How to grow kiwis

How to grow kiwi fruit

Grow kiwi fruit in moist but well-drained, slightly acidic soil in full sun, ideally in open ground but they can also be grown in a large pot. Kiwis are hungry plants so mulch with well-rotted manure or compost in spring and feed weekly with a high potash fertiliser in summer – this is especially important if growing in a container. Harvest the fruits from August to September.

Where to grow kiwis

Kiwi plants do best in a sunny, sheltered spot. Soil should be rich, fertile and slightly acidic, although they will tolerate neutral soil. Kiwis do better when the soil is moist but their roots can be prone to rotting so ensure the soil is well-drained. However, they will need extra watering in a dry summer.

How to plant kiwis

The best time to plant a kiwi vine is in mid-spring, when the soil has warmed up after winter. Dig a generous hole, adding in a few spadefuls of well-rotted manure, then plant your kiwi at the same depth it was growing previously. Add support and tie existing stems to it, giving them plenty of space to grow. If you have room for a male and female vine, make sure they're planted a few metres apart so they have plenty of room to climb. Otherwise, for smaller spaces, opt for self-fertile 'Jenny'.

To plant in a pot, use a peat-free, ericaceous compost and add well-rotted manure or compost for a nutritional boost. Take care to ensure your kiwi sits at the same depth it was growing in its original pot, backfill with compost and firm gently, then water thoroughly and allow to drain. Add a support, such as an obelisk, and tie existing stems to it as per the instructions below, giving them plenty of space to grow. Aim for a pot size of at least 30l so the roots have plenty of compost to grow into.

How to train kiwi plants

A well-trained kiwi vine has a main trunk, from which permanent cordons and fruiting side-shoots grow. They do well when trained as espaliers on horizontal wires, with horizontal branches growing out from the main, vertical stem. Side-shoots will develop from the horizontal branches and will bear fruit. Kiwi vines also do well when trained up an obelisk or series of sturdy canes, however the main training principle remains: aim for a main trunk from which stems and fruiting side shoots develop.

Take the strongest shoot, which will form your main trunk, and tie this to its support at regular intervals. Then, aim for one 'cordon' branch to grow on either side of the main trunk, whether you're training it horizontally as a cordon or up an obelisk. Tie these in thoroughly and prune out the rest. Shorten these cordons to 60cm in the first winter. Fruiting side-shoots should grow out from these and can be tied in to the wires.

Then, every winter, cut back, leaving 60cm of new growth, until they each reach a maximum length of 2m. After this time, cut back each cordon to 2m each winter.

You will also need to prune your kiwi in summer, tying in vines and removing any vigorous shoots from the main trunk and side shoots. Then remove any thin, crossing or damaged stems, ensuring your vine has a good open habit with plenty of air flow through and around it. Finally, once the fruit has set, pinch back the side shoots, leaving four to five leaves beyond the maturing fruit.

How to care for kiwis

Despite being an exotic fruit, kiwis are relatively easy to look after. Water thoroughly and regularly for the first two years, then afterwards water during dry weather, as this will encourage more fruit to develop.

In spring, mulch with well-rotted manure or compost to boost the nutrient content of the soil.

In summer you may want to feed weekly with a high potash fertiliser such as a tomato feed to encourage more flowers and fruit to develop. This isn't really necessary if your kiwi is growing in a fertile open soil but is important if your kiwi is growing in a pot.

In late winter to early spring protect young shoots from frosts, which can be damaged as they start to open. Use hessian sacking or horticultural fleece and drape this over the branches.

Follow pruning advice to ensure your kiwi is productive, above.

Pests and problem solving

Kiwis are tough, reliable plants and are relatively trouble-free in terms of pests and diseases. But keep an eye out for the following problems:

Leaves

Leaf drop, caused by drought or drying winds – grow in a sheltered spot and water thoroughly in dry periods.

Yellowing leaves, caused by nutrient deficiencies – feed with an all-purpose fertiliser and mulch annually with compost or well-rotted manure.

Frost damage, which can affect new leaf shoots in early spring – cover with horticultural fleece or hessian to protect the shoots.

Roots

Fungal diseases such as honey fungus and root rot – grow in well-drained soil to prevent root rot.

Harvesting kiwis

Kiwi vines take up to four years to produce fruit, so they're a long-term investment. But, from its first fruiting, kiwi plants should produce a good crop year after year, as long as they are growing in rich soil and are watered during dry spells.

Kiwis need a long summer for the fruits to ripen. If they don't ripen, simply remove the fruits and let them ripen at home for a few weeks.

To harvest kiwis, pick the fruits in August and September and leave them to ripen off the vine for a few weeks before eating them.

Storing kiwis

You can store unripe kiwi fruits in a cool place or in the fridge up for three months. To ripen kiwis, leave them at room temperature. To store ripe kiwis, pop them in your crisper drawer in the fridge, where they will last for a few days longer than they would at room temperature.

You can freeze kiwi fruit but the texture of the fruit changes so the defrosted fruit is suitable for use in smoothies only. Simply peel and slice the kiwis and place the slices in single layers on a tray lined with baking parchment. Pop in the freezer for a couple of hours and then transfer to an airtight container to store for up to three months.

Kiwi varieties to grow

Actinidia deliciosa 'Jenny' – the best self-fertile, hardy kiwi variety, bearing fuzzy fruits that we recognise as kiwis. The fruits are ready to harvest in August and September

• Buy kiwi fruit 'Jenny' from Thompson & Morgan, Crocus, Suttons

Actinidia arguta 'Issai' – the ‘cocktail’ kiwi, commonly found in Asia, 'Issai' produces small fruits, the size of grapes. These ripen slightly earlier than other types of kiwi, and have smooth skin. They are sweeter than other kiwi varieties and can be eaten whole, without peeling. Self fertile so doesn't need a pollination partner.

• Buy kiwi 'Issai' from Thompson & Morgan, Crocus, Suttons

Actinidia ‘Hayward’ – a female cultivar and the most widely grown kiwi worldwide. It's late flowering and produces large fruits. Needs a male pollination partner.

• Buy kiwi 'Hayward' from Thompson & Morgan, Dobies, Suttons

Actinidia ‘Atlas’ – a male cultivar, suitable for planting with ‘Hayward’ for cross-pollination

• Buy kiwi 'Atlas' from Dobies, Suttons