Kiwi Fruit Female - 14cm Pot

Kiwi Fruit (Actinidia deliciosa), also known as Chinese Gooseberry, is a vigorous deciduous fruiting vine that produces the familiar brown-skinned fruit with juicy green flesh. The large, rounded green leaves create lush coverage through summer before dropping in winter, making Kiwi Fruit particularly useful for growing over a sturdy pergola or trellis.

Female Kiwi Fruit vines produce the fruit, but a compatible male vine is required for pollination. One male can pollinate up to approximately five females, although one male and one female is usually sufficient for a home garden. Female vines generally take around four to five years to mature and begin producing fruit.

Fruit develops on the current season's growth arising from one-year-old wood and is generally harvested in autumn while still firm. Allow picked fruit to ripen at room temperature, or place it in a paper bag with an apple or banana to speed up ripening.

Kiwi Fruit vines are long-lived and can remain productive for 20 years or more when grown in suitable conditions.

Mature size: approximately 5 to 10 metres high × 5 to 10 metres wide if left unrestricted. Growth can be managed considerably through training and pruning.

Position & Planting
Choose a sunny, preferably north-facing position with rich, well-drained soil and protection from strong winds. Around 4 to 6 hours of direct summer sunlight will help with fruit ripening.

Before planting, improve the soil with compost and well-rotted manure. Dig the planting hole approximately twice as wide as the root ball and to the same depth, keeping the crown of the plant at soil level.

Good drainage is essential. Kiwi Fruit likes consistent moisture but dislikes having wet feet.

Provide a strong support structure such as a pergola, fence or substantial trellis, as established vines become large and vigorous.

Pollination

Male and female Kiwi Fruit vines need to be grown within pollinating distance for the female to produce fruit.
One male can pollinate up to approximately five female vines
For home gardens, one male and one female is generally sufficient
Aim to position the male approximately 1 to 6 metres from the female
Planting the male upwind may assist pollination
Male vines produce flowers for pollination but do not produce fruit
Male and female plants can be difficult to distinguish when they aren't flowering

Care & Growing Tips
Water consistently during the growing season, particularly once flowering and fruit development begin, while ensuring excess water can drain freely.
Mulch annually to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and improve the soil. Feed in spring and autumn with a suitable complete fertiliser or well-rotted manure.
Train the vine to a central trunk with strong horizontal arms. When pruning, remember that fruiting shoots emerge from one-year-old wood. Established vines can also be summer pruned to control excessive growth. Prune male vines after they have finished flowering so their flowers aren't accidentally removed before pollination.
Although dormant vines tolerate frost, young spring growth and flowers can be more vulnerable to frost damage.

Ideal for
– Home orchards.
– Edible gardens.
– North-facing positions.
– Pergolas and strong trellises.
– Productive shade through summer.
– Fruit gardens.
– Larger garden spaces.