Drinkablegarden

Being a Kiwi myself (a New Zealander) I fully understand the difference between the kiwi bird and the kiwifruit.  While both are small, brown and furry, one is a blind, nocturnal, flightless bird and the other is a yummy fruit packed with vitamin C, folic acid, potassium and fiber (and incidentally named after the bird). 

It turns out however that there is a lot I didn’t know about kiwifruits - like almost everything about growing them successfully.   Yes, we brought home two plants (the female was mysteriously and hysterically called ‘Vincent’) and have given them shelter from wind, ample sun, correct fertilizer and a good fence to climb up.  Here’s what I didn’t know… 

1. I was meant to prune back the vines so they have one strong trunk, then allowing two branches to grow out either side.  The fruit grows on new shoots on these fruiting arms and laterals, so I need to cut back any old wood each winter. 
2. They have sensitive, shallow roots so we need to be careful with all our other cultivation.
3. It could take 3 years until we see our first fruit. 
4. They fruit in winter.  Huh?!  How did I not know this?!  

While patience is not one of this gardener’s strongest virtues, it looks like we’re going to have to wait a while before sipping on our own kiwifruit juice or wine.   At least I can now stop running out each morning to look for fruit! 

kiwi - the fruit

kiwi - the bird