How to Grow a Mini Kiwi
Actinidia arguta, commonly referred to as "hardy kiwi", "mini kiwi" and "bower actinidia", is a deciduous vine that grows very quickly. It typically grows 15 to 20 feet per year to a maximum length of 25 to 30 feet. There are many varieties of this vine available but the "Issai" cultivar is the only one with perfect flowers which do not require a male for pollination. All other cultivars must have one male cultivar to pollinate up to eight female vines for fruit production. Purchase male and female cultivars that bloom at the same time. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Rototiller
- Trellis or arbor
- Bamboo stakes 3 to 4 feet long each
- Mini kiwi vines
- Pruning shears
- Fertilizer
Instructions
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Planting
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1
Choose a planting site that receives at least four to six hours of direct sunlight per day where the vine will be protected from strong winds. Have the soil tested by the local county Extension office. Mini kiwi requires an acid to neutral soil with a pH between 6.1 and 7.5.
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2
Prepare the planting site in the fall. Clear existing vegetation. Use a dirt shovel or rototiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Multiple vines are planted 8 to 10 feet apart with rows spaced 15 feet apart. Till in recommended soil amendments and add sand to heavy clay soil to improve drainage. Add well-aged manure or compost sparingly unless the soil is extremely infertile.
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3
Set a trellis in place before planting the vine. Construct a wire trellis similar to grape vine trellises or, for a single vine, an arbor can be used.
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4
Insert a 3- to 4-foot tall bamboo stake into the ground in front of a wire trellis where the vine will be planted to allow it to climb to the trellis. Plant the vines in front of the bamboo stake in early spring at the same depth or 1 to 2 inches deeper than it was previously growing. Trim the newly planted vine back to two growth buds.
Water the vine generously at planting. Continue to water it once or twice per week to keep the soil moist throughout the first year. Mulch to a depth of 3 to 4 inches with pine bark mulch.
Maintenance
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5
Train the main stem to grow up the bamboo stake to the wire trellis. Prune off lateral shoots that develop from the main stem below the first wire. Choose two strong lateral shoots to grow along the wire when the main stem reaches the first wire. Prune the tip of the main stem and train the shoots to grow along the wire in either direction as main fruit producing cordons. Prune off smaller shoots that grow from the main stem. Maintain small branches 8 to 10 inches apart on the cordons.
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6
Prune the cordons back to eight to 10 growth buds in early winter after the vine has gone dormant whether it is grown on a wire trellis or arbor. Continue to prune the vines back in this manner every year. Trim fruit-producing stems back to the cordons after the mini kiwi fruits are harvested. Fruit production does not begin until the fourth or fifth year of growth.
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7
Do not give the mini kiwi vines fertilizer the first year. Give the vine 2 oz. of balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in the spring of the second year after the first leaves appear. Increase the amount of fertilizer to 4 oz. in the third spring and 6 oz. in the fourth spring. Additional high nitrogen fertilizer may be given every four weeks from first leaf until July if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Exercise caution when giving fertilizer to this vine as it may cause overly vigorous growth. It is also susceptible to root burn from fertilizers.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Kemper Center For Home Gardening: Actinidia arguta
- Culture Sheet: Actinidia arguta (Sieb. & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq.
- Purdue Univ. Cooperative Ext. Service: Dept. of Horticulture: Annual and Perennial Vines
- Oklahoma State Univ.: Oklahoma Gardening Information Sheet (#3643): Planting Hardy Kiwifruit
- Zipcode Zoo: Actinidia arguta 'Issai'
