Kiwi fruit tips (from RHS: Kiwi Fruit)
- Kiwi fruits are vigorous plants that need plenty of space
- Height and spread: up to 9m (28ft)
- Kiwi fruits require a sheltered sunny position, preferably a south- or west-facing wall, although they can be grown in the open in milder areas
- Young shoots are extremely vulnerable to frost damage in the spring and may require protection
- They grow best in a fertile, well-drained slightly acid soil which is rich in organic matter
Kiwi pruning tips (from RHS: Kiwi Fruit)
- After planting, cut back to 30cm (1ft). Tie in the new leading shoot to a cane attached vertically to the wires
- Train in a pair of shoots to grow along each horizontal wire. Pinch out the tips when they fill the allotted space
- Allow lateral shoots to develop at 50cm (20in) intervals
- Pinch out the tips of these shoots after they have developed five leaves – these will produce fruit the following year
Winter pruning
- Cut existing laterals back to three or four buds beyond the last fruited stems
- Each year cut back about one-quarter to one-third of the oldest laterals to a bud around 5cm (2in) from the main stem.
- New growth will be produced from this stub in the growing season
Summer pruning
- Summer pruning is important to keep these vigorous plants in check
- During the growing season, pinch out any sideshoots that have developed from the laterals and any further shoots arising from the main arms.
- These short shoots will also produce fruit in the following season
- Once the fruit has set, pinch back the side shoots leaving four or five leaves beyond the maturing fruit
- Any non-fruiting laterals can be cut back to five leaves from June onwards
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