IT IS 100% POSSIBLE, in our wonderful little Kitsap peninsula, to grow delicious fuzzy kiwi and a distant cousin the hardy kiwi called kiwiberries. All you need is full sun, a strong arbor, male & female vines… and patience.
Fuzzy kiwis are traditionally what you find in the grocery store. Varieties to consider, fit for growing in our region, are Hayward or Saanichton. Both will need one male vine for every four female vines, but, trust me, you don’t want more than one female vine. You can plant both on a sturdy arbor, or you can plant your male vine at the base of a large tree and allow it to go wild. You will need lots of patience with fuzzy kiwis because it can take up to 7-10 years to start bearing fruit.
Hardy kiwis are smooth-skinned and about the size of grapes. These kiwis are more cold hardy than the fuzzy version and can start producing in as little as three years. Varieties to consider here would be Issai (self-fertile) or September-Sun. A sturdy large trellis is still needed for hardy kiwis and, again, I wouldn’t recommend more than one female vine unless you are getting a self-fertile variety.
Kiwis need a lot of space!! Each male and female can grow up to 20 feet a year. Size can be managed with annual pruning. Males can be pruned back by 50-75%. Females should only be pruned back 30-45%. It will take some practice pruning properly to get good yield. (But I’ve got a great PDF, contact me if interested.) Kiwis are harvested after the first light frost and can mature slowly in the fridge over a couple of weeks. Eating fresh fruit from December through January is a great source of Vitamin C, just what’s needed during cold and flu season. You can find vines at most of your local nurseries: Bremerton City Nursery, Brothers Greenhouse, Valley Nursery, and Cooleen Gardens. Or, you can purchase from online outlets like Raintree Nursery.
Check out Nikki’s free monthly Garden Talks from 1-3 p.m. the final Sunday of each month at Ridgeline Brewing in Bremerton. More on the socials @urbangnomestead
