How to Grow Kiwi at Home

Planting

• 1

  Provide a sunny or lightly shaded location protected from strong winds. The vines need well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter and a sturdy trellis to support the vigorous vines.

• 2

  Plant the vine near the trellis. Dig a hole slightly less deep than the nursery container. Carefully remove the vine from the container, and place it in the hole. Use the soil you removed from the hole to fill in around the roots, pressing firmly so there are no air pockets.

• 3

  Prune away all but one healthy shoot that is 6 to 12 inches long.

• 4

  Water slowly with as much water as the soil can absorb, stopping when the water begins to run off.

• 5

  Apply a 2-inch layer of organic mulch. Pull the mulch back a few inches from the crown of the plant to prevent rot.

Maintenance

• 6

  Fertilize kiwifruit vines in spring. Use a citrus fertilizer if the soil pH is higher than 6.5 or a high-nitrogen fertilizer with micronutrients if the pH is lower. Follow the package instructions.

• 7

  Provide 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week, either from rain or irrigation.

• 8

  Remove weeds to prevent competition from moisture. If you use a hoe or other cultivation tool, work only the top few inches of soil. Deep cultivation can damage roots.

• 9

  Prune annually once the vine is 2 years old. Remove the oldest canes at the point where they connect to last year’s canes in winter. Remove growth that extends beyond the trellis in summer.