I know this isn't how one should go about starting new crops, but I
did it anyway:

I bought a kiwi fruit, which was enjoyed by all, and I saved some
seeds.

I have seen kiwi vines growing in fairly temperate climates, but I
have never really looked into growing them myself.

If I get some starters from these seeds, am I likely to have any luck
growing them in my backyard? (USA Zone 6a/b) Is there a version of
kiwi that is hardy enough for my zone?

Thanks,
Mark

Don't know much about kiwis, but I do know there are male and female plants.
I think one male can pollinate three (?) females. I would love to hear if
you have any success with kiwi from seed. That would be an interesting
experiment!

It is fun to try and start plants from a fruit you have eaten.
Unfortunately, in this case it's not going to give you the desired results.
The grocery store kiwi needs a warmer climate than yours. The good news is
that there are several hardy kiwis on the market that can do well for you.
Raintree nurseries has some:
http://www.raintreenursery.com/catal...oducttype=ACTI
as does Miller's:
http://www.millernurseries.com/cart....duct_list&c=54
Stark Bros. has the Issai hardy kiwi, which is self-pollinating--you don't
need female/male vines.
http://store.yahoo.com/starkbros/-0235.html
I've grown this one for years. It is an extremely hardy and vigorous vine.
I consider it attractive. I've got it growing on a fence, and it takes a
good deal of pruning each spring to keep it confined to it's allotted space.
Fortunately it blooms on new wood. The berries ripen late in the fall, and
are delicious, although they are not produced in great abundance. It may be
that even though it's self pollinating, it would benefit from a pollinator,
or I could be pruning/growing it incorrectly somehow. I enjoy it for it's
abundant growth, and consider the fruits to be a bonus. Like other hardy
kiwis, they are smooth skinned--no need to peel--and smaller than the
tropical kiwis.

Hope this helps,
Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA


"Mark" wrote in message
om...
I know this isn't how one should go about starting new crops, but I
did it anyway:

I bought a kiwi fruit, which was enjoyed by all, and I saved some
seeds.

I have seen kiwi vines growing in fairly temperate climates, but I
have never really looked into growing them myself.

If I get some starters from these seeds, am I likely to have any luck
growing them in my backyard? (USA Zone 6a/b) Is there a version of
kiwi that is hardy enough for my zone?

Thanks,
Mark

On 24 Feb 2003 15:48:20 -0800, (Mark)
wrote:

I know this isn't how one should go about starting new crops, but I
did it anyway:

I bought a kiwi fruit, which was enjoyed by all, and I saved some
seeds.

I have seen kiwi vines growing in fairly temperate climates, but I
have never really looked into growing them myself.

If I get some starters from these seeds, am I likely to have any luck
growing them in my backyard? (USA Zone 6a/b) Is there a version of
kiwi that is hardy enough for my zone?


There are kiwis that are hardy for your area, but they
aren't the ones in grocery stores.

The hardy kiwi fruits are smaller and fuzzless - about
double the size of a grape, I'd say. I've had them, they're
very good, IMHO. And it's nice that you don't have to peel
them.

Miller Nurseries carries them - probably a lot of others do
too.

http://www.millernurseries.com/cart....duct_list&c=54

Most kiwis require cross-pollination, so you'd need both a
female plant(s) and at least one male.

I believe you'll also need VERY strong support for them:
the one I saw in Baltimore, MD was tremendous - it was about
15 years old and it was just HUGE. It was growing on a
very, very strong, sturdy arbor, made of pipe.

Pat
--
Pat Meadows
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States: http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International: http://www.thehungersite.com/

"SugarChile" wrote in message link.net...
It is fun to try and start plants from a fruit you have eaten.
Unfortunately, in this case it's not going to give you the desired results.
The grocery store kiwi needs a warmer climate than yours. The good news is
that there are several hardy kiwis on the market that can do well for you.
Raintree nurseries has some:
http://www.raintreenursery.com/catal...oducttype=ACTI
as does Miller's:
http://www.millernurseries.com/cart....duct_list&c=54
Stark Bros. has the Issai hardy kiwi, which is self-pollinating--you don't
need female/male vines.
http://store.yahoo.com/starkbros/-0235.html
I've grown this one for years. It is an extremely hardy and vigorous vine.
I consider it attractive. I've got it growing on a fence, and it takes a
good deal of pruning each spring to keep it confined to it's allotted space.
Fortunately it blooms on new wood. The berries ripen late in the fall, and
are delicious, although they are not produced in great abundance. It may be
that even though it's self pollinating, it would benefit from a pollinator,
or I could be pruning/growing it incorrectly somehow. I enjoy it for it's
abundant growth, and consider the fruits to be a bonus. Like other hardy
kiwis, they are smooth skinned--no need to peel--and smaller than the
tropical kiwis.

Hope this helps,
Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA


Thank you. I have looked at the sites, and I think I'll get the
combination setup from Miller's. ~$40.00 is a good price if I can get
a nice, bearing pergola full of kiwi. My friends'll either love me or
get sick of me pushing "free" kiwi on them!

Mark

"SugarChile" wrote in message link.net...
It is fun to try and start plants from a fruit you have eaten.
Unfortunately, in this case it's not going to give you the desired results.
The grocery store kiwi needs a warmer climate than yours. The good news is
that there are several hardy kiwis on the market that can do well for you.
Raintree nurseries has some:
http://www.raintreenursery.com/catal...oducttype=ACTI
as does Miller's:
http://www.millernurseries.com/cart....duct_list&c=54
Stark Bros. has the Issai hardy kiwi, which is self-pollinating--you don't
need female/male vines.
http://store.yahoo.com/starkbros/-0235.html
I've grown this one for years. It is an extremely hardy and vigorous vine.
I consider it attractive. I've got it growing on a fence, and it takes a
good deal of pruning each spring to keep it confined to it's allotted space.
Fortunately it blooms on new wood. The berries ripen late in the fall, and
are delicious, although they are not produced in great abundance. It may be
that even though it's self pollinating, it would benefit from a pollinator,
or I could be pruning/growing it incorrectly somehow. I enjoy it for it's
abundant growth, and consider the fruits to be a bonus. Like other hardy
kiwis, they are smooth skinned--no need to peel--and smaller than the
tropical kiwis.

Hope this helps,
Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA


Do birds go after kiwi like they do figs? How about insects - do you
have to do a lot of spraying?
-Tiger

On 25 Feb 2003 14:28:15 -0800, (Mark)
wrote:



Thank you. I have looked at the sites, and I think I'll get the
combination setup from Miller's. ~$40.00 is a good price if I can get
a nice, bearing pergola full of kiwi. My friends'll either love me or
get sick of me pushing "free" kiwi on them!


Believe me, they'll love you! The kiwis are very nice
indeed.

Pat
--
Pat Meadows
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States: http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International: http://www.thehungersite.com/

The birds ignore them, and in the 10+ years I've grown them, I have had no
insect problems and no disease problems. I don't spray at all, the only
care is to prune in late winter. It's rather remarkable, now that I think
about it. There aren't that many plants that don't have *any* problems.

We had a horrendous drought last summer, and the vines did wither towards
the end, but in a 'normal' year they don't need supplemental water.

As always, YMMV.

Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA

Do birds go after kiwi like they do figs? How about insects - do you
have to do a lot of spraying?
-Tiger

What is the difference in taste between the fuzzy kiwi (which I really,
really like) and the arguta kiwi (which I've never tasted). I am in a zone
that is too hot for the fuzzies, although hopefully, when I move back up
north, I might be able to sqeak a few in.

"SugarChile" wrote in message
hlink.net...
The birds ignore them, and in the 10+ years I've grown them, I have had no
insect problems and no disease problems. I don't spray at all, the only
care is to prune in late winter. It's rather remarkable, now that I think
about it. There aren't that many plants that don't have *any* problems.

We had a horrendous drought last summer, and the vines did wither towards
the end, but in a 'normal' year they don't need supplemental water.

Are they hungry?

Unfortunately, I've got to move a trio of kiwis (one male, two females) that
were at my house when I moved to it and I don't know whether they do best on
starving or feeding.

My plan is to prune them back a bit then move them to the new location on a
south-facing wall (in England).

Does that sound sensible?

--
Brian
"I know about kittens and knitting. Will that do?"

Brian, I dont know anything about kiwi. Mine died before I got them in the
ground. Instructions said plant them inside first, and they never came out
of it. However, if yours are dormant and you prune them back, I dont know
why they wouldnt be able to be transplanted. I would put them into nice,
clean, big plastic pots until you can put them into the ground. Good luck.
Dwayne


"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...

"SugarChile" wrote in message
hlink.net...
The birds ignore them, and in the 10+ years I've grown them, I have had
no
insect problems and no disease problems. I don't spray at all, the only
care is to prune in late winter. It's rather remarkable, now that I
think
about it. There aren't that many plants that don't have *any* problems.

We had a horrendous drought last summer, and the vines did wither
towards
the end, but in a 'normal' year they don't need supplemental water.

Are they hungry?

Unfortunately, I've got to move a trio of kiwis (one male, two females)
that
were at my house when I moved to it and I don't know whether they do best
on
starving or feeding.

My plan is to prune them back a bit then move them to the new location on
a
south-facing wall (in England).

Does that sound sensible?

--
Brian
"I know about kittens and knitting. Will that do?"

Mine gets compost each year, but not an extravagant amount of it. I have
heavy clay soil that's been amended. I take the middle road with my
kiwi--it puts out so much growth, I figure it needs some feeding, but on the
other hand I don't want to encourage it to roam even further into the pear
trees, so I keep it moderate.

The south facing wall sounds like a good idea. That's what mine has, but
it's a freestanding privacy fence, and the kiwi grows quite happily on the
other side of it as well!

Good luck transplanting--it shouldn't be a problem.

Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA


"Brian Watson" wrote in message
Are they hungry?

Unfortunately, I've got to move a trio of kiwis (one male, two females)
that
were at my house when I moved to it and I don't know whether they do best
on
starving or feeding.

My plan is to prune them back a bit then move them to the new location on
a
south-facing wall (in England).

Does that sound sensible?

--
Brian
"I know about kittens and knitting. Will that do?"

"DH" wrote in message ...
What is the difference in taste between the fuzzy kiwi (which I really,
really like) and the arguta kiwi (which I've never tasted). I am in a zone
that is too hot for the fuzzies, although hopefully, when I move back up
north, I might be able to sqeak a few in.

The smooth kiwis taste better, though I really like the fuzzy ones as
well. It's just that the smooth ones are one of the very best fruits
out there. Check your zone, fuzzy kiwis do grow in Zone 8 and 9,
whereas the range of the hardy (smooth) ones is 5-8. The smooth ones
don't keep nearly as well, though.

Whatever you do, if you plant them, give them a lot of space. 20 ft
from plant to plant is not too much. They are extremely vigorous
plants, the fuzzy ones more so.

Will they climb a clain link fence?

"SugarChile" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Mine gets compost each year, but not an extravagant amount of it. I have
heavy clay soil that's been amended. I take the middle road with my
kiwi--it puts out so much growth, I figure it needs some feeding, but on
the
other hand I don't want to encourage it to roam even further into the
pear
trees, so I keep it moderate.

The south facing wall sounds like a good idea. That's what mine has, but
it's a freestanding privacy fence, and the kiwi grows quite happily on the
other side of it as well!

Good luck transplanting--it shouldn't be a problem.

Thank you for all the info.

It/they are going to be quite an armful to move, but I hope to do it this
weekend.

My soil has a lot of clay in it too, so I'll enrich it with some compost
first.

--
Brian
"Let's be grateful for our Fridays and face our Mondays with good humour."