The foliage of the deciduous kiwi bush turns yellow in late autumn and gradually falls off. After the fruit is removed, the kiwi plant remains dormant until spring and may need some winter protection.
How to protect kiwis in winter?
In order to overwinter kiwis successfully, outdoor plants in protected locations and young bushes should also be covered with mulch (€14.00 at Amazon), leaves or brushwood. Potted plants should be stored frost-free and dark in the first year, while more robust mini kiwis can withstand temperatures down to -30°C.
Overwintering the outdoor plant
Kiwis planted in a protected location are well protected from frost damage. However, it is still advisable, especially for young kiwi bushes, to cover the soil at the roots with mulch (€14.00 on Amazon), leaves or brushwood in winter. If the shrubs are planted in early summer, they have a better chance of overwintering.
Overwintering the potted plant
The young bushes planted in autumn should be given winter protection or overwintered as a container plant in a frost-free, dark room in the first year. Later it becomes more difficult as the twining bushes can grow up to 10 meters high.
Tips & Tricks
The more frost-resistant mini kiwis of the Actinidia kolomikta are absolutely robust and hardy down to -30° C.
