Kiwis are harvested in late autumn. The brown, hairy fruits of Actinidia deliciosa are hard when harvested and must be stored in a cool place for a few weeks until they are ready to eat. The smooth-skinned fruits of Actinidia arguta can be harvested ready to eat.
When is the right time to harvest kiwis?
Kiwi fruit should be harvested when the bush's foliage turns yellow and the leaves fall to the ground. Mini kiwis can be harvested ripe or green, while large kiwi varieties should be harvested unripe and allowed to ripen later at 10-15°C.
Kiwi is the berry fruit of the Chinese ray pen, which originally comes from Asia. The fruits grow on a deciduous, tall climbing shrub that is successfully cultivated by many hobby gardeners not only in the subtropical climate zones, but also in this country.
The first harvest
Varieties selected according to the location deliver good yields from around the 3-5th year onwards. To fertilize you need at least one male and one female plant, with the distance between the two not exceeding four meters. Incidentally, one male plant can fertilize up to seven female plants.
The right harvest time
When the foliage of the kiwi bush turns yellow and the leaves begin to fall to the ground, the harvest time for the kiwis has come. The smooth-shelled mini kiwi varieties are harvested at the end of September and the hairy fruits of Actinidia deliciosa or Actinidia chinensis between the end of October and the beginning of November:
- Harvest mini kiwis when ripe or green,
- harvest large kiwi varieties unripe,
- Let the fruits ripen for a few weeks at 10-15° C until they are fully ripe for consumption,
- temperatures of around 5° C recommended for longer storage,
- Bring fruit intended for consumption into a warm place and storing it with apples for a few days.
Harvest before or after the first frost?
Opinions often differ on this question. No one doubts that the fruits should stay on the bush as long as possible for better taste. However, some gardeners recommend harvesting the kiwi fruits after the first frost, otherwise there is a risk that they will remain sour. Others, on the other hand, do not believe that frost promotes ripeness and recommend that the fruits be removed before the first frost.
Tips & Tricks
In order to harvest fruit in our latitudes, the sensitive flowers must be protected from late frosts.