Male Pollinator Kiwi

Important! Upon Arrival:

Keep moist and cool. Fruits and berries are shipped in dormant form so they can be transplanted out once the soil can be worked in the spring. Light frosts will not damage the plants as they are in the resting stage. If you are unable to plant immediately, the plants can be stored for a short period of time. This should be a dark, cool (but not freezing) location such as an unheated garage, fridge or a cold cellar. Ideally they would be stored as close to 2°C or 35°F as possible. They should also be kept moist, but not wet, until they are planted. We DO NOT Recommend planting them in pots until the weather is warmer. A tree that breaks dormancy and begins growing in a pot will suffer from terrible transplant shock when replanted in the permanent site.

Planting:

Hardy Kiwis have a flavour similar to the brown, fuzzy types found in the stores but are somewhat sweeter, hairless and the size of a large grape. They grow on a vigorous vine and can be trained on a trellis or on posts and wire. You must have a male for pollination. You can have up to 9 females for each male. Plant the male close to the females and keep it upwind to maximize pollination.

Kolomiktas begin producing in 2 years. Kiwis need a rich and well-drained soil to prosper. Kiwis will not do well in sites that receive later spring frosts as the leaves are frost tender. It is important to provide adequate water after transplanting and during drought periods. Keep roots cool and moist. An interesting side note is that cats love to rub against newly planted kiwis, so be sure to protect them from cats until they grow a tough vine.

Plant in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, leaving a generous 10 to 15 feet between each plant.

Growing:

Hardy kiwi vines need a supportive structure to grow around, like a trellis, fence, or pergola. Remember, the plants might be small now, but they can easily reach a width of 15 feet and a length of 20 feet.

Since these vines run the risk of root rot, only water them in the summer or during dry times. For the first year, skip the fertilizer. After that, fertilize the vines every spring with a balanced fertilizer.

Hardy kiwi benefits from regular pruning. Prune female dormant plants in the winter and male plants in the early summer. If the vine is exposed to cold temperature regularly, it might die back in the winter, simply remove the dead vines as they accumulate.