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Kiwis from our own garden
Cultivating exotic kiwis in their own garden has become possible thanks to the robust and hardy breeds in our climate. The winter hardy shrub from Asia does not need any elaborate care and still delivers consistently good yields.
The creeping shrub native to China feels well in the subtropical regions. The fruits for the German market are delivered all year round from New Zealand, Chile, Italy or Greece. But now the exotic climbing fruit is cultivated successfully even in our latitudes.
Site-appropriate variety choice
In the selection of the plant should be considered primarily the regional climate. For cultivation in the winter-mildew areas, the large-fruited kiwi varieties are quite suitable. The standard variety Heyward, the varieties Starella or Atlas are frost resistant to about -15 ° C. The mini-kiwis tolerate minus temperatures of up to 30 ° C and can therefore be planted in areas with colder climates. The best known of these robust, smooth-shelled, small-fruited varieties is the so-called Bayern Kiwi (also called Weiki).
Care of the outdoor plant
The kiwis are planted in early summer or autumn in sheltered, windless conditions. In the first year of operation, good winter protection in the root area is recommended, as well as hibernation as a tub plant in a frost-free room. Other essentials:
The kiwis are dioecious, d. H. the female plants only bear fruit when a male plant that is suitable as a pollinator grows in the immediate vicinity. A male shrub can fertilize about six to nine female shrubs. The planting distance should be about 1-4 meters. Even the self-fertilizing kiwi varieties bring better yields when several plants grow side by side.
Tips & Tricks
If you want to grow your kiwi plants yourself from seeds or cuttings, you must exercise patience. Ten years may pass before the first flower or harvest.