Intro
Kiwi’s are often thought of as an exotic treat from afar, but did you know they can grow happily in the Pacific Northwest!! These plants are hardy from zones 6 to 9, vigorous and productive!! Kiwi’s are high in vitamin C and K and have a wonderful mild sweet, tangy flavour similar to grapes and gooseberries!
History
Kiwi’s are native to China and date back to the 12th Century. They are now grown commercially in New Zealand and California. Exploration, cultivation and hybridization has lead to the popularity of the fruit world wide and now there are more than 60 different species!
Planting
Your Kiwi or Actinidia variety will appreciate a full sun to part shade position (at least 6 hours of sun), with something strong to grow on to. Well draining rich loam will have your plant thriving. Water regularly (especially when you have a crop of fruit) and feed with a good vine and berry food containing ample potassium and magnesium in spring but don’t feed past the middle of June. Mulch around the base of the plant will help conserve water.
Container
If you have a large enough container, similar in size to a half oak barrel you can grow a kiwi for a while. They are beasts, so you will need something very strong for them to climb on such as an iron arch or a very sturdy pergola or fence. Some varieties will get quite large and heavy so you will need to eventually plant in the ground or root prune to maintain the size.
Pollination
For most Kiwi varieties, you will need a female and a male vine. The female will produce the fruit. There are some varieties like ‘Issai’ that are self fruitful, but they will often produce even more fruit if a male helps with the pollinating. Not only do you need the right plants, but also a healthy bee population to carry the pollen!! Many different bees and other pollinators are attracted to the simple flowers of Kiwi vines and the wonderful fragrance. During flowering, bring out your chair and a cup of tea and observe the amazing activity around your Kiwi plants!
Pruning
Kiwi’s are very vigorous growers and are pruned very much like you would a grape. They flower and fruit off of one year old wood so you want to not only prune for height, but to encourage and renew the vines. For Female plants and Self Fruitful varieties, pruning is done both in winter and a lighter prune at the end of July. For Male plants, you want to encourage as much flowering as you can so I would only prune at the end of July. Make sure your winter pruning is done in January or early enough in February that the sap isn’t running. Like grapes, Birch, and Japanese Maples, you want to do a winter test cut first and then observe the cut end to make sure there is no excessive dripping. Prune to remove 1/3 of the wood and to encourage more side shoots to form, leaving most of the vigorous 1 year old shoots and thinning some of the previously fruited shoots out.
Harvesting – Pick fruit early fall (Sept-Oct) as soon as there is a slight bit of give when gently squeezed. They fruit and size up very quickly after pollination but need the warmth of a long summer to ripen and develop sugars. Prune or snap off the vine when ripe and make sure all fruit is removed before frost. Any unripe fruit can continue to ripe on the counter or in a cool (not cold) area, with frequent turning and observation.