The kiwi fruits come to Germany from subtropical regions. Nowadays, growing kiwis in this latitude is no longer an exception for many garden owners. Good returns can be achieved with little effort.
How can I grow kiwi fruit successfully?
To grow kiwis successfully, choose frost-resistant varieties, consider regional climate conditions, plant in a protected location, provide slightly acidic soil and mulch, and use a sturdy trellis. You also need at least one female and one male plant.
The kiwi - also called Chinese gooseberry - is a heat-loving, deciduous, twining shrub with large, hairy leaves and yellowish white flowers. The hardy shrub grows up to 10 meters high and can easily be grown in Germany. The following essential points must be taken into account for successful cultivation:
- Choose frost-resistant varieties,
- take regional climatic conditions into account,
- Protected location is necessary,
- A wall facing south/south-west is best,
- slightly acidic soil and a layer of mulch are recommended,
- Stable, high trellis, pergola or scaffolding make maintenance easier.
Propagate kiwi plants yourself
The experimental and patient gardener grows his kiwi plants himself from seeds or cuttings or offshoots. The cuttings are cut before they sprout in the spring; Offshoots can be grown from long shoots throughout the entire growing season.
The kiwi seeds should be watered before sowing to remove the pulp. They are light germinators and require constant heat and moisture to germinate. The germination time is quite short at 2-3 weeks. However, it can take ten years or more for plants grown from seeds to produce their first harvest.
What to look for when buying kiwi plants
If you want to harvest your own fruits as soon as possible, you can reach your goal faster with the plants you bought. These bear fruit after just two to four years. The mini kiwi varieties, whose fruits are smaller and have a smooth skin that is eaten, are very robust and high-yielding. You also need at least one female and one male plant, which you plant at a maximum distance of four meters from each other.
Tips & Tricks
The monoecious kiwi varieties have male and female flowers on one plant and therefore do not require another pollinator.
