The first flower buds of the early kiwifruit varieties can be seen as early as the second half of April, while the late varieties appear from the beginning of May. About 4-6 weeks later you can admire the kiwi plant in full bloom.
The buds are also called eyes in fruit growing. A distinction is made according to location and content
- lateral or terminal buds,
- leaf or flower buds.
The flower buds of the kiwis form on the previous year's wood. With some kiwi species you can tell from the number of buds whether they are male or female flowers. The male plants of the Actinidia arguta usually form more than six flower buds per fruit shoot, while the females usually only have half as many buds. The male plants of the Actinidia kolomikta can also be recognized by the white or pink leaf tips.
Male and female flowers
If the kiwi plant you bought as a female is flowering but not fruiting, then it is probably a male kiwi. The flowers of the male and female kiwis are easy to distinguish. While the center of the male flower only has yellow stamens, the center of the female flower also contains the white style surrounded by yellow stamens.
fertilization
Kiwis are dioecious plants. Only female plants can bear fruit. However, fruit can only develop from their flowers if a male plant, which is necessary for fertilization, is also growing nearby. One male plant is enough to pollinate six to nine female bushes.
Many cultivars with hermaphroditic flowers are commercially available, e.g. B. Jenny or Issai, on which male and female organs unite in one flower. These are self-fertile and do not depend on pollinating plants. However, it is advisable to plant a pollinator in the immediate vicinity for better yields, even with the self-pollinating varieties.
tips and tricks
The commercially available kiwi plants are grafted and bloom after only 3-4 years.