Q&A for How to Grow Kiwifruit

The kiwi berry plant may survive in your area. Zone 4-5 is too cold for the common kiwi.

Limit it to one vine up to the trellis, and then allow two main leaders to spread in different directions.

Kiwi thrive the best in free-draining, fertile soils with pH levels between 5 and 6.8 (acidic).

In order to get fruits, the female kiwi plant needs to be pollinated by a male plant. The latter never bears fruit. In general, a ratio of at least 1 male plant for 7 female plants is recommended. There are also kiwis that are self-pollinating, but cross-pollination will most often result into more fruits.

It is deciduous, so the leaves fall off in late fall, but will leaf out again in the spring.

Yes, mine has done really well on my fence.

Male plants have their fibers more visible and they don't grow white hairs. Females are way more sensitive, grow white hairs and their fibers are not so strong and visible, like the male ones.

Kiwi has very few if any insect pests. As far as growing inside, I'm assuming you're talking about a greenhouse. It would have to be a huge space because it grows so fast. It is not a house plant.

This is totally normal. Wait a couple more years and bring it in if it gets cold. Water it about once every week. If it does not start to bloom in the next 6 months, it probably won't grow.

Yes. If you partially bury the cutting in soil, it will take root.

The roots of Kiwi plants are very sensitive and tend to die when repotted or transferred to another pot. It is recommended that you transfer your kiwifruit to a pot as it germinates, when it is small ( 1-2 months).

Yes, it's 50/50. So you should germinate multiple seeds to guarantee success.

Yes, you can grow kiwi in both India and Pakistan since the summers are hot and warm.

You can plant them outside in the spring, though they will need cover the first few years from hard frost.

Male plants have their fibers more visible and they don't grow white hairs. Females are way more sensitive, grow white hairs and their fibers are not so strong and visible, like the male ones.

You cannot plant kiwifruits outside in the Philippines, but you can grow kiwifruit indoors. Follow the steps in the article to germinate and plant the seeds. The only difference is that you must plant the kiwifruit in a large pot.

Yes, kiwifruit will grow in the Phoenix and surrounding communities, including Tucson.

If you live in the US, you can grow kiwifruit in hardiness zones 7 and 9. If not, you need a frost-free season of 225-240 days since vines leaf out in March, bloom in May, and are harvested in October or early November. Temperatures below 10°F (-12°(C ) in mid-winter will kill all young vines and some old bearing vines. Frost below 30°F (-1°C) in spring will kill shoots and ruin the crop.

Kiwifruit plants require full sun and appreciate some afternoon shade in hot locations. They also need decently rich soil, regular water, and good drainage. If your kiwifuit is not blooming, it may be due to insufficient sunlight, overly dry soil, water-logged soil, or insufficient nutrients in the soil.

Growing kiwifruit from seed is not complicated, but it will take between 3 to 5 years before you can take a bite into your home-grown kiwifruit. Don't worry though, there's plenty to enjoy until your first fruit harvest.

The ideal zones for growing a kiwifruit tree is US hardiness zones 7 through 9. Make sure you have protection from frosts as it will kill the tree, especially in zone 7. If you live in a cooler climate, try growing the hardy kiwifruit.

Yes, you may need to water fruit bearing plants up to four times a week during summer. Kiwifruit vines require large amounts of water, but they also need well-drained soil to avoid water stress.

A frost-free season of 225-240 days is needed for kiwifruit since vines leaf out in March, bloom in May, and are harvested in October or early November. Temperatures below 10°F (-12°(C ) in mid-winter will kill all young plants and some old bearing ones. Frost below 30°F (-1°C) in spring will kill shoots and ruin the crop.

Half a meter (50 centimeters) would work very fine. That would give sufficient space for the root,s as well as an abundant amount of soil and moisture.

Your kiwifruit plant may be too hot. Water it more often and you may want to give it some more shade to allow it to cool down.

Use a small children's paint brush. I have successfully used such a brush to transfer the male pollen to the female flowers.

Use neem oil in a spray bottle, 1 tsp of oil to 1 liter of water. Add castille soap also, 1 tsp to 1 liter water for binding. Spray often after watering. You will see results fast.

If there are many fruits, you can thin out some of the unripe fruits early and use them for chutney or compost them and leave the plant's energy to focus on fewer individual fruits.

It may be harder to grow common kiwi or golden kiwi in such a cold climate; however, kiwi berries would be able to survive the winter and would be a better option for you.