Buy All Kinds of Hardy kiwi at the Best Price
A little introduction and facts about the storage process of the kiwi fruit are in order before we move on to discussing how to care for hardy kiwi plants during the winter
Store immature and ripened kiwifruit at 32–35 degrees Fahrenheit
For fruit to ripen properly, it must be stored at room temperature in a paper bag with a flap that is only slightly closed for two to three days while being protected from excessive heat and direct sunshine
After the kiwifruit has reached its full maturity and gives slightly to gentle pressure, it should be stored in the refrigerator until it is time to utilize it
Although they are related to the kiwis that we buy at the grocery store, the fruits of A
arguta and A
kolomikta are considerably smaller and have smoother skin than the kiwis that we buy
Because the male and female flowers of the vast majority of varieties are produced by separate plants, you will need to obtain both a male and a female plant, with a ratio of one male to every six females
Because of the length of time required for these plants to reach maturity, you shouldn’t expect to be able to enjoy the fruit right away
The sturdy vines require a strong trellis in order to provide support for themselves
The kiwi, which was once seen by many Americans as belonging to a more “exotic” species, has recently seen a surge in popularity
The egg-sized fruit with the fuzzy skin and brilliantly green flesh that we buy at the grocers is much too tender to be produced in much of the United States
We buy it at the grocers
Don’t worry; the hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta and Actinidia kolomikta) is far more resistant to the cold than other species of kiwi, but it still requires some extra attention during the winter months
The response to this question is very dependent on where you are located and how cold the winters get there
However, A
kolomikta can resist temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas A
arguta can only live-in temperatures as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 degrees Celsius) (-40 C
)
Both varieties produce shoots early on and have the potential to be susceptible to frost, which does not typically kill the plants but does cause some tip burning
Because the plant may have already begun growing buds and young branches, frosts in the spring pose a particularly grave threat
In most cases, a plant that does not yield fruit will die if there is a future frost
These spring frosts also provide a greater risk of harm to the trunks of young plants because of their immaturity
It is less likely that plants that are planted in the ground will require specific winter care of hardy kiwi
Those that are kept in containers are more prone to damage and necessitate the attention of a hardier variety of kiwi during the winter
Either bring the plant indoors to spend the winter there, or if an unusually severe cold snap is forecasted, transfer the plant to a protected spot, mulch the space around it, and cover it with something to shield it from the elements
Be sure to wrap the trunk of young trees in burlap or cover them in leaves
Utilizing sprinklers and heaters within the actual garden itself will, of course, also be of assistance in minimizing cold-related damage to the kiwi
Hand pulling is an effective method for gaining control of hardy kiwi seedlings and tiny vines
Larger plants can be managed through the application of a systemic herbicide, which can be administered as a foliar spray or straight to the stump of the vine after it has been recently cut down
When it comes to plants that are capable of growing high into trees, reducing the amount of damage done to the tree by cutting the vine after the leaves have fallen, treating the stump with a herbicide, and allowing the vine to decompose while still attached to the tree is the most effective strategy
Hardy kiwi facts
In fact, the heart-shaped leaves of the hardy kiwi plant, which are deciduous, add to the plant’s beauty and allow it to climb to heights of over 15 feet
At the beginning of summer, the flowers begin to bloom, and they have a whitish-green coloration with violet-red anthers
They have a wonderful aroma, and their flowers produce an abundance of nectar for the local bee population
When the plant you’ve planted is a female one, or if it’s a self-pollinating variety, the blooming is followed by the emergence of oval berries
This is also the case when the variety is self-fertile
Each berry is far less in size than that of a standard kiwi, and the skin on these berries is silky smooth and very thin
In addition to being sweeter, they have an elevated level of vitamin C and calcium in their composition
The fall is the ideal time to move your tough kiwi to their permanent location in the ground
It is important to keep in mind that if you reside in an area that has hard winters, it is preferable to transplant it in the spring so that it can adjust to its new environment during the summer before experiencing its first frigid winter
To plant your hardy kiwi, first make a hole in the ground that has soil that is cool, rich, bright, and drains well
It detests soil that is constantly wet or frequently flooded
And above all else, it must not be chalky or limestone in consistency
Pick a location that gets plenty of sunlight and, if at all possible, is sheltered from the windiest spots
Dig a planting hole that is two feet (50 cm) across, and make sure there is at least six to ten feet of space between each plant on all sides of the hole
After the bottom of the hole has been covered with a layer of gravel, a mixture of peat and dirt should be poured over it
Place the seedling in an inclined position on the ground
Backfill the hole, stake the young branches, and water the plant generously
The stems should be gently bent vertically
The robust kiwi plant has a reputation for being exceptionally resilient
It can endure temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius)
It is possible to cultivate it outside, in the open air, and directly in the soil in the vast majority of the temperate regions of the planet without encountering any difficulties at all
If at any point you decide to plant hardy varieties of kiwi that do not have the ability to pollinate themselves, you will need to ensure that you plant at least one male specimen in addition to all of the female specimens
This will ensure that the female specimens are able to find pollen and produce fruit
In most cases, just a single male is required to successfully fertilize anywhere from five to six female specimens
The Siberian kiwi vine requires a trellis that is sturdy and powerful (lattice, pergola, tree trunk, fence
) in order to grow successfully
The consistent addition of water will help keep the soil cool throughout the summer
Your tough kiwi will benefit greatly from a layer of plant mulch that is between four and six inches deep (ten to fifteen centimeters), especially on those days when the temperature is extremely high
