Hardy Kiwi 🥝 in North Carolina

[@debbies2966]

Wow great harvest. Will the fuzzy kiwi grow here in nc zone 8a in the Piedmont. Thanks.

[@JonathanLovelace]

I don't think the fuzzy kind do, but maybe ask an expert. I think I planted these as the alternative to not being able to grow the larger fruit.

[@sheilahenry7279]

I’m wanting to plant on my ugly 6’ chain link fence. Do you think it would look good?

[@JonathanLovelace]

Mine is on the t post and the vines go crazy at the top. You could try it out but i bet the vining at the top of the fence would just be crazy vines going everywhere, but up to you.

[@timschannel910]

I been looking around at who has this for sale. When is a good time to plant this

[@JonathanLovelace]

Spring or fall. Summer would work too, but make sure to water at least 3 times a week to keep roots moist

[@billbobaggins7617]

Great growth... What was your planting process? Did you amend? I assume red clay is what you were working with?

[@JonathanLovelace]

Yep, good ole’ North Carolina red mud, haha. It’s been several years back that I planted, but I might have put some peat moss in with the dirt from the hole I dug. I did have to put a wire down from the trellis so the vine could find its way up where it needed to go. Not much else. I trim back just before winter.

[@aaronfogus1064]

Can you give us the dimensions of your trellis and are there 2 vines planted? Thanks

[@JonathanLovelace]

I’ll have to get the trellis dimensions later, but there are two vines. It’s important to get a male and female plant so they produce fruit.

[@aaronfogus1064]

@@JonathanLovelace that would be great. Looks like 4x4 post but hard to tell what you did at the top and the length.

[@JonathanLovelace]

@aaronfogus1064 I just uploaded a video on my channel answering your questions. Hope it helps. Maybe you can click this link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4rGiZhpmNJknrcsi=B0H2Rf_AlCsPusAP

[@timschannel910]

Will it grow in clay dirt.

[@JonathanLovelace]

I thought that was all NC had, haha. Yeah, mine is in red clay. I might have mixed in some Pete moss or something in the beginning but then just watered it regularly.

[@timschannel910]

Ok, thank you.

[@timschannel910]

How long did it take to get to this size

[@JonathanLovelace]

3 years. 1st year was getting to the trellis. 2nd year was spreading on trellis. 3rd and more was just trimming it back as it just got so big

[@timschannel910]

How does it handle the cold around here

[@JonathanLovelace]

@timschannel910 like a champ! I don’t do anything special except prune it back in the fall. Put mulch under it. Water regular for fruit. Start watching for fruit to ripen in the fall. In the spring and through the season it is good to spray neem oil due to beetles 🪲

[@davidlagarde8470]

Do you need to peel the fruit or eat like grapes

[@JonathanLovelace]

The skin isn’t fuzzy and the fruit can be popped in the mouth and eaten like grapes although the fruit is better without the skin. I found an easy way to remove the skin is to freeze the fruit and then when squished the fruit slides out leaving the skin in hand. This is good for smoothies.

[@dylanchernovetz2149]

What type of kiwi is this? I just got one from tractor supply and I’m trying to find some information on it. Great video ❤ I’m also in NC

[@JonathanLovelace]

I ordered two “hardy kiwi” from an online garden shop. The only specifics I remember is that I needed a male and female for them to produce fruit. They were not self pollinating. The first year was getting them established and maybe started on the trellis. Year two was moving them along the trellis. Year three we might have started seeing small production of fruit.

[@clay3129]

How big was it when you planted it?

[@JonathanLovelace]

Each was about 1 foot. I had to have a wire hang down and teach it to go up the wire to the trellis.

[@gabe9000]

Great video! Question: how deer-resistant are these?

[@JonathanLovelace]

Thanks! Not sure about how deer resistant they are. I see deer pass by in the woods but they rarely come into the yard and I haven’t seen them close to the kiwi vine. Not to say that they haven’t snuck in and ate some but I haven’t noticed any missing.

[@heisrisen1113]

not at all. they love the young growth

[@paigeburton8995]

How do you prune this plant?

[@JonathanLovelace]

It grows so much in all directions that I just prune it back so it doesn’t take over. It probably has a more proper way and I probably need a bigger area for this vine.

[@paigeburton8995]

@@JonathanLovelace oh I was wondering because, i just bought one, and I've never seen it before. Looks like a very interesting fruit. Thank you for sharing this video

[@JonathanLovelace]

It is an interesting fruit, and I wish I had better advice but I just stop by and watch it grow and through the spring pick off any little shoots at the base and then in the fall just trim back everything so it isn’t to huge the next year. Harvest in late summer and early fall.

[@simryusom8811]

Do you have to peel them before eating it?

[@JonathanLovelace]

Nope. Just pop them in your mouth like grapes. No fuzz at all.

[@paulburgess8033]

Could you please make a video of it flowering.

[@JonathanLovelace]

Good idea, I’ll try and do that.

[@trguitarlesson]

Where did you get your kiwi plant from? And how many are there? We just got some from tractor supply non GMO hoping they do well. We LOVE kiwi.

[@JonathanLovelace]

I got the hardy kiwi online from either burpee or territorial seed. An online seed place, not sure who. They sent me a male and female as that is what is required for them to produce. It took a year or two just training the plant to grow on the trellis correctly although I somewhat remember them getting cut by a weed eater the first year and then having to retrain on year two. Probably not a terrible thing to happen as it might have developed the root system to get rooted in better. The fruit took a few years to finally get to an edible state. The first several years the fruit were firm. Maybe I just didn’t know what I was doing. Around year five and in the later part of the summer or in fall we have harvested the hardy kiwi and they have been great. Good luck on your kiwi plant.

[@shellydurunna]

Home Depot has them as of 2/14/2021

[@trguitarlesson]

caca Yeah we got the same ones that Home Depot have from tractor supply though. It says on the packages that it does not need a male and female plant and is self fruiting?! Is that right? We got four just in case

[@bobbader4789]

Do your leaves have a fuzzy look about them? Trying to figure which is male and which is female

[@JonathanLovelace]

My answer still will not be what you are looking for. I have seen a difference between the two, but I have only identified them as male and female after I have seen which of the two produce fruit.

[@PureBlood42]

Do you have to remove the skins?

[@JonathanLovelace]

Nope, and there isn’t any fuzz.

[@beebop9808]

I want some of them floweredy boots :)

[@jacksonstacy3813]

Do you have a male with it ?

[@JonathanLovelace]

Well, of course. Gotta have both to make fruit.

[@OwlCapone8630]

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