How to Grow Hardy Kiwi? A Detailed Guide to Planting Considerations

Hardy kiwi is a new type of fruit. It is smaller than the common kiwi, and it also differs from the kiwi in one major way: it can be eaten without peeling. Because of people's curiosity about it, along with its own excellent taste and nutritional value, it quickly spread across the country, and people in many places rushed to join this popular crop. However, not all places are suitable for growing it, so today let's take a look at the considerations for planting it.

1. Soil

The root system of hardy kiwi is not particularly well developed. It does not go deep into the soil layer like other fruit trees; it generally stays only in the shallow layer of the soil. So naturally there are certain requirements for the growing soil. It is best to plant it in sandy soil or loam with moderate or slightly alkaline pH. The soils it dislikes most are those with very high clay content and those that are especially wet. It can also be grown in other soils, but the yield will still be somewhat affected.

2. Time

With hardy kiwi, pay attention to the planting time. Usually we plant in February and March of spring and in September and October of autumn each year. During these periods, the soil temperature is most suitable for hardy kiwi to take root and sprout and for the growth of branches and leaves, so the survival rate of hardy kiwi planted during these times is at least two-thirds higher than that of planting at other times. However, climate and temperature differ somewhat from region to region, so you can determine the best planting time according to local conditions.

3. Density

To make later field management easier and to increase the yield of hardy kiwi, we need to pay attention to the distance between each row and each plant when planting, and plant according to a reasonable planting density. Hardy kiwi is usually planted at a spacing of 2 m to 3 m between plants and 4 m to 5 m between rows. This not only makes full use of the land but also maintains light and air circulation in the field, so no shading occurs. This can also reduce the harm of pests and diseases to a certain extent.

4. Pollination

One disadvantage of hardy kiwi is that it is not monoecious. If the seedlings are not planted properly, it is very likely that no fruit will be produced in the entire field. So when planting, we usually follow a ratio of one male seedling for every eight female seedlings, so as to ensure the pollination success rate of hardy kiwi.

5. Trellising

After the seedlings grow to a certain height, they need supports to grow along. In this way, even if they bear a lot of fruit, the branches will not break because they cannot bear the weight of the fruit. Generally, one support is set under each seedling, and then each support is connected with wire or rope. This makes later picking convenient and also ensures the fruiting rate of hardy kiwi.

6. Weeding

Hardy kiwi has another very unique point. For many fruit trees, herbicides can be used for weeding, which is simple, convenient and thorough. But hardy kiwi cannot be sprayed with any chemicals, as any chemical will affect the survival of hardy kiwi seedlings. So for its weeding management, we can only use intertillage weeding and hand pulling.