Anyone who plants the kiwi berry naturally wants to bring in the greatest possible harvest. In order for this to succeed, the kiwi berries must be cut regularly. You can find out what you need to know here.
The kiwi berry proves to be a fast-growing liana plant. If you don't want to suddenly find yourself in a jungle of rampant undergrowth in your home garden, annual pruning measures are essential. Not only do the long tendrils appear unattractive, the plants in question will not be able to convince with high yields either, as they invest all their energy in the development of meter-long and misshapen shoots.
The hobby gardener can use the vines as a guide for the pruning measures.
Espalier training
In order to keep the effort as low as possible and still achieve the best possible harvest, trellis training is a good idea. A stable trellis is provided with four horizontal wires. The top wire should run at a height of about 1.5 meters. Attach the lowest wire at a height of about 30 centimeters and attach the two remaining wires in between.
After planting, only the strongest shoot is left on the plant. The shoot is shortened to about 50 centimeters and attached vertically to the lowest of the tension wires.
» Tip: A soft PVC hollow cord should be used for attachment so as not to damage the plant.
During the growth period, the shoots are extended. This in turn is guided perpendicularly to the next tension wire and tied there. The shoot is shortened about 15 centimeters above the tension wire. New side shoots soon formed. Only the strongest of the new shoots are left on the plant and guided horizontally along the lower wire.
Further side shoots will form on these leading shoots, which will form the basis for the development of flowers and later ripening of the fruit. The shoots are shortened to about five leaves behind the fruit in midsummer. Once the mini kiwis have been harvested, the shoot can be cut back further. One or two buds should remain.So that the leading shoots do not grow unnecessarily high, they are also cut back annually.
» Tip: Kiwiberries should preferably be cut in summer or autumn. Pruning back in spring would cause severe wounds and cause the plant to bleed profusely.
The cut 1×1 based on the grapevine
- Young plants are prevented from squirming uncontrollably.
- Attach one or two shoots to the trellis and guide them vertically upwards.
- Initially remove all side shoots.
- Thin shoots less than five millimeters in circumference are removed.
- Shortening of whip shoots - July to August
- In the fourth year you start cutting out thin and twisting shoots in late winter
Female plants will be easy to train. Hedge trimmers should be used after a few years for the fast-growing male plants.
The easy way
For hobby gardeners who find trellis training too time-consuming and complicated, there is another way. However, this should affect the crop yield.
Kiwiberries can be treated as normal climbing plants. To do this, let the plant grow along a pergola. The main shoots are led up in different directions. Once the fruit has been harvested, the mini kiwi is thinned out a little.
» Tip: Kiwiberries generally take pruning very well and shoots that are too long or bothersome can be cut back at any time during the growing season.
Why should kiwiberries be cut?
- Kiwiberries are very vigorous.
- Kiwiberries can grow uncontrollably.
- Kiwiberries need an annual pruning to look attractive.
- Pruning promotes flowering
- Pruning enhances the visual appearance of the plants.
- Pruning removes old and diseased parts of the plant.
How to improve fruit size?
So-called axillary shoots form on perennial side shoots. This is where the flowers come from. In order to improve the quality of the fruit, the old fruiting wood should be cut back to the young fruiting wood. This process is called fruit wood rotation. These pruning measures are preferably carried out in summer. The kiwiberries can also be pruned in January or early February when the plant is dormant. Because the interfaces in March and April throughIf the sap would bleed profusely, pruning should be avoided at this point.
Incision measures for diseases
Although kiwiberries are known to be quite hardy plants, disease or pest infestations can occasionally occur. One reason for this can be root rot caused by a location that is too damp or an infestation with scale insects. While any help often comes too late when the roots rot, the plants can usually be saved by pruning them if they are fungal diseases or infested with pests. Pruning measures should take place immediately if diseased parts of the plant are noticed. The mini kiwis tolerate pruning very well and will recover within a short time and develop new shoots.