Hardy Kiwi

[Zeedman]

I've only seen them once at a market too... and they were being discounted, probably because they bore no resemblance to the fuzzy kiwi most people are accustomed to.

A dentist in my area grows "Anna" (an abbreviated version of the longer Russian name), one of the A. arguta cultivars, and says he gets some good harvests. He has a milder micro-climate close to Lake Winnebago; in less protected areas (such as mine) the vines would be temperamental, and suffer a lot of winter kill.

I really looked into hardy kiwi at one point, and collected a lot of info on growing them; but my life went through some upheaval around that time, and I never followed through on my plans. Probably too late for me now, unless I plan on leaving the vines to my children... the A. Kolomitka cultivars (the only ones hardy enough to reliably survive my winters) take quite a few years to get established. The vines are pretty enough to be grown as ornamentals, though, so I still might try kiwi for that purpose & hope for the best... thanks, @Gardening with Rabbits for putting this back on my radar.

If you are serious about trying kiwi, the "Kiwifruit Enthusiasts Journal Vol. 6" is probably the best information resource out there. It was published by Friends of the Trees, and is still available from their book store: http://friendsofthetrees.net/fts-books

One of the better sources for stock is Raintree Nursery, which carries quite a few varieties of A. arguta. http://www.raintreenursery.com/Vines/Kiwis/ I remember that I had found a source for many Russian cultivars of A. Kolomitka, I'll keep looking for that & post an update if I find it.

 

[aftermidnight]

I think I've mentioned before I grow A. kolomitka, I first saw this beautiful vine when on a garden tour with my daughter back in the early 80's. As we turned a corner there it was covering the back wall of a Victorian house, I was gob smacked, a wall of pure beauty. Of course I had to have one so went to my favorite nursery, described what I had seen and although they didn't carry them at the time the owner knew where he could get one for me, he'd phone when it was in.
I grew this for many years and then found out I could get a fruiting female. Back down to my favorite nursery, they ordered one in for me. The leaves on the female are mostly green but they once in awhile sport a leaf with a bit of color. It took a few years before it started producing fruit, at first only half a dozen or so and the birds seemed to get to them before we did. Now each year it's loaded with the sweetest vine ripened grape sized fruit which come ripe in August and best of all the birds seem to leave them alone.
My kiwi...


Don't have a pic of the female vine but this is the fruit it produces.
YUM!!!

Annette

 

[Nyboy]

I got mine at lowes What I liked the plants where labeled male/female.

 

[journey11]

I think I've mentioned before I grow A. kolomitka, I first saw this beautiful vine when on a garden tour with my daughter back in the early 80's. As we turned a corner there it was covering the back wall of a Victorian house, I was gob smacked, a wall of pure beauty. Of course I had to have one so went to my favorite nursery, described what I had seen and although they didn't carry them at the time the owner knew where he could get one for me, he'd phone when it was in.
I grew this for many years and then found out I could get a fruiting female. Back down to my favorite nursery, they ordered one in for me. The leaves on the female are mostly green but they once in awhile sport a leaf with a bit of color. It took a few years before it started producing fruit, at first only half a dozen or so and the birds seemed to get to them before we did. Now each year it's loaded with the sweetest vine ripened grape sized fruit which come ripe in August and best of all the birds seem to leave them alone.
My kiwi...
View attachment 23339 View attachment 23340

Don't have a pic of the female vine but this is the fruit it produces.
View attachment 23341 YUM!!!

Annette

That thing is stunning! No wonder you had to have one. I love anything with varigated foliage...and here you get fruit too. How awesome.

 

[journey11]

I don't know which cultivar MIL's is. The fruit do have a little short fuzz, but not enough to bother peeling those tiny things.

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I think I've mentioned before I grow A. kolomitka, I first saw this beautiful vine when on a garden tour with my daughter back in the early 80's. As we turned a corner there it was covering the back wall of a Victorian house, I was gob smacked, a wall of pure beauty. Of course I had to have one so went to my favorite nursery, described what I had seen and although they didn't carry them at the time the owner knew where he could get one for me, he'd phone when it was in.
I grew this for many years and then found out I could get a fruiting female. Back down to my favorite nursery, they ordered one in for me. The leaves on the female are mostly green but they once in awhile sport a leaf with a bit of color. It took a few years before it started producing fruit, at first only half a dozen or so and the birds seemed to get to them before we did. Now each year it's loaded with the sweetest vine ripened grape sized fruit which come ripe in August and best of all the birds seem to leave them alone.
My kiwi...
View attachment 23339 View attachment 23340

Don't have a pic of the female vine but this is the fruit it produces.
View attachment 23341 YUM!!!

Annette

Beautiful plant!

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I have been looking at the Baker Creek catalog and found kiwi and they say it tastes like pineapple. Is this unusual or do all the hardy kiwi taste like this? https://www.rareseeds.com/kiwi-hardy-collection-3-plants-ships-m-june-/

 

[Nyboy]

I only had the Hardy once ( small grape size) I remember they where good, don't remember pineapple taste. Don't forget you need to order both male and female

 

[Zeedman]

I remember that I had found a source for many Russian cultivars of A. Kolomitka, I'll keep looking for that & post an update if I find it.

Think I found it: https://onegreenworld.com/product-category/vines/kiwis/

 

[Nyboy]

@Larisa gardens in Russia maybe she will pipe in