A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2003 Kiwi ?'s

GardenCrazy we were talking about Kiwi's in the other area and thought I would bring it here for further discussion.

I am planting various fruit trees and was wanting more info. about these Actinidia Arguta Kiwi that you grow. I buy a lot of Kiwi so maybe this would be a good one to plant. I live in Calif. so I hope they don't need to get very cold to start a good production.

OK CatLover...here we go...

#1 Are the outsides edible or do you have to peel them as well?
The whole fruit is edible....no peeling needed.

#2 I read something about having to plant a male vine as well .....is that what you did?
Yes.. that's true....you need a male and a female plant to produce fruit. I have both, but for the life of me I can't remember which one is which!!

#3 Are they susceptible to diseases and insects?
I haven't had any problems with diseases and the only problems I've had with insects is the wasps, flies, etc that love any fruit that has fallen and is rotting on the ground.

#4 Do you trellis yours?
Yes...they really need to be trellised....on a fence, an arbor, something.
If you follow this link Kiwi on back patio and look at the last picture on the page you will see my kiwi.

#5 Any helpful hints on fertilizer...watering?
The only fertilizer mine gets is the same that I put out on my lawn and garden, a 10-10-10. I only water if we are going through a drought and the leaves start falling off. Kiwi don't like to stand in water, so make sure that there is good drainage.

#6 Think you stated yours are almost finished producing. So the fruit is ripe in the summer?
Yes, they are usually finished producing by the end of August/beginning of September.

#7 How can you tell if they are ready to pick if they are green upon picking?
You can usually tell by the feel of them. They need to be just barely pliable. You actually pick them before they are ripe and let them ripen much as you do bananas.

My Kiwi are planted on the West side of my house. They get sun from noon until the the sun sets.

And feel free to pick my brain about anything... well... just about anything...

I know alot about a few things and a little about alot of things