Have you ever wished you could take a bite of the sweet and tangy kiwi after a long, demanding day, knowing it came straight from your own backyard? Kiwi, with a fuzzy exterior and delicious interior, offers a refreshing reward.
But did you know that kiwi fruit not only satisfies your taste buds but also fulfills your nutrition requirements? Yes, this oval-shaped fruit is surprisingly loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants, and it's easy to grow at home as well. So, without further delay, let's learn the basics of planting kiwi at home.
How Do Kiwi Grow?
Kiwis are small fruits with a big flavor punch. Their flesh is a vibrant green color, dotted with tiny black seeds, which taste like a delightful mix of sweet, tart, and tangy. While the fuzzy brown skin is edible, most people prefer to peel it before eating.
Kiwis grow on vigorous climbing vines. These vines need a sunny spot with well-drained soil and a sturdy support structure to sprawl on. Most kiwi plants are male or female, requiring a mix of both for fruit production unless you choose a self-fertile variety.
Patience is the key when it comes to growing kiwi. They take a few years to mature, but with proper care, including pruning and watering, you can enjoy these refreshing and nutritious fruits in your own backyard.
Kiwi Vine Care
Kiwi is a native of eastern Asia but will grow well almost anywhere with proper care and sufficient sun. Here's the breakdown on how to grow kiwi-
• Pick a sunny place to plant with something strong for your kiwi vine to climb on. This could be a fence, a big pole, or a special climbing frame for plants.
• Make sure you have both boy and girl kiwi plants, unless you choose a special kind that doesn't need both. Bees like to visit kiwi flowers, and they help the girl plants make fruit.
• Be patient! as it takes a few years for kiwi vines to grow big enough to make fruit.
Light
Kiwis are sun-loving plants and prefer a location with full sun to partial shade. Every day, they need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight for optimal growth and fruit production. However, in very hot climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent scorching.
Kiwis require well-draining, fertile soil because poor drainage can lead to root rot. Therefore, ensure the planting site allows for excess water to drain freely. Also. it requires regular amending of the soil with compost or aged manure before planting, which can improve drainage and provide essential nutrients.
Kiwis prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 6.0-7.0. You can test your soil's pH to determine if any adjustments are needed.
Water
Kiwis enjoy consistent moisture but dislike soggy soil. So, aim to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. During the growing season (spring and summer), water regularly, especially during hot and dry periods. Avoid letting the soil completely dry out, as this can stress the vine and impact fruit production.
As winter approaches and the vine goes dormant, watering frequency can be reduced.
Temperature and Humidity
Kiwis prefer warm temperatures but can tolerate some mild frost. The ideal temperature range for growth is between 70-85°F (21-29°C). However, some hardy kiwi varieties like A arguta can withstand colder temperatures down to -20°F (-29°C).
Furthermore, kiwis appreciate moderate humidity levels. So, if you live in a dry climate, occasional misting can help maintain some moisture around the leaves.
Fertilizer
Kiwis are moderate feeders and benefit from regular fertilization throughout the growing season. A balanced fertilizer formulated for fruit trees or vines can be used. Apply fertilizer according to the product's instructions, typically a few times during spring and summer.
Avoid over-fertilizing, which can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of fruit production. By providing your kiwi vine with the right combination of light, soil, water, temperature, and fertilizer, you can create an environment that encourages healthy growth and bountiful harvests of these delicious fruits.
There are over 60 different species of kiwi, but only a few are cultivated for their fruit. Here are the most common types of kiwi:
Green kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa)
Golden kiwi (Actinidia chinensis)
Hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta)
Red kiwi (Actinidia melanandra)
Pruning
Winter is the prime time to prune your kiwi vine for optimal fruit production. But how do kiwi grow in winter, I hear you ask? Pruning during the vine's dormant period (late winter or early spring) allows for proper healing before spring growth.
The first year focuses on establishing a strong central leader. Choose the most vigorous and straight shoot as your permanent trunk, and gently prune away all other competing shoots.
This encourages concentrated growth in the main trunk. Therefore, throughout the summer, look for excessively long or overgrown shoots and prune them to make them manageable.
Finally, the key winter pruning involves cutting back the main stems, including the chosen leader from year one, to just 8-10 nodes each. These nodes are where new growth and future fruit-bearing branches will emerge, setting the stage for a bountiful harvest.
Propagating Kiwi Vine
There are two main methods for propagating kiwi vines: seeds and cuttings. While planting kiwi seeds is a fun experiment, it's a slower process, and the resulting vine might not be true to the parent plant (meaning it might not produce fruit or might produce fruit of a different quality).
Cuttings, on the other hand, are a more reliable way to get a new vine that's genetically identical to the parent plant, and they'll mature faster.
Propagation by Cuttings:
This is the preferred method for most home growers as it's faster and more reliable.
How to Grow Giwi Fruit by Cuttings?
• Take cuttings from healthy, mature kiwi vines in the late spring or early summer.
• Choose softwood cuttings with a few nodes and leaves.
• Dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional but can improve success rate).
• Plant the cuttings in a pot with a well-draining potting mix and keep them moist.
• Provide indirect sunlight and maintain consistent moisture.
• Once roots develop (usually in 6-8 weeks), transplant the new vine into a larger pot or your desired location.
No matter which method you choose, with proper care and a little patience, you can successfully propagate your own kiwi vine and enjoy this delicious fruit straight from your garden!
While kiwi seeds are viable for growing your own vine, it's important to know it might take longer to see fruit compared to buying a mature plant. However, it can be a fun experiment! Here's how to plant kiwi from seeds:
Seed Collection & Cleaning:
Scoop out the seeds from a ripe kiwi and separate them from the fleshy pulp. You can rinse them gently in water to remove any remaining fruit residue.
Germination:
There are two ways to germinate your seeds. The first option is to place them on a damp paper towel inside a sealed plastic bag. Keep it in a warm location with indirect sunlight. Alternatively, you can sow the seeds directly into a pot filled with moist, well-draining potting mix.
Planting & Care:
Once the seeds sprout, wait until they have a few sets of true leaves before transplanting them into individual pots. Provide them with plenty of sunlight, well-drained soil, and consistent moisture before kiwi growing begins.
Remember, these young vines are slow growers, so be patient! You'll likely need to wait several years before they reach maturity and potentially produce fruit.
Even though kiwi vines are resilient, they can still face some challenges from pests and diseases. Here's a breakdown of the most common ones:
Pests:
• Thrips: These tiny insects feed on the leaves, sucking out sap and leaving behind silvery-white markings.
• Spider Mites: These minuscule mites suck sap, causing leaves to turn yellow and drop prematurely.
• Birds: Birds like finches and starlings might enjoy feasting on your ripening kiwi fruits.
Fungal Diseases:
• Root Rot: This fungal disease thrives in soggy soil, causing wilting and discoloration on roots and the crown of the vine.
• Botrytis Fruit Rot: This fungal disease leads to grayish mold developing on the fruit, making it inedible.
Prevention:
• Proper Drainage: Ensure your kiwi vine has well-drained soil to avoid fungal diseases.
• Strong Support Structure: Provide a sturdy support system to keep the vine healthy and discourage pests.
• Monitoring: Regularly inspect your vine for signs of pests or diseases.
• Insecticidal Soap or Neem Oil Spray: These can help manage thrips and spider mites if spotted early.
• Bird netting: Drape netting over your ripening fruits to deter birds.
Kiwi Vines Common Problems & Solutions
Kiwi vines are enthusiastic climbers, and to help them thrive, you'll need to provide them with a sturdy support structure. This could be a fence, a large climbing frame, or even an attractive archway in your garden.
The type of support you choose can actually be influenced by what you want to get out of your Kiwi plant.
For lush foliage and a shady retreat, train the vine to climb vertically on a tall structure like a trellis or an arch. This will encourage the kiwi to grow upwards, creating a beautiful wall of leaves that will provide a cool, shaded area in your garden.
If you aim to harvest delicious kiwi fruits, then a horizontal support system like a fence is ideal. You can gently train the branches of the vine to grow sideways in a fan-like shape known as an espalier.
This technique allows for better sunlight penetration throughout the entire vine, crucial for encouraging flower and fruit development.
