Cultivating exotic kiwis in your own garden has also become possible in our climate thanks to the robust and hardy breeds. The hardy creeper from Asia does not need any extensive care and still delivers consistently good yields.
The climbing shrub native to China feels at home in subtropical regions. The fruit for the German market is delivered all year round from New Zealand, Chile, Italy and Greece. But now the exotic climbing fruit is also successfully cultivated in our latitudes.
Site-appropriate choice of variety
When choosing the plant, the regional climate should be considered in the first place. The large-fruited kiwi varieties are quite suitable for cultivation in regions with mild winters. The standard variety Heyward, the varieties Starella or Atlas are frost-resistant down to around -15°C. The mini kiwis tolerate temperatures down to minus 30° C and can therefore also be planted in areas with a colder climate. The best-known of these robust, smooth-skinned, small-fruited varieties is the so-called Bavarian kiwi (also called Weiki).
Care of the outdoor plant
The kiwis are planted in early summer or autumn in a sheltered, windless location. In the first year, good winter protection in the root area is recommended, if necessary overwintering as a container plant in a frost-free room. Other essentials:
- humus-rich, slightly acidic soil,
- high water demand in summer,
- economical fertilization from the 2nd year,
- a climbing aid.
The kiwis are dioecious, i. H. the female plants will only bear fruit if a male plant, which is suitable as a pollinator, grows in the immediate vicinity. A male shrub can pollinate about six to nine female shrubs. The planting distance should be about 1-4 meters. The self-pollinating kiwi varieties also produce better yields when several plants are grown side by side.
tips and tricks
If you want to grow your own kiwi plants from seeds or cuttings, you have to be patient. Ten years can pass before the first flowering or harvest.