kettlink wrote in message ...
In April last year I planted some seeds from an over ripe grocery store
fuzzy kiwi, they grew about a foot tall by the end of the year and
wintered over during last year's severe winter. This year I have 10
vines with main stems almost a half inch in diameter and which have
twined around a wooden trellis I built. They're about 15 feet tall,
very exotic looking with their hairy red stems and lush foliage. My
question is, last year I simply mulched the vines under a leaf pile to
protect them- but I didn't really care if they survived; this year I've
grown attached to them, but I have no idea how to get them through our
New York winters. Should I lay the trellis on the ground (with vines)
and mulch them with hay- maybe with a top-dressing of soil? Does anyone
have experience growing fuzzy kiwi fruit outdoors in climate zone
6-7? -Ken

Their lowest zone rating is 8, so you are out of luck. They will also
take 5 years to fruit, though that might be reduced if you feed and
water them a lot. I think if you lay down the trellis and cover with
hay or leaves they will survive, but do you realize how much work this
will be? These vines grow to be 100 ft long, as thick as my arm, in
6-7 years. They need to be pruned heavily to set fruit properly. Plus
you will need a male to set fruit, not clear that you have one. Other
than that they are great looking vines which produce huge amounts of
spray-free, nutritious, long-lasting fruits (properly preserved, they
last into April).