How to Plant Kiwi Seed
Once known as Chinese gooseberry in Europe, the kiwi first came to the United States in the early 1900s. Fuzzy, brown and oblong, the kiwi does not require peeling before eating. The kiwi plant has a life expectancy of 50 years. If you live within USDA hardiness zone seven through nine, you can grow a kiwi plant from the seeds of a kiwi fruit. But keep in mind, you must plant more than one kiwi plant, spaced 10 feet apart, in order for the plants to produce kiwi fruits in three to four years. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Kiwi seeds
- Paper towel
- Plastic baggie
- Perlite
- Refrigerator
- 6-inch pot
- Spray bottle
- Water
- Saran wrap
- Rubber band
- Well-drained soil
- Soil pH testing kit
- Soaker hose
- Fertilizer
Instructions
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1
Remove the seeds from a piece of kiwi fruit and lay them on a paper towel to dry out. Place the seeds in an area where they will remain undisturbed for two days.
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2
Fill a plastic baggie with perlite. Add the dried kiwi seeds to the perlite, seal the baggie and place it in the refrigerator for a minimum of four months.
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3
Fill a 6-inch pot with sterilized potting soil. Remove the kiwi seeds from the refrigerator and plant them in the potting soil at a depth of 1/8 of an inch.
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4
Moisten the soil with a spray bottle of water and cover the pot with a piece of saran wrap, secured with a rubber band. Place the pot in a warm area while the kiwi seeds germinate.
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5
Remove the plastic wrap once the kiwi seeds begin to sprout, and continue spraying the kiwi seeds with water to keep the soil moist. Place the pot in an area that receives direct sunlight for at least six hours per day.
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6
Transplant the kiwi seedlings outdoors, in the spring, in well-drained soil that has a pH between 5.5 to 7.0. Test the soil to determine the acidity before planting, using a soil pH testing kit. If necessary, amend the soil with lime raise the pH and peat moss to lower it.
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7
Water the kiwi plants at a rate of 1-inch of water per week for the first year, using a soaker hose. Fertilize the kiwi with a 10-10-10 fertilizer according to label instructions.
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Tips & Warnings
Applying a layer of mulch around the kiwi plants will reduce weed growth and improve drainage. Use straw, grass clippings or bark chips for mulch.
Do not over water the kiwi plants. Check the soil before watering. If it feels moist 1-inch down, do not run the soaker hose. Instead, wait a few days and check the soil again.
