Kiwi - help please

I have just bought a female kiwi plant and I have figured out I need to get a male if I want fruit, but beyond that I am a bit clueless! :confused:

Any help anyone can give (best place to plant, how to polinate etc etc) will be welcomed

[ 10. May 2007, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: D1zibl0nde ]

 

Added to this because I forgot to turn on the email notification

(small voice) not that anyone has (sniff)

 

Sorry D1zi, can't help you. Be interesting to see if anyone does though.

 

Thanks for replying anyway JB

 

They sold kiwi fruit trees at a local garden centre here last year, they already had fruit on them and they were'nt expensive. Maybe should of waited a bit and got one with fruit on, not much help though. :confused: Try looking on google, all answers to everything are on there.

 

Hi, D1zi. I have not grown Actinidia myself but have thought about it several times, specifically the A kolomikta, whose leaves are tipped pink and white.

I don't know if you will be able to get it to fruit there.

I had a situation with fruiting Cobaea (Cup and Saucer Vine) and was advised to take a paintbrush to them and dust from one to the other. I've got the fruit but I'm not 100% sure it was due to my efforts! :D

In the meantime, here's some interesting reading about them ...

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/kiwifruit.html

 

Most varieties are not self-fertile. There are 2 cultivars called 'Blake' and 'Jenny' which are sold as self fertile.
I grew one which was very happy in Cambs. and had scented flowers but never fruit so I think it was not one of these.
It seemed quite hardy and never had any special protection.
I now have 'Kolomikta' which is lovely but not as hardy.

 

Thanks for the link LOL. It makes interesting reading. I have the plant in my front garden which is south facing and very sheltered so I am hoping it will do OK!

I had to laugh at the section on pests and diseases though...it states that it does not have a problem with pests apart from...

"One odd problem is the fact that the trunks have a catnip-like aroma which cats love to rub against"

Ooops