The kiwi bush, which comes from China, can be cultivated as a pot plant in the home garden. To do this, you need a sufficiently large container with a good substrate and a thick drainage layer. Consistent cutting and suitable climbing aid are also important.
What do you need to grow kiwis in a container?
To cultivate kiwis in a container, you need a large planter, acidic substrate, a drainage layer, a climbing aid and regular pruning. At least one female and one male plant should be planted next to or together in order to harvest fruit.
Among the exotic species, kiwi is considered easy to care for and robust. Keeping them in the pot can only be made more difficult by the fact that the kiwi plants are very fast-growing. They can reach heights of up to 10 meters in optimally chosen locations. Therefore, when purchasing, choose not only a variety that is sufficiently hardy for your region, but also a variety that is weak-growing.
Location and care of the potted kiwi
Since you need at least one female and one male plant to harvest the fruit, a large planter (€75.00 on Amazon) - enough for two plants - or two pots standing next to each other is required. The self-pollinating kiwi varieties also produce better if you plant more than one plant next to each other.
A good substrate with a pH value in the acidic range is particularly important for the kiwi plants in the pot. Otherwise, the same applies to the kiwi in the pot as to the outdoor plant:
- A warm, sheltered location is ideal,
- a stable climbing aid is needed,
- Do not fertilize young plants at all, fertilize older plants sparingly,
- water a lot in midsummer,
- A good drainage layer is required to avoid waterlogging,
- A layer of mulch maintains moisture and the pH value.
Cutting the bucket kiwi
In order to keep the kiwi bush, which tends to overgrow, permanently in the pot, we recommend consistently shortening the fast-growing branches, several times a year if necessary. The only time you should not prune is in early spring before flowering, as there is a risk that the flower buds on the two-year-old wood will be cut away. During the summer, the fruit shoots are first cut five eyes behind the fruit, and then in a second cut one or two eyes behind.
Tips & Tricks
The potted kiwis should be hibernated frost-free and dark in the first year. Later, good winter protection must be provided around the pot and in the root area. The mini kiwis need additional protection against late frosts in spring during budding.
