How to Cut Back Kiwi

Kiwifruits grow as long, climbing vines and are typically trained to grow along a wire trellis frame. The vines send out long cordons along each wire on the trellis. These main vines, or leaders, provide the permanent framework of the plant. The kiwi vines require both winter and summer pruning to remove the old fruit-producing vines so new vines can take their place for future fruiting. There are both male and female kiwis, with the females producing fruit. The pruning method depends on which gender of plant you are trimming.

Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Cut out all broken and damaged vines in late winter or early spring when the female kiwi is still dormant. Cut these vines back to the main leader using shears.
- 2
  Remove all the vines branching out from the leaders on the female plants, with the exception of the newer one-year-old vines that have yet to fruit. Cut out all the old vines at their base, as vines older than two years won't fruit again or will fruit poorly.
- 3
  Head back the one-year vines on the female plants. Make the pruning cut 1/4-inch in front of the eighth bud from the base of the vine.
- 4
  Prune the female kiwi vine in early summer as the flower buds begin to swell but before the plant begins to bloom. Cut back completely any vines that do not have flower buds.
- 5
  Trim male plants only in summer after they have finished flowering. Cut back the vines to the bud nearest the leader vine.

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