Kiwi Fruit

The kiwi fruit, or kiwifruit, is the fuzzy brown berry of a woody climbing vine in the genus Actinidia. It is native to China, where it was once known as the Chinese gooseberry, and today it is grown in many warm parts of the world for its sweet, tangy green flesh.

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Kiwifruit
Scientific name	Actinidia chinensis deliciosa
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Ericales
Family	Actinidiaceae
Genus	Actinidia
Type	Woody vine with edible berries
Native range	Northern China
Size	Fruit 5–8 cm long (Hayward)
Colours	Brown skin, green or golden flesh
Edible parts	Soft fruit with tiny black seeds
Special feature	Vines need support; male and female plants separate

Photo by: André Karwath

What a Kiwi Fruit Looks Like

The most common kiwi in stores is a variety called ‘Hayward’, from the species Actinidia deliciosa. It is oval, about 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches) long and 4.5 to 5.5 cm (about 2 inches) wide, roughly the size of a large hen’s egg.

Its thin skin is brown and covered in short fuzzy hairs. Inside, the flesh is bright green with a ring of tiny black seeds around a soft, pale center. The seeds are edible, and so is the skin, although most people peel it. Golden kiwis, from the related species Actinidia chinensis, have smoother skin and yellow flesh.

Kiwi fruit is juicy and has a sweet but slightly sharp taste. It is also very rich in vitamin C and contains fiber too.

Where Kiwi Fruit Comes From

Kiwi vines grow wild in the forests of central and eastern China. Other Actinidia species are native to Japan, Korea, the Russian Far East and parts of the Himalayas.

In the early 1900s, seeds were taken from China to New Zealand, where farmers began growing the fruit. In the 1950s and 1960s, New Zealand exporters started calling it “kiwifruit” after their national bird, the kiwi, and the name stuck around the world. Today the biggest producers include China, New Zealand, Italy, Greece, Chile and Iran.

Growing Kiwi at Home

Male and Female Plants

Most kiwi vines are dioecious, which means each plant is either male or female. Only female vines produce fruit, but they need pollen from a male vine nearby. Gardeners usually plant one male vine for every several female vines. Some self-fertile varieties exist, but they often fruit better with a partner.

Soil and Site

Kiwi vines like deep, rich, well-drained soil and a sunny spot sheltered from strong winds. Their roots rot easily in soggy ground, so avoid places where water collects. Mixing compost into the soil before planting and spreading a layer of compost or mulch each spring keeps the vines healthy. A light feeding with a balanced fertilizer in spring is usually enough.

Support

Kiwi plants are vigorous climbers, but their stems are not strong enough to hold up the heavy vine on their own. They need a sturdy support such as a strong fence, a pergola or a trellis. Commercial growers often use T-bar trellises with wires stretched about 6 feet (1.8 m) above the ground, with posts spaced every 15 to 20 feet. A full-grown vine loaded with fruit is very heavy, so build the support strong from the start.

Watering, Temperature and Frost

Kiwi vines need regular watering during the growing season, especially in hot, dry weather, because their large leaves lose a lot of water. The common fuzzy kiwi needs a long, warm summer to ripen its fruit and does not like very cold winters. Its new spring shoots are easily damaged by late frosts, so a sheltered spot is important.

In colder areas, gardeners can grow hardy kiwi species instead, such as Actinidia arguta and Actinidia kolomikta, which survive much colder winters.

Flowers and Pruning

Kiwi vines flower in late spring, with creamy white blossoms. Like grapevines, they need to be pruned every year to stay productive and manageable. Fruit grows on new shoots that sprout from canes formed the year before, so gardeners prune in winter to keep a good supply of young fruiting wood and trim long shoots in summer. A new vine usually takes about three to five years before it bears a good crop.

Pests and Problems

Kiwi vines are fairly tough, but they can be troubled by root rot in wet soil, as well as insects such as thrips, scale and leafrollers. Cats are strongly attracted to some kiwi species, especially young plants, and may chew or roll on them, so protect new vines with wire netting.

Harvesting and Storing Kiwi Fruit

Kiwi fruit is usually harvested in autumn, once the seeds inside have turned black and the fruit has built up enough sugar. It is picked while still hard and then left to ripen.

At room temperature, firm kiwis soften and become sweeter in about a week. To speed things up, put them in a paper bag with an apple or banana, which give off ethylene gas that helps fruit ripen. Unripe kiwis can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks, and commercial cold stores can keep them for months. A ripe kiwi gives slightly when you press it gently.

Kiwi Varieties

The fuzzy green kiwi is the best known, but there are several other edible kinds:

• Golden kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) has smooth skin and sweet yellow flesh.
• Hardy kiwi or kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) has grape-sized fruit with smooth, edible skin.
• Arctic kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta) is very cold-hardy and has pink-and-white splashed leaves.
• Silver vine (Actinidia polygama) has small fruits and is famous for attracting cats.
• Red or purple kiwi (Actinidia melanandra) has reddish skin and flesh.
• Chinese egg gooseberry (Actinidia coriacea) has small brown fruits.

Kiwifruit FAQs

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