How to Grow Hardy Kiwi (Kiwi Berry)? The Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta) is a large deciduous vine in the genus Actinidia of the family Actinidiaceae. Its branchlets are basically hairless, or sparsely covered with soft down or fine hairs when young. The leaves are ovate, oblong, broadly ovate to nearly round. The fruit is spherical to columnar-oblong, green-yellow or purplish-red when ripe. It is rich in nutrients and has extremely high cultivation value. Let us take a look at the cultivation techniques for hardy kiwi below!
Growth Habits of Hardy Kiwi
Hardy kiwi grows in fertile soil within coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests and mixed wood forests on shady slopes. Some grow in places with sufficient moisture on sunny slopes. It prefers a cool, humid climate, or beside mountain gullies and streams, and mostly climbs on broad-leaved trees. Its branches and vines are mostly concentrated in the upper part of the canopy. In China, it is distributed from the northernmost banks of the Heilongjiang River to the Wuling mountain region in Guangxi in the south.
Propagation Methods of Hardy Kiwi
Hardy kiwi is propagated by hardwood cuttings. From mid-February to mid-March, collect 1-year-old wild branches that are robust, have plump buds and have not yet sprouted, and store them in low-temperature wet sand or in a cellar. Before cutting, cut them into cuttings 15 cm long with 3 to 4 lateral buds. The upper cut should be made flat 1 cm from the upper bud; the upper cut of the cutting should be made flat about 1.5 cm from the uppermost sprouting bud, and the lower cut should be made diagonally on the back of the bud in a horseshoe shape. Soak the diagonally cut end of the cuttings in a 50 mg/kg aqueous solution of ABT No. 1 rooting powder for 2 to 4 hours. The insertion depth should be such that the bud eye of the sprouting bud left at the upper end of the cutting is 1 cm below the bed surface.
Cultivation Techniques of Hardy Kiwi
1. Site selection and land preparation: For hardy kiwi cultivation, choose mountain land with loose soil, deep soil layers, high humus content, relatively good light conditions and a gentle slope with a semi-sunny aspect. After selecting the site, carry out strip-shaped land preparation to a depth of 20 to 30 cm, and apply 15 to 25 tonnes per hectare of fully decomposed organic fertilizer.
2. Transplanting and planting: After the soil thaws, plant hardy kiwi at a spacing of 2.0 to 2.5 m between plants and 4 to 5 m between rows. When planting, first dig a planting pit and backfill a small amount of soil, place the seedling into the pit, spread out the roots, backfill soil to half the height of the seedling, press down gently, irrigate thoroughly twice, and then cover with soil.
3. Male and female arrangement: Hardy kiwi is dioecious, so attention should be paid to arranging pollinator trees, and the ratio of female to male plants should preferably be 8:1. For newly planted seedlings, water in time to prevent drought, and apply an appropriate amount of topdressing together with irrigation. If there is too much rain, drain water promptly to prevent waterlogging.
4. Trellis setup: Hardy kiwi needs support to climb on. Its horizontally growing branches have more flower buds than upright branches and are easier to manage and harvest, so it is suitable for trellis cultivation. The wooden posts of the trellis are 1.6 to 2.0 m high, and crossbars or wire are installed between the upright posts.
5. Intertillage management: Each year, around the cultivation holes, loosen the soil 2 to 3 times together with weeding to increase ground temperature and soil permeability. The area of loosened soil gradually expands as the tree canopy spreads. When weeding and loosening the soil, take care to avoid damage, and keep the soil near the root zone loose and free of weeds.
6. Water and fertilizer management: Hardy kiwi likes warmth and moisture. If drought occurs, water in time; if rainwater accumulates, drain it promptly; before winter, irrigate with antifreeze water. Fertilization should be frequent, in small amounts and shallow. Apply the first topdressing from spring bud break until new shoots begin to grow, and apply another topdressing in late July.