While kiwis are quite demanding in terms of location, the hardy kiwi berries also thrive in harsh locations. From September onwards, the walnut-sized fruits ripen and you can enjoy them straight from the tree. Mini kiwis are also very easy to care for and, thanks to their rapid growth, are ideal for greening pergolas.
How to cultivate kiwi berries in the garden?
To successfully cultivate kiwi berries, plant at least one male and one female plant in a sunny location with a partially shaded root area, in slightly acidic, humus-rich and moist soil with a trellis. The planting time is between mid-May and mid-October.
Diecious plants
Mini kiwis usually grow dioecious, which means that a plant produces either female or male flowers. In order for you to actually get fruit, you must cultivate at least one female and one male specimen in your garden. For this reason, the plants are usually offered in a double pack.
Kiwi berries need a trellis
Kiwis are climbing plants that absolutely need climbing aid. Suitable for this:
- A wooden pergola.
- A wooden scaffolding with horizontal metal tension wires. The distance between the wires should be about 50 centimeters.
- A trellis attached to the south-facing wall of the house.
The right location
So that the kiwi berries become aromatically sweet, the crown of the climbing plant needs as much sun as possible. The root area, however, should be in partial shade. This can be achieved quite easily by planting under plants that provide shade.
Soil quality
The kiwi berry prefers slightly acidic garden soil that is humus and evenly moist. A layer of bark mulch ensures that the root area is protected from drying out. A drainage layer is also recommended to prevent root rot.
Planting time
You can plant mini kiwis in mild locations until mid-October. Because the soil is still warm, the plants have enough time to root well before winter. Alternatively, you can plant the kiwi plants in the ground after the Ice Saints from mid-May.
insert kiwi berry
- Place the pots with the plants in a tub filled with water.
- Dig a planting pit twice the size of the root ball.
- Enrich the excavated soil with leaf compost (€79.00 on Amazon) and horn shavings.
- Heavy soils can also be thinned out with a little sand.
- Carefully lift the kiwi out of the pot and place the plant in the middle of the pit. The previous top edge should be in line with the floor surface.
- Fill with the prepared substrate and press it well.
- Pour generously.
Tip
In the first few years, the kiwi berry hardly needs any care. Keep the soil constantly moist and fertilize the plants with mature compost in spring. Pruning is not necessary during this time. It is enough to cut out weak and damaged branches.
