Kiwi what? Yes, you read correctly. There are not only the big hairy kiwis, but also kiwiberries. It's even easier to plant them here.
When we talk about kiwis, we think of the large, hairy fruits you can buy in the supermarket or their relatives with a smooth skin and yellowish flesh. These varieties are only suitable to a limited extent for cultivation in our latitudes, because mild winters are a prerequisite for the plants to survive the cold season at all. It is therefore always advisable to plant kiwis in a bucket. The small kiwiberries are far more robust. They defy even severe frosts and the cultivation is rewarded with a rich harvest of the small vitamin bombs. Find out now what to consider when planting kiwiberries.
What species can be planted?
The world of kiwis is more colorful than you might think. There are over 100 kiwi species. In fact, only the commercially available fruits are referred to as kiwis. All other varieties are called kiwi berries. The different species differ in the color of their skin and also in their shape. There are round to elongated variants with a green, yellowish or reddish skin and corresponding flesh. Some varieties are particularly suitable for growing in your own garden, as they have a compact growth habit and the first fruits can be harvested in the second year after planting. The following varieties appear particularly suitable:
- Jassei
- Issai
- Cinderella
- Julia
Issai is one of the most popular kiwi berries in the orchard. The smooth-skinned fruits have an aromatic kiwi taste and are also well suited for the small orchard. Other popular varieties include:
| Kiwiberry Style | Special Features |
|---|---|
| Nostino | The male plant is well suited as a pollinator for the female kiwi berries. Even partially self-fertile species gain in yield and fruit size through cross-pollination with Nostino. The flowers appear in May. |
| Maki | The female plant willparticularly valued for their aromatic fruits. The first fruits can be harvested in the second year after planting. |
| Ken's Red | A special feature of this red-skinned variety is the red flesh. If the plant gets enough sun and nutrients, the fruits even get an almost purple color. |
Always plant kiwiberries in pairs
This is not uncommon with kiwiberries and is a must for most species if the plants are to bear fruit. Although the varieties recommended for growing in the home garden are considered conditionally self-pollinating, this is not a guarantee of a bountiful harvest. If male plants are also planted as pollinators, this will definitely have a positive effect on the yield. Between six and eight female mini kiwis can be fertilized with just one male kiwi berry.
Male or female?
How can male plants be distinguished from female plants? This can be done using the flowers. The flowers of the female plants are surrounded by a wreath of radially arranged styles. Male flowers do not have this crown.
How to grow kiwiberries yourself
Find the right location:
The original home of the mini kiwifruit is in the northern and eastern regions of Asia. There, the small kiwiberries are mostly found in forests, where they wind up the trees like lianas. In order for you to have a rich harvest, the crowns of the plants should get enough sun. A very hot location, on the other hand, is less suitable. The root area should preferably be in partial shade.
According to the natural conditions, the plants feel particularly at home on tree edges. East and west locations are ideal. However, north and south locations are also tolerated.
The ideal location in keywords:
- sunny in the crown area
- partial shade in the root area
- wind protected
- near the tree
Tip:
On hot days, a layer of mulch can protect the root area from excessive sunlight. Otherwise the roots could die off, which is reflected in brown and curled leaves
Select the right substrate:
The kiwiberries thrive best in loose and well-drained soil. The soil should not overheat, as this will damage the delicate roots. Similar to the native raspberry, these run flat under the surface.
As a typical forest plant, the mini kiwi loves a nutrient-rich substrate. A sandy soil makes it easy for the plants to take root well. Limestone soils are less well tolerated. However, the kiwi berries are less sensitive to calcareous soils than the large kiwi fruits. You should enrich heavy soils with compost or peat. This gives the plants an effective long-term fertilizer. However, the soil can also be slightly acidic. A pH between 5 and 6.5 is ideal. A higher pH can lead to a lack of magnesium or iron.
The ideal substrate in keywords:
- loose
- permeable
- nutrient rich pH between 5 and 6.5
- limescale
Planting kiwiberries - step by step instructions
The best planting time for the kiwiberries is in May, after the ice saints. Then the plant has enough time to root well and gather strength for the winter. In theory, however, the mini kiwis can be planted well into August. Proceed as follows when planting:
- Select location.
- Loosen the soil to a depth of at least 40 centimetres.
- Water the root ball.
- Dig the planting hole.
- Put plant in.
- Enrich and fill up the soil with compost, peat or horn shavings.
- Close the planting hole.
- Water the plant generously.
- Provide a layer of mulch of leaves, pine needles or grass clippings around the plant.
Tip:
If you plant several kiwiberries, make sure they are spaced sufficiently apart. The minimum distance is one meter. Experts even recommend two meters and more, since the roots of the kiwiberries need a lot of space. Also, male kiwiberries grow faster than female plants. A planting distance of 2.5 meters is therefore ideal so that the female plants are not pushed out and overgrown.
Proper care for young plants
You should water the young plants regularly, especially on hot days. If you have added sufficient organic material when planting, the young plants will not need any additional fertilization for the first two years.
After two to three years, the young plants will bear fruit for the first time. You can then tell the degree of ripeness of the fruit by the intensive coloring of the skin.