Kiwi from your own garden sounds of the south and sun, yet it works here too, only small. The hardy kiwi, botanically Actinidia arguta, bears grape-sized mini kiwis with smooth skin that you simply pop into your mouth like a grape. No peeling, no fuzz, just sweet-aromatic kiwi flesh in miniature.
The decisive difference from the large kiwi lies in the hardiness: while the well-known kiwi needs a mild wine-growing climate, the hardy kiwi shrugs off severe frosts. That makes it the perfect nibble climber for almost any garden. This article shows you how to plant it, which variety you need and why the support is so important.
Nibble kiwi without peeling
The great charm of the hardy kiwi is its handiness. The fruits are only the size of a grape or gooseberry, their skin is smooth, thin and completely edible. You harvest a handful and nibble them straight, no knife, no preparation. For children it is ideal, because here is fruit to eat on the spot.
In flavour the hardy kiwi is a real kiwi, often even sweeter and more aromatic than the large shop fruits, because it is allowed to ripen fully. The vitamin C content is high, and because you eat the vitamin-rich skin too, higher than in a peeled kiwi. Fully ripe the fruits turn soft and can then be processed into jam or compote too, but usually the whole harvest goes straight into the mouth.
Hardy where the large kiwi gives up
The large, fuzzy kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) needs a mild climate and a very sheltered spot, because its shoots and flowers are sensitive to late frost. In large parts of the country it is therefore a gamble. The hardy kiwi is of different stuff: it tolerates double-digit frosts and thrives reliably even in rougher locations.
One sore point remains the late frost. If the hardy kiwi sprouts in spring and a hard frost still comes, the young shoots can freeze. A sheltered site, for instance in front of a wall or in a garden corner, reduces this risk. The plant itself usually sprouts again afterwards, but the year's harvest can suffer.
Male and female or self-fertile
As with sea buckthorn, the question of sex arises with the hardy kiwi too. Most varieties are dioecious, so there are male and female plants, and only the female ones bear fruit. Whoever plants such varieties absolutely needs a male as a pollinator nearby, a single female otherwise stays fruitless.
The question of pollination
- Self-fertile varieties
Varieties like ‚Issai' are self-fertile and bear as a single plant too. Ideal for small gardens or the balcony, where there is room for only one plant.
- Male plus female
Most productive varieties are dioecious. One male pollinates several females. For a big harvest this combination is the first choice.
- More yield with a partner
Even self-fertile varieties often bear more richly when a male stands nearby. Whoever has the space likes to combine.
- Patience until the first harvest
Hardy kiwis usually bear only after a few years. They need time to grow strong on the support before the first larger harvest comes.
A strong support is a must
The hardy kiwi is no dainty little plant but a strong, woody twiner that grows several metres long and heavy over the years. Whoever gives it only a thin stake experiences disappointment. It needs a sturdy, permanent support that carries its weight over many years.
Proven are strong wooden or metal posts with tensioned wires, on which the shoots are trained horizontally, much like a grapevine. On a sturdy pergola, a carport or a robust fence the hardy kiwi finds hold too. How to combine various climbing plants and their supports correctly is a topic of its own, but with the hardy kiwi one thing above all holds: rather too sturdy than too weak.
Once established, the hardy kiwi rewards the initial effort with rich yield and dense foliage that creates shady spots in summer. An annual cut in winter keeps it in shape and promotes fruiting, much like a grapevine.
Kiwi enjoyment without peeling and without a wine-growing climate: the hardy mini kiwi bears richly on a sturdy support when pollination and site are right. A nibble climber for almost any garden.
The core idea for the hardy kiwi
Frequently asked questions
Is the hardy kiwi winter-hardy?
Yes, very. The hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta) tolerates double-digit frosts and is clearly harder than the large, fuzzy kiwi. It is sensitive only to late frost, which can hit the spring growth. A sheltered site softens that.
Does the hardy kiwi need a second plant?
That depends on the variety. Self-fertile varieties like ‚Issai' bear alone. Most productive varieties, though, are dioecious and need a male as a pollinator for the female, fruit-bearing plants.
How do you eat hardy kiwis?
Simply like a grape, with the skin and without peeling. The fruits are grape-sized, smooth and completely edible. Fully ripe they are soft and especially sweet. You nibble them raw or process them into jam and compote.
What support does the hardy kiwi need?
A sturdy, permanent frame, because it is a vigorous, heavy twiner. Proven are strong posts with tensioned wires, a robust pergola or a sturdy fence. Delicate grids it does not endure in the long run.
When does a hardy kiwi bear for the first time?
Usually only after a few years, once the plant has grown strong on the support. Patience pays off: once the hardy kiwi is established, it bears reliably and richly over many years.
