Anyone growing kiwifruit?

alfsmum

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has (successfully) grown kiwi fruit? Have just read letter in Gardener's World mag from a lady in Devon who has harvested 14kg of fruit from a plant she bought 4 years ago. A quick check online shows plants retailing around £17 - £20 each. Glad to hear of anyone's kiwi-growing experiences.

frivolous_fay

I grew one from seed once... I can testify that they're extremely easy to grow! It got too big to keep in pots and it never occurred to me to plant it in the garden, so I don't think it had a happy ending.

Chimera

ooo.. I'd be interested to know too (sorry, not very helpful!)

Was it outside? if so, I'm having one!! Yum!!

laurel7172

I bought a vine last week. It was cheapish, and I'm not sure whether it's a self-fertile variety or not. Otherwise there are male and female plants and you need one of each. Apparently people often plant three together to make "sure".

IAmTheOne

I have tried to grow kiwi fruit, it always ends up odd-shaped or a weird colour.

~Iamtheone

officeguru

I bought 2 kiwi plants last year and stuck them in the greenhouse (It was after the tomatoes had finished) covered them with straw and they overwintered successfully. I clipped them back to about waist height and they are now looking really healthy and I have noticed 2 little flower buds near the top.. Obviously, I won't be able to keep them in the greenhouse as they will be too vigorous and take over so I will donate them to a friend who has loads of greenhouses and steal a kiwi fruit when I visit. !!!

Lotus-eater

I am growing a small kiwi fruited plant, I don't recommend it, the fruit wasn't that good. If you want to grow one, go for one of the larger fruited self fertile ones like Jenny.
AFAIU, it's hit and miss if it fruits, but if it likes the spot you have chosen, they can get big and you can get lots of fruits. They like warm walls.

katiel

My kiwi Jenny is now in its third year against a warm fence. No fruit as yet but it's growing very healthily. As for the tiny unnamed kiwi plant I bought from Aldi last year - well, it's still alive and that's a positive.

alfsmum

Thanks for all the comments. Will look out for a cheapish vine and have a go. Anyone know if Lidl or Aldi sell kiwi plants?