Leslie Massey
Kiwi fruit, also known as Chinese Gooseberry, is a deciduous fruiting vine that is native to China. It is a dioecious plant, meaning it needs both male and female vines to pollinate and produce fruit. While kiwi fruit can be grown in Australia, they require ideal conditions, including warm summers, cool winters, and sufficient 'chilling hours'. The vines are very vigorous and require a lot of space, strong support structures, and regular pruning to keep them under control. They also prefer full sun, moist and well-drained soil, and protection from harsh winds. With the right care, kiwi fruit can be successfully cultivated in Australia, providing a delicious and nutritious treat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Climate | Warm summers, cool winters, sufficient chilling hours |
| Soil | Well-drained, slightly acidic, moist, fertile |
| Space | 5m of space on a strong support like a fence or pergola |
| Planting hole | Twice as wide and the same depth as the root-ball |
| Sunlight | 4-6 hours of direct sunlight |
| Watering | Avoid overwatering, water well during the growing season |
| Fertiliser | Twice a year in spring and autumn |
| Pruning | Regularly, maintain a central trunk and strong horizontal arms |
| Flowering | Late spring |
| Harvesting | Autumn |
| Growth | Fast-growing, peak production after 8 years, can live for more than 50 years |
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What You'll Learn
Kiwifruit require both male and female plants to pollinate
Kiwifruit is a popular and nutritious fruit known for its unique flavour. It is a long-lived, vigorous, fruiting vine native to certain regions of China and parts of Southeast Asia. Kiwifruit plants are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants. While male plants do not produce fruit, they are essential for pollination and fruit production on female plants.
For successful pollination and fruit production, it is important to select compatible male and female kiwifruit varieties. The primary factor in determining compatibility is the timing of flowering. For pollination to occur, the blooming periods of the male and female plants need to overlap, so that pollen from the male flowers is available when the female flowers are receptive. This allows for effective cross-pollination. In addition, it is recommended that the male and female vines be planted within 9-15 meters of each other.
The flowers on male vines only have pollen-producing anthers, while female flowers have anthers that do not produce viable pollen. You can identify them by their central, multi-branched pistil. The pistil develops into the fruit after successful pollination and fertilisation. It is worth noting that some vines bear both male and female flowers on the same plant, but this is not the case for kiwis. Each individual kiwi produces either pistillate or staminate flowers.
To ensure good kiwi cross-pollination and fruit set, it is recommended to plant one male plant for every eight female kiwi plants. The blossoms of the male and female vines should appear at the same time, and they should be planted close together. The pollen of male blossoms is only viable for a few days after the flowers open. One male vine can typically pollinate up to five female vines, but some sources suggest up to seven.
In terms of specific cultivars, Hayward is the preferred male pollinator, known for producing large fruit. California and Chico are popular female cultivars in California, and Matua is another widely used cultivar.
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Kiwifruit need a lot of space to grow
Kiwifruit are vigorous vines that need a lot of space to grow. They can grow 15 feet wide and 20 feet long and produce up to 100 pounds of fruit. Each vine will need around 5 metres of space on a strong support like a fence, trellis, or pergola. They are slow growers and need sturdy supports. A tall, heavy-duty trellis system is recommended to support the vines.
Kiwifruit plants are generally available in containers from local retail or online nurseries. They can be planted year-round but do best when planted from late autumn to early spring while dormant. The best time to plant is in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. They like a moist, well-drained, and slightly acidic soil. The soil should be prepared by adding compost and well-broken-down manure. The planting hole should be dug twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball.
Kiwifruit vines need adequate water to thrive, either from irrigation or rainfall. Fruit is mostly water, and the vines are vigorous, so sufficient irrigation is essential for good growth, yield, and fruit quality. Newly set plants do not have well-developed root systems, so they can be easily stressed. Irrigate several times a week or as needed so that the root zone and soil are thoroughly wetted but without standing water. Established kiwifruit vines have a canopy as large as 100 square feet, and plants of this size need a lot of irrigation water.
Kiwifruit vines will need regular pruning to keep them under control and improve fruit production. Pruning should be done at least monthly after flowering. Male vines are not pruned in winter to avoid reducing the number of flowers, as the plant needs as many flowers as possible for good pollination.
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Kiwifruit are best grown in climates with warm summers and cool winters
Kiwifruit, also known as Chinese Gooseberry, is a deciduous fruiting vine that is native to China. It is a dioecious plant, meaning it requires both male and female vines to produce fruit. The male vine is more vigorous than the female vine, but it does not produce fruit. Instead, it is necessary for the production of fruit on the female vine.
Kiwifruit grows best in climates with warm summers and cool winters, and they require sufficient 'chilling hours'. In warmer zones, 'low chill' varieties of kiwifruit can still fruit successfully. Kiwifruit vines are very vigorous and need a lot of space to grow. Each vine will need around 5 metres of space on a strong support, such as a fence, pergola, or trellis. They grow at a very fast pace over spring and early summer and will rapidly cover a large structure with lovely rounded leaves, providing perfect summer shade. However, they can also drop their leaves in winter to let the sunlight in.
Kiwifruit vines prefer a north-facing position with protection from harsh winds and the scorching sun. The soil should be well-drained, moist, and slightly acidic, enriched with organic material and well-broken-down manure. Kiwifruit vines need to be fertilized regularly, at least twice a year in spring and autumn, and they should be mulched annually to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and add nutrients.
Kiwifruit takes several years to mature before they start bearing fruit. Female vines typically take 4 to 5 years to mature, and the vines reach peak production after the eighth year. The growing season for kiwifruit is long, up to 240 days a year, and the fruit is typically harvested in autumn.
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Kiwifruit need to be fertilised regularly
Young kiwifruit plants are sensitive to fertiliser, so it is recommended to use a diluted liquid plant food after four true leaves have developed. For older plants, a formulated citrus and avocado food is recommended for fertilising. Alternatively, a high-nitrogen fertiliser containing trace elements can be used. Nitrogen is particularly important in early spring as the plant is re-sprouting. After about six years, vines will need 1 pound (0.5 kg) of nitrogen per year, but younger plants can thrive with just 2 ounces (57 g) per application.
In addition to fertilising, kiwifruit plants require regular pruning to keep them under control and improve fruit production. It is important to maintain a central trunk and strong horizontal arms when pruning. Kiwifruit vines are fast-growing and can quickly become a tangled mess if left unattended. Therefore, regular pruning and training are essential to maintaining the health of the plant and encouraging better yield and bigger fruit.
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Kiwifruit are typically grown in New Zealand and Italy
Kiwifruit, also known as Chinese gooseberry, is typically grown in New Zealand and Italy. New Zealand is known for its ideal conditions for growing kiwifruit, including plenty of sunshine, lots of rain, and fertile soil. The country has an estimated 2,800 kiwifruit growers who operate 32,000 acres of orchards. The first commercial orchards in New Zealand were established in the early 1930s, and the country developed the first commercially viable kiwifruit, creating the demand for the fruit that exists today. New Zealand is currently the third-largest kiwifruit-producing country in the world, with China and Italy being the largest and second-largest producers, respectively.
Italy began cultivating and exporting kiwifruit in the 1980s, leveraging its existing grape-growing infrastructure and techniques. The southern Italian landscape is now flourishing with kiwifruit vines, with similar growing conditions to those in northeast New Zealand. The coastal temperatures south of Rome are mild, and the soil is fertile, making Italy an ideal home for kiwifruit production.
Kiwifruit is a major horticultural export for New Zealand, and the country holds approximately 30% of the market share. The fruit is grown in carefully selected orchards, and the entire process can take up to five years of intensive care before the plants can produce enough fruit to harvest. New Zealand growers harvest around 3.7 billion kiwifruits per year, and the country's kiwifruit is marketed under the brand-name label Zespri outside of Australasia.
Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit, a new cultivar chosen as a replacement less susceptible to bacterial infection, is grown in both New Zealand and Italy. In Italy, you can find farmers' markets displaying homemade kiwi jams and cookies, ice cream shops offering kiwi gelato, and upscale restaurants featuring kiwi in elaborate dishes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, kiwi fruits can be grown in Australia. They are typically grown in New Zealand and Italy, but the fruits sold by Zespri™ are grown in carefully selected orchards to ensure ideal conditions.
Kiwi fruits need a lot of space to grow. They grow best in warm summers and cool winters with sufficient 'chilling hours'. They also need moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
First, you need to plant a male and female vine, as they need both to pollinate. The vines are then trained to establish a straight trunk and main permanent side branches. The vines usually begin fruiting by their fourth or fifth year and reach peak production after the eighth year.
