Typically having heart-shaped furry leaves, creamy-white fragrant flowers in the early summer, and little hairy or smooth fruits that mature during the summer and into fall, kiwi fruits are lovely, vivacious, twining climbers.
The best growth and fruit are produced by kiwi vines in sunny locations. To prevent wind damage, place your plants in a safe section of the garden. In colder climates, place the vines on the north side of the yard to reduce the possibility of freeze-thaw damage in the early spring..
While the soil and weather are warming up in the spring, kiwi fruit is best planted. Plant multiples, separating them by 3-4.5m. They must be cultivated in a warm, protected, sunny location, ideally next to a south or west-facing wall, however they can also be planted outside in cooler climates.
For at least the first two years after planting, water newly acquired kiwi fruit during the growing season. If established plants are irrigated during dry spells, especially when the fruit is expanding, they will grow and produce fruit more effectively.
Late in the winter, cover the soil with very well manure or garden compost, but leave an empty space of at least 5 cm (2 in) from around base of the stem to prevent any possibility of rotting.
Kiwi plants require special care, and fertilising them will assure a plentiful harvest of delectable fruits. When springtime growth begins, use a potassium fertiliser like Vitax Q4 or fish, blood, and bonemeal
Kiwi fruits are resilient during the winter while dormant, but in the spring, the young shoots are especially vulnerable to frost damage, which can greatly slow the plant's growth. If plants emerge before the final hard frost in your area, it may be advisable to cover them with fleece.
The best way to cultivate kiwis is as tier-set espaliers that are flush against a fence or wall and have a network of horizontal wires supporting the pair of branches on either side. The goal of pruning is to encourage yearly fruiting growth that emerges from a stable structure.
Three to four years after planting, kiwis normally begin to bear fruit. They can yield a plentiful crop in favourable, warm circumstances, particularly in southern England, particularly if plants are well trimmed. For the fruit to ripen outside, they require an extremely warm, protracted summer.