Many of you may be thinking about starting a kiwi plant collection when you hear the word “kiwi.” These delightful fruity fruits come from New Zealand and are known for their dark purple, red or blue berries. These fruits are primarily grown in California and New Zealand, so they naturally require a very warm growing medium. Even if you live somewhere else where there’s no frost, you could easily grow your kiwi plant from home! Here are some grow instructions and tips.
Before you start growing your kiwi plant, determine which kind of kiwi you want to collect. Most varieties are native to the southern part of the North Island of New Zealand. They can grow up to eight feet high and up to five feet across. The branches of these trees are usually erect and branched. You can either use a trellis to grow one, or a canopy style tentatively surrounding a half-acre garden plot. The first step in growing a kiwi plant from home is to prune the trunk.
-Prunus pics or Moringa, will work great for your kiwi plant as long as it is kept in a partial shade. After the pruning, the Moringa should be watered directly by a garden hose. When repotting, do not use a standard potting soil mix, as the pines prefer a clay potting soil mix.
-Furina cordifolia or C. coccineum, also know as the “coccyx” or “cana plant,” is better for larger plants, such as the kiwi. Fertilizer levels need to be monitored and never watered completely dry. Kiwi love it hot and will over-water if given an adequate amount of water. However, do not water too often because this can encourage root rot.
-Organic weed killers are a must for growing the kiwi plant pests successfully. Weeds can invade the soil quickly and destroy the entire plant. This should be an automatic process as soon as they appear. You can prevent weed infestations by using a pre-emergent herbicide on the seeds.
-Vitex negundo or rusty nail fungus is a common fungal disease affecting kiwi fruits. It thrives in damp conditions under decaying wood, decaying leaves and other moisture rich environments, and the dark, warm moist environment of kiwi leaves. As it matures, a dark purple color will develop on the affected fruit. The fungus is difficult to get under controlled conditions and will often decimate a whole crop. You can get rid of the fungus by preventing the growth of the kiwi seeds, however if the damage is already extensive you should try to remove the entire fruit and the surrounding soil. If you are unsure, contact a reputable pest control company to complete this tedious job.