Description
Actinidia deliciosa Kiwi fruit ‘Issai’ – Actinidia deliciosa or kiwifruit is a fast growing climbing plant native to southern China. It is a delightful and very exotic looking climber with dark green foliage on brown twining stems that can easily be grown in the more southerly parts of the UK as it takes frost well and has taken -11C in my Norfolk garden without any damage.
It is usual associated with New Zealand where it is gown en mass and exported around the world as a delicious semi-tropical fruit. It is dioecious, meaning that both male and female vines must be planted together to produce fruit. Luckily though there are a few self pollinating variety’s like ‘Jenny’ which I grow and fruits very well though best results are obtained in a warm summer. ‘Issai’ is another with slightly smaller fruits that are bite sized and don’t need peeling so can be eaten straight from the vine. All kiwis are fairly rampant so need to be grown on a strong framework. They will start to produce fruit after about the third year. Very long lateral shoots are produced through the summer which should be cut back to the main plant in late winter, otherwise you will have a monster on your hands!
Common Name: Kiwi fruit ‘Issai’
Latin Name: Actinidia deliciosa
Tenderness Rating: Hardy
Ease of growing: Easy
Position: Full sun
Soil Condition: Fertile well drained soil
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