What Do Kiwi Fruits Grow On?

If you have ever held a fuzzy brown kiwi fruit from the grocery store, you might picture it growing on a tree. That is wrong. Kiwi fruits grow on vines. Specifically, they grow on large, woody vines called lianas. These vines need strong support like a trellis or fence. The plants are not trees or bushes. They are climbing plants that can grow 30 feet long. The fruit hangs down from the vine in clusters. This is one of the most common garden facts people get wrong.

Do Kiwi Fruits Grow on Trees?

No, kiwi fruits do not grow on trees. This is a widespread misunderstanding. The kiwi plant is a deciduous climbing vine. It belongs to the genus Actinidia. The most common species sold in stores is Actinidia deliciosa. These vines need a sturdy structure to climb. Without a trellis or arbor, the vine will sprawl on the ground. The fruit will rot before it ripens.

People confuse kiwi plants with kiwi berries. Kiwi berries are smaller and have smooth skin. They also grow on vines. No variety of kiwi grows on a tree trunk. If you see a picture of a “kiwi tree,” it is either a different plant or a vine trained to look like a small tree. The USDA classifies the kiwi as a vine, not a tree.

What Does a Kiwi Vine Look Like?

A mature kiwi vine has a thick, woody stem at the base. It looks like a small tree trunk but it is flexible. The vine sends out long shoots that wrap around supports. The leaves are large, round, and dark green. They can be as big as your hand. New growth is fuzzy and reddish-brown.

In spring, the vine produces white or cream-colored flowers. The flowers are fragrant and about one inch wide. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. This means you usually need two plants to get fruit. One male vine can pollinate up to eight female vines. The fruit develops on the current season’s growth. It takes about 200 days from flower to harvest. That is longer than most fruit crops.

What Kind of Support Do Kiwi Vines Need?

Kiwi vines need a strong support system. The vine itself is heavy. A mature plant can weigh over 100 pounds. The most common support is a T-bar trellis. This looks like a fence with a crossbar on top. The vine grows along the crossbar. The fruit hangs down from the top.

Another option is an arbor or pergola. The vine climbs up the posts and spreads across the roof. This works well for home gardens. The structure must be made of pressure-treated wood or metal. Untreated wood will rot within a few years. The support should be at least six feet tall. This keeps the fruit off the ground and makes harvesting easier.

Research from the University of California Cooperative Extension notes that proper trellising increases fruit size by up to 20 percent. Vines that grow on the ground produce smaller, misshapen fruit. The trellis also improves air circulation. This reduces fungal diseases common in humid climates.

Where Do Kiwi Fruits Grow Best?

Kiwi vines grow best in regions with mild winters and long, warm summers. The ideal temperature range is 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant needs a period of cold dormancy in winter. It requires about 800 to 1,000 hours of temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. This is called chill hours. Without enough chill hours, the vine will not flower well.

Commercial kiwi production is concentrated in New Zealand, Italy, Chile, and China. In the United States, California grows most of the domestic supply. The Central Valley of California provides the right mix of winter chill and summer heat. Some varieties grow in the Pacific Northwest and parts of Georgia. But frost in spring can kill the flowers. Late frosts are a major risk for home growers in colder zones.

Soil matters too. Kiwi vines need well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. They do not tolerate standing water. Roots that sit in wet soil will rot within weeks. Adding compost before planting helps. The vines are heavy feeders. They need regular fertilizer during the growing season.

What Is the Difference Between Kiwi and Kiwi Berry?

Many people do not realize there are two main types of kiwi. The standard fuzzy kiwi is Actinidia deliciosa. The kiwi berry is Actinidia arguta. Both grow on vines. But they look and taste different.

Kiwi berries are about the size of a grape. They have smooth, edible skin. You can eat them whole without peeling. They are sweeter than fuzzy kiwis and have a more intense flavor. The vines are hardier. They can survive winter temperatures down to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Fuzzy kiwi vines can only survive down to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Here is a quick comparison of the two types:

Both types grow on vines. Neither grows on a tree. If you are in a cold climate, kiwi berries are a better choice. They are also called hardy kiwi or cocktail kiwi.

How Long Does It Take a Kiwi Vine to Produce Fruit?

Kiwi vines are not fast producers. They take time to mature. Most vines will not produce fruit until three to five years after planting. Some varieties take even longer. The first year is all about root and vine growth. The second year the vine establishes its structure. Fruit appears in year three or four.

Once the vine starts producing, it can yield for 40 years or more. A mature vine can produce 50 to 100 pounds of fruit per season. But the yield depends on proper pruning and pollination. Without a male vine nearby, female vines will produce little to no fruit. Some people report that vines produce fruit earlier in warm climates. Strong evidence for this is limited. Most commercial growers report the three-to-five-year timeline as standard.

Pruning is critical for fruit production. Kiwi vines fruit on the current season’s growth. You must prune hard each winter. Remove old wood and leave new shoots. The University of Georgia Extension recommends cutting back about 70 percent of the previous year’s growth. This sounds harsh but it forces the vine to produce new fruiting wood.

What Are the Most Common Mistakes When Growing Kiwi?

Several mistakes cause kiwi vines to fail. The most common is planting without a trellis. The vine becomes a tangled mess on the ground. Fruit rots or gets eaten by animals. The second mistake is planting only one vine. Kiwi plants have separate male and female flowers. One vine cannot pollinate itself. You need at least one male for every eight female vines.

Overwatering is another problem. Kiwi vines need consistent moisture but cannot tolerate wet roots. Drip irrigation works best. Overhead watering can cause leaf diseases. Underwatering during fruit development leads to small, hard fruit. The soil should be moist but not soggy.

Some people report that kiwi vines need full sun. This is true. They need at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Less sun means fewer flowers and smaller fruit. Shade also increases the risk of fungal infections. If your garden has partial shade, choose a different crop. Kiwi vines are not shade-tolerant.

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