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Why Buy From Indiana Berry
Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) produces smaller, very sweet and flavorful fruit that has a smooth skin and can be eaten just like grapes. It is also a very vigorous vine and depending on the variety is hardy to minus 25 F or below.
Selecting Planting Site
All Kiwis like well-drained soil, with a 1/2 day to full sun. Kiwis are twining vines; they need a strong arbor trellis or other support. Avoid planting in frost pockets. Sites with northern exposure are good because they delay early growth in spring, which can be damaged by late frosts.
How to Plant
Dig a hole approximately 12" wide and 6" deep with 10 ft apart from each other. Place the plant in the hole, fill with soil and water thoroughly. The top of the potted portion of the plant should be slightly lower than the top of the hole. Be sure that the potted plant is completely covered with your native soil or it may act as a wick and cause the roots to dry out more. This will harden the developing canes and condition them for the first fall frost and the winter. Never let the plants go through the fall in a too dry or too moist condition. Hay, straw or compost are good materials for mulching. While the plants are hardy the new shoots and flowers of all Kiwis can be damaged by temperatures below approx. 31 F. Make sure you protect any new growth in the spring.
Because of their vigor and rapid growth rate, kiwis can use abundant amounts of nitrogen. Do not fertilize kiwi fruit the year of planting, After the first year, sprinkle 2 ounces of 10-10-10 around each plant annually in early spring will adequate water during the growing season. Increase the amount by 2 ounces each year until the plants are receiving 8 ounces, then do not exceed this amount.
How to Prune
Prune the first year of planting. Hardy Kiwi plant needs to be pruned at least two or three times during the growing season and once during overgrown. If not pruned and trained, the vines will grow up trees and over fences and become overgrown. It is important to select one or two new canes and train them to grow vertically. Do not allow them to wist around the support pole or wire. As new shoots grow to a height of 2 to 3 feet pinch the tips. This will harden the stem for the cold months. A new shoot will grow where you previously pinched and hopefully 1 month before normal frost the growth will be 12 to 18 inches. Pinch the tip off again. Harvest is in the fall just before apples. If the fruit is allowed to stay on the vine during mid-fall frosts it will tend to be sweeter.
We are dedicated to shipping your plants the fastest, most economical way possible. It is important that your plants not sit in a warehouse over a week-end. Orders shipping to western states are typically shipped on Mondays for Friday delivery. Indiana orders are typically shipped on Thursdays for Friday delivery. Remaining states are shipped on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Estimate Your Shipping Charges
We currently ship within the U.S. using UPS Ground, 3-Day Select, 2-Day or Next Day Air. For UPS ground service, the minimum shipping charge is $10.00.
Expedited Shipping: Unless you have a specific need to ship quickly, it is not necessary to choose expedited shipping. The majority of our plant orders ship UPS Ground or Priority Mail and arrive by the end of the week they are shipped in terrific shape, ready for planting.
Special Note for Alaska: All Alaska orders are shipped Priority Mail. Shipping cost depends on number of boxes and total weight, which we do not know until your order is packed. Therefore, your credit card will be charged two different times. Once at time of order for merchandise only and again at time of shipping for shipping costs only. If you want to be notified with the shipping cost prior to your card being charged please make a note in the comments section. Keep in mind this will delay your shipment if we are unable to reach you.