How to Grow Kiwi: Your Complete Guide

If you appreciate the kiwi fruit found in grocery stores and markets and have thought about growing them yourself, you’re in luck! With the proper care and environmental factors, kiwis can be grown in many backyard gardens across a few specific hardiness zones.

In this article, we’ll take a look at a few different interesting facts about kiwi fruits, as well as in-depth instructions on how to grow them at home.

The Botanical Name and History of Kiwi

The kiwi plant, also known as kiwifruit or the Chinese gooseberry, is classified as Actinidia deliciosa. As a member of the Actinidia genus, it is a close cousin of dioecious plants such as the tara vine, the golden kiwifruit, and the kolomikta.

The kiwi is a native of eastern and central China. Many falsely believe that it is native to New Zealand, as it is widely grown there. The Song dynasty in the 12th century is when the kiwi fruit was first mentioned in writing. The first commercial kiwi fruit plantings occurred in New Zealand at the beginning of the 20th century when kiwi fruit farming expanded from China. During World War II, the fruit gained popularity among American and British personnel stationed in New Zealand. Later, it was widely exported, first to California in the 1960s and subsequently to Great Britain.

In addition to the common Actinidia deliciosa that is grown commercially and found in grocery stores, there are other species and varieties of kiwi as well. The hardy Actinidia arguta and Actinidia kolomikta are rare in the US but common in other parts of the world. 

Climate and Hardiness Zone Requirements for Kiwi

Kiwis can be grown in USDA hardiness zones seven through nine. Kiwis are East Asian natives, and they thrive in sunny settings where the temperature is continuously warm. Growing them up against a sunny wall in a more moderate region will still yield wonderful results because they can spread out and grow to 30 feet tall. A heat-absorbing wall also helps to some extent to prevent frost damage to sensitive spring growth. In the shade, these vines can also flourish, but no fruits will be produced. Simply put, kiwis require temperatures greater than 10 degrees F to survive. Colder regions can support hardier species.

When to Grow Kiwi

Kiwi plants grow fast and are best planted in the early spring or late fall. They often gain between six and 12 feet every year. Only fully developed female vines can produce fruit, which can take up to three years. This vine can continue to produce fruit for 40 years or more, with the best fruit production often occurring when it is eight years old or older.

Starting Kiwis From Seed vs. Buying Adult Plants

In general, it is easier to grow kiwis from a kiwi fruit or seeds. You can buy established plants to save on time, but this can be a bit problematic if you don’t have the necessary male or female plants to promote pollination and thus, fruiting. A more dependable way to recreate a kiwi cultivar or variety is to cut off softwood cuttings in the spring and propagate them.

That being said, being able to raise a kiwi plant from seed and watch it through to maturity will be quite satisfying. It won’t happen quickly, but perseverance will pay off in the form of the heavenly-tasting fruit that is packed with vitamins and antioxidants.

Your seeds can be started at any time, but for spring planting, it is best to sow them in the fall. Choose a ripe, preferably organic, kiwi fruit. Remove the pulp with a spoon, then sort the seeds. It is usually easiest to wash them off and remove them, but blending the pulp with a little water in a blender will work just as well. After that, it should be easy to separate and rinse the seeds with a sieve.

Either distribute the seeds over a damp paper towel and set them in a transparent bag in a warm location or scatter the seeds over a tray of wet sand and cover it with a plastic lid. After around two weeks, the seeds should start to sprout. Put the sprouting seeds into tiny pots filled with potting soil that drains well. To prevent upsetting the seedlings when using the paper towel approach, you can rip off pieces of the paper towel and plant the little pieces. Keep the seedlings in a greenhouse or on a warm, sunny windowsill.

Harden off the plants after three to four months and then either plant them outside in bigger pots or into a garden bed. It is usually recommended to postpone doing this until springtime. When it comes time to plant them, be sure to space them 10 feet apart or more. Kiwis are vine plants, so you’ll need to train them as they ripen. Make sure your garden trellis can support a heavy vine. 

How to Grow Kiwi

The effort required to grow kiwi fruit might be quite demanding, but the reward is well worth it. Each kiwi, which is actually a berry and is approximately three inches long, is shaped like an egg and has fuzzy brown skin. The best place for kiwi fruit vines to grow is on a wooden building like a fence, gazebo, or trellis.

When planning where to plant your kiwi fruit vine, make sure you have an adequate place and enough support for at least two vines, as you will need both male and female plants for the successful pollination of this dioecious species. The blossoms will have a faint aroma and might be cream or golden in hue. Given that the fruit is developed on plants that are more than a year old, kiwi fruit vines require extra attention in terms of trimming and watering.

Kiwi fruit vines should be properly pruned to prevent untidiness and to promote the growth of more fruit. It’s crucial to start with a sturdy framework through a trellis or other structure; after that, regularly trim the main stem until it grows long enough to start forming a canopy overhead. Wintertime is the ideal time to trim your kiwi fruit vine.

Many common pests, including thrips and spider mites, can harm kiwi vines. Neem oil is great for getting rid of these insects. Pests that attack the fruit of the plant, namely caterpillars and beetles, are another common problem for kiwi plants. The best course of action is to regularly harvest the fruit and invite birds to your garden since they are these pests’ natural predators.

Soil and Fertilizer Requirements for Kiwi

The pH range for the ideal soil for kiwi vines is between 5.0 and 6.5. The vine isn’t very finicky about soil type, but it thrives in a mixture that is rich, damp, and well-draining. Give your vines plenty of room to develop and thrive by planting them around 10 feet away from one another.

With soil that is rich in organic matter and nitrogen, kiwi plants tend to grow their best. You should add a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content to your soil if it tests negative for nitrogen. As the vine develops and grows, routine feedings are very crucial. Use a slow-release all-purpose fertilizer combination to feed your plant at planting time, in the early spring, and in the summer after the blooms have faded.

Water Requirements for Kiwi

Kiwis require regular irrigation and are not at all drought-tolerant. You should never let their soil dry up because of this. They also dislike having their roots stay too wet, so having soil that drains effectively is very important. A clue that your plant needs extra water can include browning or drooping leaves on the vine.

Temperature and Humidity Requirements for Kiwi

To set fruit, kiwi fruit require a chilly spell at about 45 degrees F for at least a month, which is in keeping with their semi-tropical character. The vines can also withstand summer heat up to 114 degrees F. However, they will require more water to make up for it. Kiwi plants don’t need any specific humidity conditions and thrive at the humidity levels found in the USDA hardiness zones where it is grown.

Sunlight Requirements for Kiwi

Choose a location for your kiwi vine where it can enjoy year-round full or partial shade. You should strive for at least eight hours of sunshine every day because the plant will produce fruit more effectively the more sun it receives.

How Long Do Kiwis Take to be Ready for Harvest?

Kiwi plants will start fruiting approximately three to four years after they are planted. In order to ripen properly, kiwis need warm and long summers. 

The best-tasting kiwi is vine-ripened but doesn’t do well when stored. Commercial kiwi harvesting takes place all at once, while a home grower can start picking kiwis in early fall. The kiwi fruit’s softness is not necessarily the best sign that it is ready to be picked. Kiwi ripens after being cut off the vine, unlike some other fruits.

Kiwi should be handled carefully during harvest since they bruise readily and fruit that has been damaged won’t keep as long. Snap the stem at the fruit’s base to harvest them. As we mentioned, softness is a poor indicator of ripeness. When in doubt, check the size and cut open a fruit to access the seeds; when the seeds are black, it’s time to harvest your kiwi fruit. While picking kiwis, leave the smaller fruit on the vine until it reaches a certain size and take only the larger ones.

Kiwi Companion Plants

Companion planting is an age-old technique that aims to broaden a garden’s variety. Diversity expansion slows the spread of illness and pest infestation among plants. It is best to choose a companion plant that can withstand the same soil pH and overall sunshine needs as kiwis. Good companion plants include grapefruit, blueberries, raspberries, and currants. Kiwis are great companion plants for herbs like lemon balm, lavender, and catnip.

If you live in the right climate and have just a little bit of patience, growing kiwis at home can be a very fun and fruitful (pardon the pun) experience. With little more than soil, time to spare, and a kiwi from your local grocery store, you can grow these woody vines and enjoy their yields for many years.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Maarten Zeehandelaar/Shutterstock.com