Kiwi Plant
A Beginner's Guide To Growing A Kiwi Plant
Growing a kiwi plant is one of the most rewarding plants you can choose to grow due to the delightfully delicious fruit that it produces. There are two different types; the fuzzy kiwi and the hardy kiwi. The fuzzy kiwi is vine vigorous until it reaches around 0 degrees, while the hardy kiwi can handle temperatures of -25 degrees. The fruit of the latter is smaller but it has a smooth skin like a grape that doesn't have to be peeled and it is extremely sweet.
Picking The Perfect Planting Location
A hardy kiwi plant can be grown happily in shade or sun but a fuzzy kiwi plant prefers to have a location with full sunshine. They grow equally as well in a light or a heavy soil as long as it is very well drained. If you allow it enough space it can grow to be 8 to 15 feet tall. The male used for pollination needs to be planted within 50 feet of the female. Only the female produces fruit so they are the only ones that require a trellis. A kiwi plant can easily be used to cover a fence if the vines are allowed to grow.
The soil should have a high organic matter content, rotted manure or a bit of compost can help with this. When you are ready to plant your kiwi plant, dig a hole just slightly larger than the roots to accommodate it nicely. It is important to not let the root of the plant dry out. Soak the area completely after planting.
Fertilizing Your Kiwi Plant
A kiwi plant enjoys fertilization in the spring with a fertilizer that is very high in nitrogen. Be sure to evenly spread this out around the vineyard area to feed the complete root system.
Your kiwi plant is a shallow rooted type of plant and requires to be irrigated in the summer. You should give it a deep watering twice a week unless you are blessed with a good rainfall, then one watering during that week will be fine. Straw or compost can be used to mulch around the plant to help deter weeds and maintain moisture.
Your Kiwi Plant Needs Pruning
You need to train your kiwi plant from the beginning. When you plant it, cut it down to about one foot high. When a shoot grows, tie it to the post and remove other shoots. Once one vine has reached all the way to the top of whatever support system you are using, tip it back, then allow a couple of buds to grow and continue to train them on the beams or wires. Use heavy string or plastic tape and tie the vines from your kiwi plant loosely.
This plant takes a bit of time to master but by at the close of the second season you should have a well established frame. Prior to spring of your second season, cut back two cordons to 10 to 20 buds. These will produce your first fruit.
Your kiwi plant will produce flowers and fruit only on wood that has been grown from the season prior. It will not produce either the first year. After a few years you will need to heavily prune weak wood to allow for strong new canes. Additionally, any broken or twisted canes need to be removed. The more familiar you become with your kiwi plant, the more you will learn what should stay and what should go. It is very important to not prune too early in the spring when growth begins or it can bleed and damage the plant.
Fuzzy Kiwi Plant Winter Tips
Your fuzzy kiwi plant can have the lower trunk damaged from frost. Often in the winter, it can be very sunny throughout the day and then get extremely cold at night that causes the trunk to freeze. To avoid damage it is recommended that you use an insulating material and wrap the bottom two feet of the trunk and mulch heavily.
The kiwi plant may not be the easiest plant to get growing at first but it definitely has its sweet rewards. There is nothing better than a plant that produces such a delicious fruit that is so good for you.