Kiwi
Actinidia deliciosa / Actinidia arguta
Also known asKiwifruit · Chinese gooseberry · Fuzzy kiwi · Hardy kiwi · Kiwiberry · Yang tao
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 4–9 (winter low around -34°C)
- Frost
- very hardy (survives deep cold)
- Season
- warm (summer, frost-sensitive)
Growing systems
Root mass: very heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.4 |
| flowering | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.6 |
| fruiting | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.5 |
Companion-growing notes
- High transpiration. Regular reservoir top-ups needed during fruiting.
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended
Fish waste alone doesn't supply enough of what this crop demands. Grows in hybrid systems with supplemental dosing, but expect active management.
Care notes
A large vine crop requiring substantial outdoor infrastructure. Strong trellis or pergola system (T-bar or overhead arbor, supporting 3–6 m of vine spread). Large container (60 L) or in-ground planting. EC 1.5-2.5 mS/cm. pH 5.5-6.5 (prefers slightly acidic conditions). Temperature: A. deliciosa is hardy to about -10°C; A. arguta (hardy kiwi) survives -30°C. Chilling requirement: 400-800 hours below 7°C for common kiwi. Full sun (DLI 18-25 mol/m2/day). Cross-pollination is required: plant at least one male vine alongside females. Fruiting begins at 3-5 years from nursery stock. Each mature female vine produces 20–50 kg of fruit. Pruning is essential: kiwi vines are extremely vigorous and become unmanageable without regular summer and winter pruning. For aquaponics integration, kiwi vines trained on a pergola over an outdoor system provide fruit, shade, and attractive foliage. Hardy kiwiberry (A. arguta) is the more practical choice for small spaces because the vine is somewhat less aggressive and the berries don't need peeling.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward (fuzzy) | open pollinated | 1825 | 1924 New Zealand selection, the worldwide commercial kiwi standard. Large oval fuzzy brown fruit, bright green flesh, sweet-tart. Zones 7-9. Female, needs Matua or Tomuri male pollinator. 200-day frost-free growing season required to ripen. |
| Anna (hardy) | open pollinated | 1095 | Hardy kiwi female, the most-grown A. arguta cultivar. Grape-sized smooth green fruit, eat skin and all. Zones 4-7. Needs a male hardy-kiwi pollinator (Meader male is common). Heavy producer, 25-50 kg per mature vine. |
| Issai (hardy, self-fertile) | open pollinated | 1095 | Japanese hardy kiwi, the only self-fertile commercially-available cultivar. Smaller fruit, lower yield than Anna, fruits in year 2-3 vs 4-5. Zones 5-8. The kiwi for someone who only has room for one plant. Heat and humidity tolerant. |
| Ken's Red (hardy) | open pollinated | 1095 | Actinidia arguta var. purpurea, red-fleshed hardy kiwi cultivar from New Zealand breeder Ken Pittock. Striking color, sweeter than green hardy kiwi. Zones 5-8. Female, needs male pollinator. Mostly grown for novelty and direct-market sales. |
| Arctic Beauty (A. kolomikta) | open pollinated | 1095 | Different species entirely, zone 3 hardy to -40C. Variegated pink-white-green foliage makes it ornamental. Smaller fruit than A. arguta, but the only kiwi that fruits in zone 3-4. The Russian Far East species, useful for serious northern gardens. |