Growing hardy kiwis

Hardy kiwis (Acinidia arguta) are such an easy plant to grow and they give a huge harvest of delicious mini-kiwis at the end of teh growing season. In our urban backyard we grow them against a wall and a fence where they take up very little space and benefit from teh sheltered microclimate.
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[@WibblyWobbly]

Hi, actinidias arguta and kolomicta are native to my area. Difference in taste between varieties can be quite big. it can be very different in sweetness, tartness and flavour. Some are more like pineapple, some more like apple, and some like very sweet kiwi, or not sweet but tart kiwi. They are hardy to at least 35C, which is in our place. Kolomikta survives to 40C. If you pick them 1-2 weeks before they ripe, they will store for a bit aswell.

[@jenniferdrake-grizzell9045]

We live in Kentucky and this is the first year our kiwi plant has produced fruit. We are excited to try them. Thank you for the harvest info!

[@jaycole5353]

How did they do and how long to get fruit. We are also in Kentucky

[@sherryglisson4885]

Miss you can laugh at me if you like but here is how my attic kiwi vine experience has been....i planted a female plant. 9 years ago and have it on a circular trellis about 8 feet tall or 2.2 meters to you guys...it has grown to cover both the trellis and the front quarter of my house giving me shade and cooling my front room in summer....i have to prune it at least twice a year or the whips will grow and cover the nearby tree...im in the US in TN and it seems to love the hot humid weather and so far has lived through the winter when it got to minus 3 degrees below zero

[@debiheeb-koller1239]

Thank you for explaining how you grow your hardy kiwi! Mine are just getting started and will be growing next to a fence, in partial shade. Hope to get fruit this year!

[@HowWereLivingGardeningChannel]

Hoping to plant some next spring

[@ShotgunAndAShovel]

I planted my kiwi vines in a new orchard that was overrun with seedling black walnut trees and roots. they are doing really well in year two.

[@erinbuyense4745]

I just ordered a bunch of cuttings I will try to get rooted. Here is to hoping I don't kill them!

[@mizzbootng123]

My hardy Kiwis are grown here in the USA in zone 7. I allow the fruits to soften on the vine -which stay on the vine from September until the end of October..they are very very sweet then.

[@GrownToCook]

Good to hear they do well for you too! Thanks for sharing!

[@johnvaughn3489]

Do you plant them in full sun, partial shade, cover in winter? I'll be planting some in April zone 8A NW corner of Louisiana. Thanks for sharing

[@The_Absent_MindsetReality]

If you happen to look at your msgs: Did yours say they were "prolific," kiwis? I got mine from Home Depot.

[@sheilahenry7279]

@@johnvaughn3489 I’m in Ms. & wanting to plant these. Wondering how your kiwi did? Also, I’m wanting to plant on my chain link fence & wondered if possible w/out being a crazy mess. I like the too many plants look. I’d actually like to plant something lower in front of these if you have a suggestion.

[@SJsjaah]

I have a Bavarian Kiwi that looks like those. This year, after 6 years it had a good harvest. I made chutney from unripe one I picked in Sept. Yesterday I picked the last of them to eat fresh.

[@GrownToCook]

Sandra Johnson Chutney sounds like a good idea!

[@NickSBailey]

Going to have to try growing these good to have late fruits to extend the season and I do like kiwis.

[@EmbracingHarvest]

I CANT WAIT until these start producing in my garden. I have two plants growing up a trellis and have been patiently waiting for some fruit. Hopefully this year 🙏

[@Chewie576]

It took me 5 years for mine to fruit.

[@jenniferdavis4720]

In Massachusetts, the hardy kiwi is considered an invasive plant-perhaps due to the vigorous growth of meters of vines you mentioned.

[@tatymschneider6681]

Oh this a marvelous fruit find for me! I have been doing some research on cold-hardy fruits for a zone 5 garden and these sound like they would be a great addition! Now I just have to find a supplier in Canada! Thank you for sharing so much about them. I always enjoy your videos. (-:

[@GrownToCook]

Thank you so much, I'm happy to hear you like the videos! The kiwi plants should definitely be hardy enough for you, but like here, spring frosts might be a problem? For that they might need a somewhat sheltered location.

[@grandforkian]

I have been growing hardy kiwis (Actinidia kolomikta 'Arctic Beauty') in Zone 5 in BC for quite a few years. Fruit matures in late July. I wait for the fruit to fall and pick up off the ground. It is a beautiful vine and well worth growing, even without fruit production. I live a stone's throw from a nursery (Bron & Sons) that wholesales them to retail nurseries. I would think that you could just ask the nurseries in your area if they buy from Bron & Sons, if you have not been able to find any by now.

[@rugvedkulkarni1593]

In Ontario Connon nursuries carries the self fertile issia variety of hardy kiwi. I was not able to find a male pollinator if it though.

[@da1stamericus]

I am so happy to have found another person from the netherlands on here. Great video. Do you ever do tours?

[@GrownToCook]

da1stamericus Hi!! Yes, we have an open day once a year - this year it’s 7th July: www.tuinsmakelijk.nl/cursussen/

[@kimuseni]

Thanks for the info. We are planning on growing these plants also

[@roberth.9558]

Nicely presented, thank you.

[@sarahebart]

Thank you! Btw, you can eat fuzzy kiwi skin! You get triple the fiber that way. Jjust a little bit of fuzz to get past your mouth and you're good to go =)

[@judy3460]

Isn’t it sour? The skin I mean

[@He4vyD]

There are other sour things with fuzzy fur you put in your mouth without complaining...

[@markduric7812]

I always eat it

[@tiarianamanna973]

good info :) im about to get some hardy kiwis this summer (both actinidia kolomikta and arguta).. in finlans! if i remember maybe i ll come n leave an update after a couple of years here; never know ;)

[@mgarretter1]

Liked your trellis design. I’m going to do it that way. Thank you. Simple but effective

[@GrownToCook]

It works well for us :)

[@sheilahenry7279]

We did this only using scuppernongs on our really old chicken coop. I love the country look.

[@weekend_art]

After this video last year I bought Scarlet Red and her boyfriend from Lubera. Now waiting impatiently for them to start flowering, haha. We're in Haarlem, so even milder climate than yours and I'm full of hope :)

[@GrownToCook]

That's lovely!

[@robertpowell2225]

Such a lovely video keep up the good work!

[@JohnDoe_88]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing I planted am Issai kiwi a few years ago it's healthy but only has produced the start of small fruit but so far have always dropped off and not produced... Although I'm waiting to see if/how much it will produce by itself

[@gabrielg.2401]

An amazing garden.

[@yeboscrebo4451]

Ready to plant a hardy kiwi plant where I live in Sacramento California

[@GrownToCook]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@GrownToCook]

What varieties are available for you?

[@manunegi3393]

Very informative from india

[@TheBigjay927]

'nice............thanks for sharing. tried growing a couple in California; but they got baked by the sun. If they can tolerate shade I'll try again.

[@GrownToCook]

I think that in your climate they would probably indeed do better in shade as the light intensity is probably much higher too :)

[@przybyla420]

In a deserty part of California I would establish it in a microclimate in amongst other vegetation, or where it gets scattered light and/or only a few hours of straight sunlight. They don’t seem to like dry heat.

[@ShotgunAndAShovel]

ty for this video. it was really helpful!

[@bulbulislam7240]

lot of thanks

[@GordonjSmith1]

Very interesting video! I am planning a garden in the Nordics, and I am trying to 'spread' the harvest across the year. We considered a grape vine (because we like them !), but I think this fits the plan rather better. I suppose that as you are making jam they don't freeze very well?

[@NasierOmran]

Mine are starting their second full season. I bought them very small so i hope they start climbing and grow this year. How much would you say they grow in one year?

[@Chewie576]

I'm growing kiwis and it took 5 years to get flowers and fruit. I'm not sure how they pollinate since no bees were seen on any flowers. I had one poorly damaged probably due to too much rain. All of the stems/leaves look dead. They seem sensitive. Hopefully I'll have my first taste this fall.

[@GrownToCook]

Ours took quite a while to start flowering as well, but have born fruit ever since - I hope the same happens in your garden :) Normally bees are really attracted to the fragrant flowers, but if weather conditions are poor, it might affect pollination.

[@michelemarble6799]

Thanks for all the info. I live in Maine USA and just bought 2 Issai plants that are self pollinating. Hope w do you preserve the fruit?

[@raymondkyruana118]

Have the red hardy kiwi started to flower this year? Love your channel!

[@GrownToCook]

Thanks Niko! No, unfortunately it has not flowered because the new growth this spring has been damaged by frosts in May - otherwise we would have gotten our first harvest :(

[@familyfruit9833]

This is something I've been hoping to add to our garden, but have had some doubts about the scale and vigour. Great to see how you're doing it.

[@GrownToCook]

The kiwi is indeed a very vigorous plant and it needs to be pruned regularly to keep it managable :)

[@entrthedragon]

They grow seriously fast . I’ve got them on a hill growing up my porch. So they get water but no soggy ground. In growing season you might have to trim them back every week. They grow like weeds. Not aesthetically pleasing like an ivy but hopefully the fruit is worth that trade off. I have two giant females, unfortunately no male so the tiny fruit just drops.

[@davidlenoir5961]

Where are you from? Nice video... I'm nearly at the same stage as you but on more varieties, planted in Switzerland... I'll be happy to share expériences and knowledge.

[@GrownToCook]

Hi David, I live in the Netherlands (though come originally from the Czech Republic). I'd love to hear about your experience with different varieties!

[@eelast]

can it grow in a very shady place at subtropical land? i think it will be good as wall cover if it can happy gardening vera

[@GrownToCook]

Hi! I think it's worth a try, though it should probably not be complete shade.

[@eelast]

@@GrownToCook thought interesting too, it's not fully shady just indirect sunlight the whole day. i'll look for the tree at near by nursery thank you vera

[@tiarianamanna973]

I ve heard hardy kiwi grown very succesfully on a north wall of a building in quite cold climate (usa zone 5 or 6). I think it might had been this permaculture guy who built an incredible perennial edible food forest in his backyard shared with his friend. Name..?? Eric Toensmyer or something like that..

[@rugvedkulkarni1593]

What is the minumum space appart for growing issia hard kiwi? Could they grow in a raised bed 4 feet apart from other plants?

[@GrownToCook]

Kiwis can be grown vertically along a column too and that way will take up little space on the ground but the harvest is of course also smaller than when grown as an espalier

[@mariomendez4874]

How long did it took to give fruit from the time you bought and if it was small then ?

[@penmetsaseshubabu2634]

How old is your kiwi plant. Is it a self pollenating variety and all hard kiwi plants are self pollinators.

[@ajayasir5272]

I have an issai kiwi plant. It’s self-fertile but we just finished up year two and didn’t get flowers or fruit. I’m wondering if I should buy a pollinator.

[@GrownToCook]

Hi Aja, if it hasn't flowered yet, there's still hope! Our plants took quite long to start flowring too - 4 years I think. So you have to wait till it starts flowering to see whether it's self-pollinating (if it's Issai, it should be!)

[@ajayasir5272]

Thank you so much. This gives me hope because I’m excited to taste them. Love your channel.

[@makesmefeellikeatalltree8250]

I have an issai also. It's suffering now in year three and not sure why. I may lose it entirely. But in year two, before it's setback, I had two flowers which also produced fruit on a very small plant. so hang in there.

[@jt659]

I think of them as "kiwi grapes"

[@GrownToCook]

That is a very apt name!

[@silkebaumhauer107]

please push the translater-button, my english is not good enough to understand your intresting video Silke from bavaria

[@blueupgreendown6402]

There's a button at the bottom of the video "CC" closed caption, which means it will show the words on the screen at the bottom. It's helpful to understand!

[@silkebaumhauer107]

@@blueupgreendown6402 Thank you

[@silkebaumhauer107]

in this case is there not a button, ore icould not find him .-(

[@rayoflight1102]

I think it’s Veiki variety

[@iamchinny3]

Hello, what type of fence do you use to grow this? Do you think a wooden trellis will be strong enough to hold a mature hardy kiwi plant?

[@GrownToCook]

The plants are long-lived and can become quite heavy so a sturdy support is important. Ours is made of concrete remesh. In our other garden we grow them on a pergola made of chestnut poles

[@iamchinny3]

@@GrownToCook Thank you! I love seeing your home forest garden, very inspiring for me here in the UK! (London)

[@GrownToCook]

Thank you, so lovely to hear!! Good luck with your garden!

[@rebeccar6818]

You mentioned that you grow the male plant as a "v." What does that look like? How do you not let that one take up so much space?

[@GrownToCook]

I prune it into a narrow 'V' shape, meaning just two main branches going up - you only need a few flowers for pollination. The female plant is pruned as an espalier because obviously it s where the fruits grow :)

[@wandabears1]

When do you put them in the ground

[@GrownToCook]

Wanda Leech The best time to plant (in our climate) is from October to March as long as the ground is not frozen. But if you buy a plant in a container you can plant pretty much anytime as long as you water it well

[@dansokwabenajames1004]

Please may I get some seed form you this year by post for me to grow kiwi?

[@timkilburn687]

I have two hardy kiwis at least they were sold to me as that for seven years and even though they bloom no fruit has ever set. I thought they did not have to be male and female as they sold to me as self pollinating.Any suggestions?

[@GrownToCook]

Hi Tim, unfortunately, plants are often not labeled correctly! If they flower and there is no fruit set and there are enough pollinating insects, then they are probably not self-pollinating (very few varieties are). tIt would be good to figure out whether your plants are both female or both male (you can search for an image of the blossom of both) and if they are both female, try to get a male plant to pollinate them.

[@rajashekardn8843]

Hai I want this plant

[@brandonleesantana4500]

Do they self seed

[@GrownToCook]

Not really - I have not had any plants come up spontaneously in my garden. You can grow kiwi from seed but it would take many years to fruit so generally it is not worth it (also you need male and female plants for pollination).

[@dncviorel]

So...why would I eat the same kiwi in a smaller version? Any taste difference?

[@GrownToCook]

They are sweeter, but the main advantage for our climate is that the plants are hardier and therefore much more reliable here :)

[@dncviorel]

@@GrownToCook From what country and region are you? Thank you for replying.

[@GrownToCook]

@@dncviorel I live in the Netherlands, close to the German border (cool climate)

[@tenlamps6183]

What zone are you in?

[@GrownToCook]

On the verge of the zones 7 and 8, but zones are not used as much in Europe :)

[@danyapilchowski2959]

Do they grow in the tropics?

[@GrownToCook]

They need a period of winter chill as far as I know, so probably wouldn't do well in tropical climate - sorry!

[@danyapilchowski2959]

GrownToCook aw that sucks, but thankyou for letting me know.

[@MsMageel]

But where are you?

[@GrownToCook]

I live in the Netherlands, close to the German border

[@wroabgilmore9719]

How do you eat that?

[@GrownToCook]

Wroab Gilmore We eat them mostly raw as dessert fruit - they are very sweet when fully ripe and my kids love them! But you can also make jam with the fruits

[@JohnDoe_88]

@@GrownToCook It's one of those unique Hardy delicious edibles that very few know about... But glad your spreading the word

[@grandforkian]

You can freeze them too.

[@Moodysmilez]

I just bought one and I’m 2 days it grew a foot tall🤪

[@GrownToCook]

Wow!

[@marcuspowell2510]

What kind of trellising technique is that?

[@joannathesinger770]

Espalier

[@briansgardenandpolytunnel8172]

my kiwi fruit never make it home. I eat them while i'm working on the plot. my plant is obviously self pollinating because no one else on site has one.....................brian

[@ajayasir5272]

So you have an issai kiwi too? I’ve had mine for 2 years and haven’t gotten any flowers or fruit. How long did it take before yours started bearing fruit?

[@GrownToCook]

Haha, I eat most of mine standing next to the plant too :)

[@briansgardenandpolytunnel8172]

mine produced fruit in the third year. the flowers are so small they look insignificant but any late frosts kill them off .............brian@@ajayasir5272