mart...

they are so delicious! I prefer to those fuzzy things!

Would love to get some plants going, how many years to production?
Thanks,
Jere

[tashak]

Cool--I'll try starting some from seed from supermarket kiwi; I love garbage gardening. Doubt they would do well outside here in zone 6 winters (ducks and hen's waterdish is already frozen in early AM) but they might make a nice house plant for a year until too big.
Perhaps an agricultural Cooperative Extension Office in a warm zone would have their seedstarting info re time to plant, depth?
Does anyone know if the larger golden kiwi are hardy or not? Are they Australian?
Found some last year in supermarket and they too were good eating.

[lextra]

Hi! I've been reading up on Kiwi since I intend to get a couple also. They must have very sturdy trellis support since they grow to 25 feet (they are a vine but get quite huge) Some producers actually use trees to support them...The fuzzy one aren't hardy in this area (I'm in zone 6b MO bootheel) but I think they can be grown in 8,9,&10. They produce in 2 years (most sold are 2 yr plants). Most say the smaller, hardy ones are sweeter then the fuzzy ones. Don't know about that never tasted one yet but hope to soon.

[drobinson]

Good for you lextra, and good luck on your Kiwi venture. Yes, the small ones are sweeter than the big fuzzy ones, at least if you let them get good and ripe. They do make lots of heavy, vigorous vines, and will need very sturdy supports. I keep mine pruned back to keep some control and not let things get too out of hand - and yard...

[Ozark Matt]

planted my hardy plants 2 years ago as seedlings. They say they take 3-6 years to produce. mine haven't yet but hope they will in next year or two! plants look good even after most horrible drought we had here on mountain last year.

[TastyofHasty]

BUMP!

Hey, Doc Robinson & anybody else ... how are hardy kiwis doing now? Where did you get them!!?? What sort of soil do they like (I have lots of clay & rocks! but central NW Arkansas)?

[justdoit]

We had a couple of the vines back in early 90s. They came with instructions to prepare the soil to 2 feet depth with rotted manure and compost. My DH built a heavy arbor of cedar logs to hold them up. They grew like gangbusters and produced fruit for about three years until the male plant died for whatever reason. The male was never as strong as the female plant. The female vine had a trunk larger than my wrist. I am sure there must be newer varieties around by now.

[Thean]

Howdy Jere, Drobinson,
A. arguta is not hardy enough for me in Alberta. However, I have success growing A. kolomita. The fruits are without fuzz too. I bought the plants from the store as rooted cuttings. They fruited for me the following year. There is a Japanese A. arguta that is self fruitful. It goes by the name Isai or Issai (pronouce e-sai) which in Japanese (i was told) means one year old.
Peace
Thean
PS. Drobinson, I grew mine as a miniature bush in a container. Since the flowers are borne on last year's wood, careful pruning can make a bush fruitful.

[faye53]

My husband wanted me to order them from Guerneys I believe or maybe it was stark bros. I was not sure about that. It said it was native to either Australia or New Zealand. I am in lower Alabama. Do you think they would grow here?

[Thean]

Howdy Faye,
Kiwi is native to China. The kiwi you buy in the stores was originally known as Chinese Gooseberry and it was not a popular fruit until the New Zealanders christianed it Kiwi - after their National bird.
Peace and have a good weekend
Thean

[dandelion meadow]

This nursery, Burnt Ridge, has several different kiwi types. One of the hardy, fuzzless ones, Issai, needs no pollenator!
http://www.burntridgenursery.com/fruitingPlants/index_product.asp?dept=25&parent=23
I've ordered other plants from them before and been very satisfied with the quality.