Planting kiwi: when, where & how
Did you know that you can grow kiwi plants in the UK? Discover all you need to know for growing your own kiwi fruit.
Kiwis are exotic fruits that are enjoyed by many. However, not all types are restricted to the tropics. There are also some kiwi species and varieties that grow wonderfully here in the UK.
Tip: for a successful harvest, it is best to grow two kiwi plants near each other. Pollination by another kiwi plant, even a self-fertile one, increases fruiting.
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Planting kiwis: timing
The best time to plant kiwi vines is spring. It is best to wait until mid-May, as kiwis are susceptible to late frosts. If you buy your kiwi plant later in the year, you can still plant it outside until about September.
Where to plant kiwi fruit?
The ideal planting location for a kiwi plant is warm, sunny and sheltered from wind. For optimal lighting throughout the day, set up a trellis with a north-south orientation. As for soil, kiwis prefer acidic soil that is rich in nutrients and humus and evenly moist. With these components and a good water supply, the yields will be plenty.
Tip: unless you have a self-fertile variety, it is important to have a male and a female kiwi plant for them to produce fruit.
Growing kiwi plants in pots
Growing kiwi fruits in pots has some advantages: they are easy to move and can be kept on balconies. However, kiwis can grow quite large, depending on the variety, reaching heights of up to 10m. There are smaller slow-growing varieties as well. Kolomikta (Actinidia kolomikta), for example, grows 3 to 6m tall and is suitable for growing in a container. Just be sure to have a large enough pot: a volume of at least 30L is required.
It is also important to fill the container with the right compost. First, ensure the pot has drainage holes, and place a drainage layer of gravel or terracotta shards at the bottom of the pot to allow excess water to drain out. Next, fill the pot with a permeable and nutrient-rich soil, leaving a planting hole. We suggest using our Plantura Organic Ericaceous Compost; it is optimally suited for kiwis due to its low pH and peat-reduced composition. It also contains wood fibres to prevent the soil from becoming soggy and can easily be remoistened even after it has dried out completely. Place your kiwi plant in the planting hole and fill in the rest of the pot with compost, press it down lightly and water thoroughly. Lastly, place a layer of mulch over the soil’s surface to help the soil retain moisture.
- Perfect for acid-loving plants such as hydrangeas, rhododendrons, blueberry bushes, azaleas & more
- Ensures all-round healthy plants with lush blooms and aromatic berries
- Peat-reduced & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Tip: the optimal soil pH range for kiwis is between 4.5 and 5.5. If the pH is too high, kiwi plants will suffer from iron chlorosis. This restricts the plants’ ability to absorb iron. Yellowing leaves with green veins are a tell-tale sign of iron chlorosis.
Growing kiwis in the garden
To plant kiwis directly in your garden, it is important to first find a variety that is suitable to your region’s climate. Neither fuzzy kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa) nor golden kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis) are fully hardy; we suggest only planting them in warmer locations, such as in coastal areas of southwest and southeast England as well as Wales such as Swansea. But if you do not happen live along the southern coast, it is still possible to grow kiwi fruit in the UK if you have a sunny sheltered spot in your garden; try one of the other two species: hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta) and kolomikta, as these tolerate temperatures down to about -30 °C.
To prepare for planting, loosen the soil and dig a planting hole about twice the size of the root mass. Before planting, also gently loosen the kiwi plant’s roots a little. Place your plant in the planting hole and fill the rest of the hole with a 1:1 mixture of acidic potting soil and the soil from the garden bed. Water the area thoroughly directly after planting. Water regularly during the growing season.
How do kiwis grow?
Kiwis, like all plants in the Actinidia genus, are climbing plants. Therefore, they need a climbing aid. Whichever style of trellis you choose, place it north to south for maximal sunshine. The size of the trellis depends on the type of Actinidia. Less vigorous kiwis need a trellis with a width of 3 to 4m. Robust varieties can require a trellis up to 9m in size. The minimum height for a kiwi plant’s climbing aid is 2m. Ensure that the supports are stable, as these perennial plants are very heavy, especially when bearing fruit; use poles, ropes, pipes, battens or similar materials that last for several years. Make sure that the horizontal supports are no wider than 5cm so that vines can easily wrap around them.
How to grow kiwis from seeds
You can also grow kiwis from the seeds of purchased fruit. However, this method requires a lot of patience, as it takes a few years for a kiwi plant grown from a seed to bear fruit. Furthermore, it is impossible to ascertain the sex of a sown kiwi plant until much later. Nevertheless, if you are still interested in growing kiwi plants from seeds, we suggest getting the seeds from a locally grown kiwi fruit, as they are better adapted to the local climate.
Kiwi seeds that have been stored require cold stratification. Exposure to cold allows them a period of dormancy that enables them to germinate more easily. Kiwi seeds need 2 to 12 weeks at around 5 °C, after which the seeds can be sown outdoors in humus-rich soil starting at the end of May. Choose a protected location, such as a cold frame.
Alternatively, seeds obtained directly from fresh fruit can be sown immediately after harvest and will germinate quickly.
Tip: kiwis can also be propagated from cuttings or by air layering. Propagate softwood cuttings taken during summer pruning in a bright location at 15 to 20 °C.
