Kiwi fruit grow on vigorous vines. Grow them on trellises or espalier them along fences or walls for ornamental landscaping that also delivers fruit high in Vitamin C. Hardy kiwi vines, like the Issai, will produce smooth fruit in a range of climates in USDA zones 4-9. Issai is also a convenient vine since it is self-fruitful (meaning it produces both male and female flowers).
Want the familiar fuzz? Find those on our tender kiwi vines. Even the tender vines need some winter chill, so they do best in USDA zones 7-9. You’ll need at least one male (Tomuri) and one female (Vincent) vine for pollination. Remember, the prime requirements for kiwis are good drainage and ample water. Pull any perennial weeds from the site. In our video Tricia added a sprinkler to her drip irrigation system to give her vine the moist, but not waterlogged, soil it needs for good root growth. Water is key for kiwis to bear their heavy crops.
Even though the Issai vines are winter hardy while dormant, in their youth those vines can be winter killed. In the wintertime it’s a good idea to wrap the trunk of the hardy kiwi vine while it is 1 - 4 years old.
Kiwi vines will cooperate with a number of trellising styles. You can plant them at the corners of a large arbor, train them along trellises, or grow them espalier style along fences. Choose your support system and install it before you plant the kiwi vines. The hardy kiwi vines we carry are moderately vigorous and will grow about 6’ - 12’ a year, much less than their tender, fuzzy cousins that can grow as much as 30’ in a year.
All our bare root trees (except Pecan trees), vegetables and berries come with a limited replacement guarantee.