HARDY KIWI Actinidia arguta

This plant was given to us by a relative many years ago. Actinidia arguta (hardy kiwi) is a native to Japan, Korea, Northern China, and Russian Siberia. It produces a small fruit resembling the kiwifruit.

The fruit are referred to as hardy kiwifruit, kiwi berry, arctic kiwi, baby kiwi, dessert kiwi, grape kiwi, northern kiwi, or cocktail kiwi, and are edible, similar to kiwifruit in taste and appearance, but are green, brownish, or purple with smooth skin, sometimes with a red blush. Often sweeter than the kiwifruit, hardy kiwifruit can be eaten whole and do not need to be peeled.

The fast-growing, climbing is very hardy (hence the name hardy kiwi), and is capable of surviving slow temperature drops to -34°C (-30°F. The s need a frost-free growing season of about 150 days, but are not damaged by late freezes, provided that temperature changes are sufficiently gradual to allow plants to acclimate. Indeed, a period of winter chill is necessary for successful cultivation.

Hardy kiwi may be grown directly from seeds, and germination time is about one month.

In domestic cultivation, a trellis may be used to encourage horizontal growth for easy maintenance and harvesting; however, s grow extremely quickly and require a strong trellis for support. Each can grow up to 20 ft in a single season, given ideal growing conditions. For commercial planting, placement is important: plants can tolerate partial but yields are optimized with full sunlight. Hardy kiwi s consume large volumes of water; therefore, they are usually grown in well-drained, acidic soils to prevent root rot.

Type: Tree

Hardiness zones: 5-11

Location: Sun or part sun

Seeds per pack: 10

Germination: Obtain a container with holes at the bottom for water to drain. Sow the seeds on the surface of a pre-moistened sterile seed-start mix. Press the seeds flat, and water using a spray bottle, being careful not to bury the seeds as they require light to germinate. Place the container in a bright location, and keep at 25C/77F. Seeds will germinate within 15-90 days.