How to Grow Kiwi Fruit in Alaska

Kiwi fruit grows on vines in sun and partial shade.

Kiwi fruit, also known as Chinese gooseberries, hail from Southwestern China. This small tropical fruit traveled to the Western world in the early 1900s and promptly found a home as an exotic addition to kitchen fruit dishes. All 50 species of kiwi fruit grow on long creeping vines, which require protection from frost, full sun and adequate moisture. In USDA Growing zones 1 to 4 of Alaska, where spring comes late and fall comes early, it's a good idea to grow kiwi fruit vines in pots inside, to protect them.

Things You'll Need

• 10-gallon pots
• Stakes
• Fertilizer
• Quick-draining potting soil
• Organic compost

Instructions

1. Prepare 10-gallon or larger pots for kiwi fruit planting. Make sure that the pots have drainage holes for adequate drainage, and use heavy pots to balance the kiwi vines' long, heavy growth. Fill the pots 3/4 full with a combination of half quick-draining potting soil and half organic compost, and mix 2 to 4 oz. of 10-10-10 fertilizer into each pot before planting. Plant at least two kiwi fruit vines to produce fruit. Kiwi fruit vines are either male or female, and cannot pollinate themselves.

2. Plant kiwi fruits after the last frost in Alaska, which may range from May to July depending on your region. This gives the new vines time to take advantage of what summer there is, and will allow you to keep the vines outdoors during the warm summer months. Plant the seedlings deeply enough to submerge their root balls, and give them 1 to 2 inches of water.

3. Put kiwi fruit vines outdoors in the summer, in a spot where they'll get full sun. Although kiwi vines can grow in partial shade, it's important that they soak up as much warmth as possible in the cooler climate of Alaska, so keep them out of the shade. Water the vines with 2 inches of water a week, and put a stake or trellis into each pot to train the vines up toward the sun.

4. Move kiwi fruit indoors well before the first frost in Alaska, which may occur from early August to early October depending on region. Don't allow your kiwi fruit to sit outside in temperatures lower than 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the pots in a sunny location inside, where they will still receive six to eight hours of natural or artificial light every day. Maintain regular watering schedule when the plants are indoors.

References

• USA Gardener: How to Grow Hardy Kiwi
• Oregon State University: Growing Kiwifruit
• Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Kiwifruit and Hardy Kiwi
• Victory Seeds: Average First and Last Frost Dates for Alaska
• Growit.com: Alaska USDA Hardiness Zone Map