Kiwi

Info

Kiwifruit (Kiwi) is the edible fruit of Actinidia Deliciosa, and hybrids between this species and others in the genus Actinidia. Originally known as the Chinese Gooseberry, the fruit was renamed for marketing reasons in the mid-20th century, first to melonette, and then to kiwifruit. The latter name was chosen for the indigenous New Zealand bird, kiwi, which is one of the country's national symbols. The first renaming was done in order to avoid a tariff on melons imported into the US. It is not uncommon outside New Zealand and Australia for the fruit to be referred to simply as "kiwi". Today, kiwifruit is a commercial crop in several countries.

The kiwifruit is a vigorous, woody vine or climbing shrub that can reach up to 30 ft. Its leaves are deciduous, oval to nearly circular, and can be 3 to 5 inches long. Young leaves and shoots are coated with red hairs; mature leaves are dark-green and hairless on the upper surface with light-colored veins beneath. The oval or oblong fruit, can be up to 2 1/2 inches long, with russet-brown skin densely covered with short brown hairs. The flesh is firm until fully ripe, juicy, and bright-green, or sometimes yellow. Some varieties contain scattered dark-purple or nearly black seeds, unnoticeable in eating.

Varieties

  • Issai

    Mid season. Self-fertile plant. Oblong fruit up to 1 ¾” long; smooth, fuzzless, thin skin. Sweet flesh, high in vitamins and fiber. Grape-like vines need support. Fruit is seedless. Produces second year. Less vigorous. Thrives almost anywhere except very wet soil. Lives up to 50 years. Dislikes full sun.

Care and Maintenance

  1. Preparing the Hole

    Dig the hole as deep as the root ball, and as much as three times as wide as the diameter of the root ball. Breaking up the soil around the tree provides the newly emerging roots room to grow into loose soil to hasten establishment.

  2. Placing Your Tree

    Place the tree carefully in the center of the hole after removing it from the container. The tree's root collar (the bulge right above the root system) should be just above the top of the soil. Don't dig the hole too deep. It is better if the root collar is slightly (1 to 2") higher than ground level because of possible setting.

  3. Filling the Hole

    Carefully fill the hole with soil when the tree is positioned and straight. Fill the hole about 1/3 full and lightly push the soil around the base of the root ball. Fill the remainder of the hole taking care to gently but firmly pack soil to eliminate air pockets that may cause the roots to dry out. Don't plant the tree too deep. Back fill the soil to the height just below the root collar.

  4. Mulching

    Place 2 to 4 inches of mulch in a 2 to 3 foot circle around the tree. Keep the mulch from touching the trunk to keep fungus from growing on the trunk. Mulch can be aged wood chips or bark. Mulch helps keep roots moist and insulates them, and prevents weed growth. It is not recommended to apply fertilizer at the time of planting.

  5. Watering

    Water the tree well as soon as you plant it. Water the tree at least once a week for the first year after planting. A slow, root-saturating, one-hour trickle once a week is recommended for a new tree. The watering schedule should be adjusted accordingly if it rains or is very dry.