Kiwi's

[fruitninja]

Hey I'm new!
I just wanted to ask anyone if they knew the best temperature in which I should grow kiwi's.
Thanks bunches!

[fruitdawg101]

Kiwifruit can be propagated from cuttings or seeds. Take hardwood cuttings anytime after the plant has received 500 hours of chilling, or make softwood cuttings in July. Kiwifruits can also be propagated by layering. To grow plants from seed, remove the seeds from a mature fruit and let them dry for two days. Refrigerate them in moist perlite at 40° F for four months. Then plant the seeds no deeper than 1/8 inch in a sterile potting mix and cover the container to keep the humidity high.

Hope this helps!!!;)

[KarenRei]

Do commercial kiwi cultivars actually produce viable seed? I mean, could one just go down to the store, pick up some kiwifruit  and follow that process? (if they need four months of stratification then surely they can take refrigeration during shipping...)  I had just assumed that, like commercial bananas, they'd been bred to the point of infertility.

If it were possible, even if ones odds of getting a good plant were low, it could still be a way to get a male for pollination since kiwi is monoecious.

[greenman62]

Do commercial kiwi cultivars actually produce viable seed? I mean, could one just go down to the store, pick up some kiwifruit  and follow that process? (if they need four months of stratification then surely they can take refrigeration during shipping...)  I had just assumed that, like commercial bananas, they'd been bred to the point of infertility.

If it were possible, even if ones odds of getting a good plant were low, it could still be a way to get a male for pollination since kiwi is monoecious.

i was going to ask this myself.
Kiwi does have seeds
banana from the store do not - im pretty sure.
i dont know if that seed is viable or not?
also, the variety i think is the "Hayward "

 Hayward, does best with a winter rest of 800 hours of chilling (defined as total hours between 32° and 45° F.)

(such as southern California, southern Texas, and Florida), cultivars such as Elmwood, Dexter, Abbott, or Vincent would be more suitable. In very mild winter areas the vines may retain their leaves and fail to flower the following season. Kiwi vines can be successfully grown in large containers.
Seeds from store bought fruit may be planted in the spring
http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/kiwifruit.html

They do need a winter chill in order to produce fruit, so you can’t grow kiwi anywhere warmer than zone 8.
 Different varieties have different temperature requirements, so you should try to buy plants that suit your climate.
http://www.gardeningblog.net/how-to-grow/kiwi/

Fuzzy Female varieties need Fuzzy Males to set fruit
Fuzzy Varieties (Actinidia deliciosa)
http://www.justfruitsandexotics.com/JFE/product-category/berry-plants/kiwi/

Vincent Female Kiwi – Low Chill Kiwi!
Even though she’s named Vincent, this is the female fuzzy kiwi looking for Tomuri. She’s a tasty egg-sized fruit, similar to what you are accustomed to buying in the grocery store. Bred for warmer climates, she requires only 100 chill units, and a growing season of 240 frost-free days to sweeten the fruit. Fruit set is most successful when the winter temperature drops below 32, and Vincent is hardy to 10-15 degrees when mature. Can be grown successfully in a large pot if trellised adequately. Harvest in October. Zones 8-9.
http://www.justfruitsandexotics.com/JFE/product/vincent-kiwi/


How to Grow Kiwi From Store Bought Kiwi Fruit!
http://foodiegardener.com/how-to-grow-kiwi-from-store-bought-kiwi-fruit/

[Nispero]

Hey I'm new! ...

Welcome fruitninja

Do commercial kiwi cultivars actually produce viable seed?

Yes, they do. I'd search for Golden Kiwi as they are way better than the green ones. Even better but maybe more tricky to find are "hardy kiwis" (Actinidia arguta).

If it were possible, even if ones odds of getting a good plant were low, it could still be a way to get a male for pollination since kiwi is dioecious

Your seedlings will develop at very different rates, as male kiwi plants grow much faster than females. So the pretty plants are likely to be males -> Make shure to keep some of the slower growing females.

[KarenRei]

Interesting. Think I'll be picking up some kiwifruit at the grocery store when they reopen     (it's hard to get live plants / cuttings here)

[Galka]

I had a success with sprouting kiwi seeds from store. Now I have 4 nice plants growing but I don't know will they fruit in my area or not. All of them are Gold kiwi seedlings. They take a long time to sprout and the soil needs to be warm. Summertime is the best time to try.

[gunnar429]

I had a success with sprouting kiwi seeds from store. Now I have 4 nice plants growing but I don't know will they fruit in my area or not. All of them are Gold kiwi seedlings. They take a long time to sprout and the soil needs to be warm. Summertime is the best time to try.

Galka, in Ocala you should definitely be able to grow some type of kiwi (even if just the hardy kiwi, which I have found to taste pretty good, and easier to eat skin and all like a grape).  I have no first-hand experience, but each time I asked, I was told they need to be north of Lake Okeechobee, i assume due to chill hour requirements.

[gunnar429]

http://www.justfruitsandexotics.com/JFE/product-category/berry-plants/kiwi/

Seems like JF&E will know a good amount about what does well in your part of the state.  Not so helpful for us down here in zone 10.

[Galka]

I had a success with sprouting kiwi seeds from store. Now I have 4 nice plants growing but I don't know will they fruit in my area or not. All of them are Gold kiwi seedlings. They take a long time to sprout and the soil needs to be warm. Summertime is the best time to try.

Galka, in Ocala you should definitely be able to grow some type of kiwi (even if just the hardy kiwi, which I have found to taste pretty good, and easier to eat skin and all like a grape).  I have no first-hand experience, but each time I asked, I was told they need to be north of Lake Okeechobee, i assume due to chill hour requirements.

I hope so because I have them growing...hardy and fuzzy green and gold. They are not mature yet and I am not sure which one is male or female. Maybe this spring I will get some flowering. 

[stuartdaly88]

Old thread but most relevant I could find using the search.

Im getting a male and female of the large fuzzy (deliciousa) and Im wondering the best way to grow them?

My options are horizontally against a wall or vertically about six feet up sop that fruit would hang overhead. Anyone know how much space and what methods would be best? Im hoping I can grow the male to the side of the female just on a small pice of fence and keep it nicely pruned so it doesnt take up much space but is near to the female.

The place is behind my house between two walls it gets full sun but only early morning really so it shouldnt be too hot right?

any advice appreciated


Iv also heard of growing it like dragon fruit in a make shift weeping tree shape but im assuming that would be far less productive?

[Mike T]

Those New Zealanders take credit for everything. They rebadge the chinese gooseberry as their own.They are famous for being the second country to discover Pavlova and chinese gooseberry goes great on those along with passionfruit of course.

[DimplesLee]

Mike is this just an anti NZ All Blacks thing?   
At home it is a Reds vs Tahs every friggin season...


Hardy kiwis the same kiwis sold as "mini kiwis" in the market?

[Grapebush]

They do need a winter chill in order to produce fruit, so you can’t grow kiwi anywhere warmer than zone 8.
 Different varieties have different temperature requirements, so you should try to buy plants that suit your climate.
http://www.gardeningblog.net/how-to-grow/kiwi/

Don't believe this is absolutely true, as here we have a quite warm climate, and there is many people, producing kiwis sucessfully!

For those asking by store bought fruit, viability of seeds; most of them are viable, and if you remove seeds, clean them very well, and sow right away, they don't need stratification; only if they're allowed to dry, they will need cold stratification.

Hardy kiwis the same kiwis sold as "mini kiwis" in the market?

Yes! They are commercialised as Hardy kiwi, Mini kiwi, Cocktail kiwi, Bayern kiwi (in germany), and a few other names.

[Delvi83]

Kiwi are not tropical plants....they survive 0° F ore less....they want water during summer and need several chilling hours during winter. USDA 8-9 zones are perfect....

[Tropheus76]

Really? I had heard they wouldn't fruit this far south 9b and GA was pretty much the southern limit. I would love to have some Kiwis.

[Grapebush]

Kiwi are not tropical plants....they survive 0° F ore less....they want water during summer and need several chilling hours during winter. USDA 8-9 zones are perfect....

I don't said they are tropical plants! Just said, that there are people producing them successfully in my Island (and we are far from being in a tropical climate)! Maybe there are selected cultivars, that are more adapted to warmer zones, or maybe they don't need that much cold to stimulate flower production...

Next time I pass by one of those spots were they are growing just fine, I will take some pics to share here.

[shaneatwell]

Old thread but most relevant I could find using the search.

Im getting a male and female of the large fuzzy (deliciousa) and Im wondering the best way to grow them?

My options are horizontally against a wall or vertically about six feet up sop that fruit would hang overhead. Anyone know how much space and what methods would be best? Im hoping I can grow the male to the side of the female just on a small pice of fence and keep it nicely pruned so it doesnt take up much space but is near to the female.

The place is behind my house between two walls it gets full sun but only early morning really so it shouldnt be too hot right?

any advice appreciated


Iv also heard of growing it like dragon fruit in a make shift weeping tree shape but im assuming that would be far less productive?

If only there was someone around who could answer...

I've only seen one in san diego and it was trellised.

[Grapebush]

Old thread but most relevant I could find using the search.

Im getting a male and female of the large fuzzy (deliciousa) and Im wondering the best way to grow them?

My options are horizontally against a wall or vertically about six feet up sop that fruit would hang overhead. Anyone know how much space and what methods would be best? Im hoping I can grow the male to the side of the female just on a small pice of fence and keep it nicely pruned so it doesnt take up much space but is near to the female.

The place is behind my house between two walls it gets full sun but only early morning really so it shouldnt be too hot right?

any advice appreciated


Iv also heard of growing it like dragon fruit in a make shift weeping tree shape but im assuming that would be far less productive?

If only there was someone around who could answer...

I've only seen one in san diego and it was trellised.

There are many ways of cultivating it! The most common is is "T" shape trellis, meaning you have a normal vertical trellis, and in the upper part an horizontal section, for it to spread better; a simple vertical trellis is also used, and arround here most people cultivate it in pergola like structure, as they also do for grapevines, for a simple reason; the terrain is somehow scant, and for rentabilizing it the most, they do inter crop. When the vines have no leaves and allow the light to pass, they plant some vegetable crop underneath it, like lettuce, cabage, onion, or even potatoes, and this way they can use it twice.
Another way I've seen arround here, is to make them climb over a big tree, but for this, it's better only allow them to climb a tree, one don't cares to much, as they are very vigorous, and can dammage the tree.

Hope this helps.

[stuartdaly88]

Old thread but most relevant I could find using the search.

Im getting a male and female of the large fuzzy (deliciousa) and Im wondering the best way to grow them?

My options are horizontally against a wall or vertically about six feet up sop that fruit would hang overhead. Anyone know how much space and what methods would be best? Im hoping I can grow the male to the side of the female just on a small pice of fence and keep it nicely pruned so it doesnt take up much space but is near to the female.

The place is behind my house between two walls it gets full sun but only early morning really so it shouldnt be too hot right?

any advice appreciated


Iv also heard of growing it like dragon fruit in a make shift weeping tree shape but im assuming that would be far less productive?

If only there was someone around who could answer...

I've only seen one in san diego and it was trellised.

Suppose there is one way to find out ha ha

Im going to string up wires overhead(I like the idea of tasty fruit hanging near head level!)
About 3m long and 1.5m wide with the wires +-25cm apart going length wise. Will try grow the female stright in the centre using twine to guide it up.

Male I will have about 1m away growing against a wall W1m X H 2m

cant wait to start!

[Doglips]

Correct me if I'm wrong....
Mine seem to burn pretty easy, haven't had a crop off them yet, a little young.   I'd suggest keeping them out of direct light, at least in southern climes.

[Grapebush]

Suppose there is one way to find out ha ha

Im going to string up wires overhead(I like the idea of tasty fruit hanging near head level!)
About 3m long and 1.5m wide with the wires +-25cm apart going length wise. Will try grow the female stright in the centre using twine to guide it up.

Male I will have about 1m away growing against a wall W1m X H 2m

cant wait to start!

You don't need to let the wires so close! 50cm is more than enough!
By your description, I supose you're going to build, the "T" shape trellis; right? If yes, and with 3m long, you can plant the female on one end, and the male in the other end, and then guide them in each others direction, and this way you ensure a better polination.

Correct me if I'm wrong....
Mine seem to burn pretty easy, haven't had a crop off them yet, a little young.   I'd suggest keeping them out of direct light, at least in southern climes.

If you have too high temperatures, with very low air humidity, and especialy if the plants, are not very well hydrated, yes, they can burn it's leaves very easily.
So if the temperatures are going very high, keep them well watered.

[stuartdaly88]

Suppose there is one way to find out ha ha

Im going to string up wires overhead(I like the idea of tasty fruit hanging near head level!)
About 3m long and 1.5m wide with the wires +-25cm apart going length wise. Will try grow the female stright in the centre using twine to guide it up.

Male I will have about 1m away growing against a wall W1m X H 2m

cant wait to start!

You don't need to let the wires so close! 50cm is more than enough!
By your description, I supose you're going to build, the "T" shape trellis; right? If yes, and with 3m long, you can plant the female on one end, and the male in the other end, and then guide them in each others direction, and this way you ensure a better polination.

Correct me if I'm wrong....
Mine seem to burn pretty easy, haven't had a crop off them yet, a little young.   I'd suggest keeping them out of direct light, at least in southern climes.

If you have too high temperatures, with very low air humidity, and especialy if the plants, are not very well hydrated, yes, they can burn it's leaves very easily.
So if the temperatures are going very high, keep them well watered.

Thanks for the tips!

[Grapebush]

As promised the other day, I'm comming back with some images of kiwis doing just nice, here in my Island. Today I passed by a place where they have kiwis growing on a pergola like structure, as I had also mentioned before.
In these images you can see, the type of structure, how vigorous they are (look at the tickness of old stems), some fruit still hanging (even if it's the very end of season, and the vines are already trying to put new growth, as you can also see), and the lenght people prune them arround here...

[Tropheus76]

Wow, impressive. Do you know what variety those are that they have fruit in zone 11?