Actinidia arguta
Hardy Kiwi
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Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) - Description
Same tropical flavor as big, brown kiwis, but fuzzless and smaller, about 1" long. This variety fruits early (second year) and is self-pollinating. Handsome vines with dense, glossy foliage, and fragrant white flowers in spring. Disease and insect resistant. Plant 10' apart on a strong trellis.
Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) - Blooming
Kiwis have separate female and male plants that produce female and male flowers, respectively. If you wish to grow kiwis for fruit, you will need both female and male plants for pollination to occur.
Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) - Growth
Fast growing deciduous vines that can be trained on an overhead trellis or along a wall. You can train kiwis to grow up most structures, but they need heavy supports and need to be guided and tied as necessary. Kiwis need long growing seasons that are not interrupted by a frost in late winter or early fall. When the vines drop their leaves and go dormant, they are rather cold hardy (down to 10°F (-12°C)).
Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) - Planting
Although you can propagate Kiwis by seed, it is often suggested that you purchase grafted cuttings from a nursery. This way you can be sure of the sex of the plant and also can purchase both sexes.
Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) - Pest
Affected by leaf roller caterpillars and scale insects. Use Bt to rid of the caterpillars and neem oil for the scales. Avoid diseases by preparing a well-drained planting site with appropriate amounts of water.
Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) - Interesting facts
Kiwis are mostly grown for their fruits; however the species A. kolomikta is grown for its foliage. Native to Asia, kiwis were originally called Chinese Gooseberries. Sales of the fruits of the "Chinese Gooseberry" did not take off until their common name was changed. Since a large number of farmers that grew these fruits were from New Zealand, the fruits were given the name "Kiwi Fruit" indicating that they came from the land of Kiwis. Kiwis not only grow well in New Zealand, but also the first seeds to leave Asia did so by Chinese monks taking the seeds with them to New Zealand. Kiwi fruits taste like a combination of melon, strawberry and banana.
Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) - Soil and irrigation
Kiwis thrive in well-drained soils that are rich in organic matter. During the growing season, they will need rather large amounts of water, but do not do well if the water is left standing. They do best in slightly acidic soils (pH of 5 - 6.5). Kiwis growing in soils that have pH values above 6.5 may show nitrogen deficiency and their fruit yields will suffer as a result.
