Hardy Kiwi is unknown to most, even fewer have had the good fortune to taste a hardy Kiwi. If you have the space, hardy kiwi is a must for your garden or orchard. Hardy Kiwis, like the name suggests, grow in cold climates. Here in the Northeast where we experience hot humid summers and cold snowy winters I have been growing them with good success for a few seasons now.
About Hardy Kiwi
Hardy Kiwi grow as vine and can grow several feet each year. Their fruit is smooth skinned and slightly larger than a grape. The entire fruit is edible, skin and all. Hardy Kiwis have a unique flavor profile. Different varieties are said to taste similar to or combinations of banana, pear, strawberry, fuzzy kiwi, apple, and even mint.
Hardy Kiwi vines are either male, female, or self fertile. Females will produce fruit when a male vine is present for pollination. Self fertile vines can produce fruit on the own but yields are higher when a male is planted nearby. Each male plant can pollinate up to 6-8 female plants.
Planting Hardy Kiwi
Hardy Kiwi plants are vigorous growers. Like grapes, hardy kiwi vines grow best when supported by a trellis. Plant your hardy kiwis 8-12 feet apart. A location receiving 6 or more hours of sun is ideal, this is basically considered full sun. Chose a well drained planting site. If all you have is clay soil, try adding sand at planting. Look for a high point on your property or a sloping location that will help with drainage.
Hardy Kiwis grow well in a large section of the country, USDA hardiness zones 3-9. Male and female plants should be spaced within 50 feet of the female plants to ensure adequate pollination. Planting the male in the middle of the row of several female plants will help your plants get pollinated.
Training Hardy Kiwi
Vine should be trained into 1 main stem. Laterals can then grow off that main stem, one or two sets of laterals trained on a trellis wire system will produce optimal yields. Hardy Kiwi bears fruit off of this seasons growth that grow out of 1 year old wood.
Trellis and support can be done similar to how vineyards trellis their grapes. Once your plants are established this usually means heavy pruning once sometimes twice a year. The key is to get your trellis and vine structure established when the plants are young. That way your pruning work is reduced.
Why Grow Hardy Kiwi
Hardy Kiwi vines are relatively trouble free. They grow in much of the country including far north surviving temperatures of 25 degrees below zero! Their vines make an attractive landscape plant as well as have the added bonus of producing fruit! Hardy kiwis can produce up to 100 pounds of fruit per vine per year! All with minimal maintenance besides pruning and trellising.
Hardy Kiwi fruit is high in Vitamin C and other vitamins. It is sweeter and has more sugar in it than the tropical kiwi. Fruits start to ripen in late summer and continue through into fall. Ripe fruits can fall off the vine or become very easy to pick. If you have the space consider planting a few hardy kiwi vines on your property.
Send us your hardy kiwi questions. Think of this as hardy kiwi 101. If you have more questions let us know. If you are looking for hardy kiwi plants check out our store!