Kiwi Fruit

As kiwis originate in New Zealand, they do very well in the similar climate here. This kiwi plant (Actinidia chinensis) is the variety ‘Jenny’ and is a frost hardy and self-fertile vine producing slightly smaller less hairy fruits than those you would find in the supermarket.

Kiwi plants are vigorous climbers and will do best trained up a sunny wall or trellis. They should put on a fair amount of growth each year so it is worth choosing a spot with room to grow.

Whilst your plant is in a small pot it will need regular watering. Aim to water it heavily and then allow the top of the compost to dry out before watering heavily again. As soon as practical your kiwi will benefit from being planted out in the garden or potted up in a much larger pot. Add a top dressing of well rotted manure or other rich compost to help your plant settle in and stake or tie in the central stems so they have support as they grow. Over the summer months your kiwi plant will benefit from a dose of general purpose liquid feed every month or so to help keep the foliage healthy and to set flowers.

These plants are already 2 years old and should flower and fruit next year. After your kiwi plant has fruited for the first time, you will need to start pruning to get the best crops, removing one third of the growth each year in late Autumn.

Problem Solving:

If the leaves start to turn a pale or mottled colour your plant needs more nutrients and will benefit from a good dose of general house plant or citrus feed every couple of waterings until it greens up again. Kiwis can be a bit susceptible to over feeding however so do err a bit on the side of caution when feeding.

If during the summer months your plant doesn’t start flowering or the buds drop before they open it may not be getting enough sunlight so try moving to a sunnier spot or even training the fruiting branches into a greenhouse to give the fruits that extra push.

This is the edible kiwi plant but it is deciduous so don’t be alarmed if it starts to lose its leaves in winter. These plants are reasonably hardy but if we do have particularly cold spells (-5°C or colder) then a fleece or heavy straw mulch will give your plant a bit more protection especially in the first couple of years.