The kiwi is a fruit full of vitamins! In fact, just one kiwi is enough to get the recommended vitamin C intake for a day. This climbing fruit plant, originally from China, fears neither cold nor disease. The kiwi tree (or Actinidia chinensis) can be male or female, so both plants must be planted together. There are self-fertile plants, but their yield will be much lower. The kiwi is a climbing plant with twining and strong stems. Its culture requires a little patience but remains very easy to achieve. Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to plant, grow and harvest your kiwis!

1) Which kiwi to plant?

You should know that the kiwi needs at least one male and one female plant to grow. The ideal would be to plant two plants of each species to ensure pollination. At most, it takes one male plant for every three to five females. Small gardens can get by with one self-fertile plant, but you will get very few kiwis.

2) When and where to plant the kiwi tree?

The kiwi is planted in autumn, ideally at the end of  September  . The soil must be nutrient-rich, light, well-drained and deep. It has to stay cool, but the kiwi also needs sun, so it’s better to place it in partial shade. Because it is a vigorous and twining plant, grow it near a climbing plant structure such as a pergola (a tree trunk also works). 

3) How do you plant the kiwi tree?

• Dig the planting holes at least 50 cm wide and deep. This should be twice as large as the root ball to be planted.
• Place your feet 4 to 6 m apart.
• Apply a well-rotted organic fertilizer (compost).
• Place the root ball in the center of the hole and fill it with compost.
• Press well.
• Water thoroughly without drowning the roots.

4) Plant care

The kiwi tree fears drought. Make sure the soil always stays moist. Water more in hot weather and much less in cold weather. Apply manure to each foot every fall. In spring, opt for a special fertilizer for fruit trees. In winter, protect young plants from frost with a protective veil. Don’t forget to train the stems as they develop without crowding the branches too much.

Regarding pruning, as long as the tree hasn’t fertilized, there’s not much to do other than level everything out. In January, after fruiting, it is necessary to prune two eyes under each fruit bunch and remove the branches that have borne fruit. In summer, four-leaf shoots must be trimmed.

5) Harvest 

Patience is the key to this culture, because you have to know that the kiwi fruit only begins to bear fruit after about five years. The kiwi is picked in summer before the first frosts. Simply separate it from its stem by twisting it slightly. After about ten years, up to 30 kg of fruit can be harvested per vine!