How many years does a kiwifruit tree generally take to bear fruit?
Kiwifruit is also known as qiyiguo, fox peach, vine pear, sheep peach, etc. It is an ancient wild vine fruit tree native to China. It is named kiwifruit because macaques like to eat it, and there is also a saying that it is named because its skin is covered with hair resembling a macaque. It has extremely high cultivation value. The history of artificial cultivation among the people reaches more than a thousand years. Let us take a look below at how many years it takes for a kiwifruit tree to bear fruit!
How many years does a kiwifruit tree take to bear fruit?
Kiwifruit is a large deciduous woody vine with separate male and female plants. Under normal circumstances, it generally takes 5 years to bear fruit. If managed properly, it can bear fruit as early as 4 years. So-called proper management means that fertilizer can keep up every year. Of course, when fertilizing, remember to apply thin fertilizer frequently, and never apply a large amount of fertilizer at one time, so as to avoid fertilizer damage that burns the plants to death.
Ripening time of kiwifruit
The flowering period of kiwifruit is June, and the fruit ripening period is August to October. The berry is ovate to oblong, with a cross-sectional radius of about 3 cm, densely covered with yellow-brown branched long soft hairs. The mature fruit is about the size of a duck egg. The dark brown skin with hair is generally not eaten, while inside is bright green flesh and multiple rows of black seeds. It is named because the skin is covered with hair, resembling a macaque.
Growing environment of kiwifruit
1. Climate: Kiwifruit is a sun-loving tree species, tolerant of partial shade, fond of cool and humid environments, and afraid of drought, waterlogging, and wind. It is cold-tolerant but not tolerant of late spring frost. It is advisable to choose areas with a mild climate, sufficient light, abundant rainfall, relatively even precipitation during the growing season, high air humidity, and fewer early and late frost and freezing injuries. Generally, it can be planted from 800 to 1800 m, but 1000 to 1600 m elevation is more suitable.
2. Soil: For kiwifruit growth, deep and fertile soil with good aeration, a groundwater level below 1 m, high organic matter content, and a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 slightly acidic sandy soil is suitable. Strongly acidic or alkaline soil needs to be improved before cultivation.
3. Light: Kiwifruit likes light but is afraid of sunburn. Wild plants basically grow on shady slopes or semi-shady slopes and by riversides. It has a very strong ability to use diffused light. Even growing wrapped around and dependent on a large tree is no problem, but it cannot be too shaded. If there is a severe lack of light, branches will die. In plain terms, it likes sunlight but is afraid of high temperatures.
4. Temperature: Temperature is the main factor limiting the distribution, growth, and development of kiwifruit. Each species has a suitable temperature range, and beyond this range it grows poorly or cannot survive. Most kiwifruit species require a warm and humid climate, that is, a subtropical or temperate humid or semi-humid climate.
5. Fertilization: Kiwifruit likes fertilizer but is afraid of burning. Once it lacks inorganic nutrients, it shows phenomena such as yellowing, small leaves, and stopped growth. Therefore, kiwifruit is relatively sensitive to fertilizer nutrients, but the fleshy root system is also very sensitive to soil salt concentration (especially during continuous high temperature and drought), thus forming a new set of contradictions. In production, a method of applying fertilizer in small amounts multiple times is required, which can meet nutrient needs without causing fertilizer damage. This is what is meant by kiwifruit liking fertilizer but being afraid of burning.
6. Water: Kiwifruit likes water but is afraid of waterlogging. In summer, leaf transpiration is very vigorous, and water demand is relatively large. Therefore, from June to August, it is generally required to maintain soil moisture content at 70%, which is ideal. At the same time, however, the root system of kiwifruit is a fleshy root with strong respiration and needs more oxygen in the soil, that is, it requires necessary soil aeration. Therefore, according to the growth and decline relationship between soil water and air, it should not be watered too much.