As more people become health conscious the interest in Kiwi is growing. Growing Kiwi, though, can be a little bit difficult, especially for an inexperienced gardener.
Often, Kiwi plants die in the first year because of neglect after transplanting or (more commonly) root rot because the soil is not draining properly for them. If you grow your Kiwi in a five-gallon container for the first year you’ll have a much better chance of avoiding these problems.

When your plant is well established and you do decide to remove it from the container, make sure you plant it when the danger of frost is passed, or well before first frost.  A Kiwi plant in a container can die if it is exposed to frost, and a newly transplanted one would not fare much better.

Even though it’s called the ‘Hardy Kiwi’ it’s actually rather delicate. Kiwi needs a male and female to produce fruit.  One male can fertilize up to 8 females.

Compost in the hole when planting the Kiwi can help the plant to grow but is not required, and the plant must also be pruned back to only two buds.  When the buds become shoots, pick the best one and use it as the main trunk of the new plant, tying it or staking it to keep it upright.

When it’s tall enough cut its growing tip and shoots will begin to form. Save the best few for the main branches and prune the others back.  Pruning each year is required, but the Kiwi is worth the extra effort.

Subscribe to www.GardenMandy.com by Email

 Email this post to a friend.