Get Pleasing Color and Taste with the Kiwi Vine

Growing fruit in the home garden is becoming popular again. For a combination of colorful vine with edible fruit, the variegated kiwi vine is a good choice for a sunny area. A support like a trellis, fence, or tall tree is needed to support this hardy vine that can grow to 15-20 feet and more. The Latin name is Actinidia kolomikta. The vines are hardy in Zones 4 through 8, although some plants survive well in Zone 2.

There are female and male plants. The male plant is the more colorful of the two. Very hot temperatures tend to fade the colors. The leaves sport variegated colors in pink, white, and dark green. There are small white flowers in May and June that develop into edible grape-sized fruit that ripen in September and October. The fruit does not ripen in clusters, so multiple picking in needed There must be both a male and female plant present to produce fruit.

The vines should be protected from high winds. They do best in a protected area with full sun. The plant prefers fertile, well-drained soil. It can develop fungal diseases. You can grow the vines on lattice fencing and pergolas, if they are sturdy enough for the weight.

The fruit is tart with a flavor that seems to combine bananas, pears, and strawberries. If kiwi vine is planted for crop production, professional help with selective pruning is recommenced. Kiwi fruit can be picked before they are fully ripe and will finish ripening in cool storage. They keep for up to 2 months in a cooler.

The plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. Both seeds and potted plants are available commercially. It may take several years (as many as nine) for the new vines to produce flowers and fruit. Plant one male per six females to ensure pollination. Males and females should be from the same cultivar so the flowering times overlap. Available cultivars include Ananasnaya, Meander, Geneva, and Issai. The Issai cultivar is said to be self-pollinating.

Be stingy with the fertilizer, skipping it entirely in the first year of planting in a new location. Plant vines 8-10 feet apart.

The flowers are quite fragrant and attract bees. Some gardeners report that cats are attracted to the leaves. Birds are attracted to any fruit.

This deciduous plant is a rapid grower and needs sturdy support. It will grow is a large container, if properly watered. There are shallow roots, so regular watering in necessary during the growing season.

Sources
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/forestfarming/content/crop-fact-sheets/hardy-kiwi.pdf, Cornell University Department of Agriculture
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/796/, Dave's Garden
http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/actinidia-kolomikta-variegated-kiwi-vine.aspx, Fine Gardening