Kiwis are harvested in late autumn. The brown, hairy fruits of the Actinidia deliciosa are hard when harvested and must be stored in a cool place for a few weeks before they are ready to eat. The smooth-skinned fruits of the Actinidia arguta can be harvested ready to eat.
Kiwi is the berry fruit of the Chinese radiate pen, originally from Asia. The fruits grow on a deciduous, high climbing shrub that is not only cultivated in the subtropical climate zones, but also in this country by many hobby gardeners.
The first harvest
Varieties selected according to the location provide good yields from about the 3-5 year. At least one male and one female plant are required for fertilization, whereby the distance between the two should not exceed four meters. Incidentally, a male plant can fertilize up to seven female plants.
The right harvest time
When the foliage of the kiwifruit bush turns yellow and the leaves begin to fall to the ground, it is time to harvest the kiwifruit. The smooth-skinned mini kiwis are harvested at the end of September and the hairy fruits of the Actinidia deliciosa or Actinidia chinensis between the end of October and the beginning of November:
- Harvest mini kiwis when ripe or green,
- Harvest large kiwi varieties unripe,
- Leave the fruit to ripen for a few weeks at 10-15° C until they are fully ripe for consumption,
- for longer storage temperatures of about 5° C are recommended,
- Bring fruits intended for consumption into a warm place and keep them together with apples for a few days.
Harvest before or after the first frost?
Opinions often differ on this question. Nobody doubts that the fruits should stay on the bush for as long as possible in order to taste better. However, some gardeners recommend harvesting the kiwifruit after the first frost, otherwise there is a risk that they will remain sour. Others, on the other hand, do not believe that the frost promotes ripening and advise that the fruit be removed before the first frost.
tips and tricks
In order to harvest fruit in our latitudes, the sensitive blossoms must be protected from late frosts.
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