How To Grow A Kiwi Arguta

Kiwi Arguta is becoming a very popular fruit to grow. Kiwi’s are  notorious for taking a very long time to crop.

A new variety was brought to the UK recently – Kiwi Arguta. Because Kiwi Arguta is self-fertile it means that unlike other kiwi species it does not need a male and a female plant to produce fruit.

Kiwi Arguta is a self-fertile variety of the so-called mini-kiwi. It grows small kiwis, no bigger than the size of a grape, these can be eaten whole. There is no need to scoop out the flesh with this variety.

Kiwi needs a sunny and warm site with semi-fertile to acidic soil.  They will very grow quickly and are vigorous climbers. It’s best to train the Kiwi plant on horizontal wires against a warm wall and then you’ll find it easier to keep the plant in check and pruned. Pruning is done in late summer or winter to stop sap from bleeding.

Apart from lovely tasty fruit Arguta is also a nice plant, with deep green leaves and lovely flowers in June.

How to grow a Kiwi Arguta – More information

Kiwi Arguta has performed so well in trials in the UK that some grower belief it will also be grown commercially in the UK.

Kiwi fruit has always been a popular fruit to eat. But growing a kiwi has always been fairly difficult. You have to have a male and female plant (though you can have 1 male and several female plants) and apart from that the weather isn’t quite right to get a good crop of kiwis.

But recently a new kiwi plant has come to the market a Kiwi Arguta. They have been specially breed for the English weather and are much easier to grow that the ordinary kiwi.

The kiwi Arguta produces small kiwis, they are no bigger than the size of a grape. And you can eat them whole, no need to peel or to scoop out the flesh.

Like all kiwi vines they are vigorous climbers and can reach great heights. I train ours on vertical wires, although can also be trained on horizontal wires against a nice warm wall.

You’ll need to keep them pruned to keep the kiwi vine in check.

Arguta has performed so well in trials in the UK that hopefully it will be a commercially grown crop in the UK soon.

Kiwi Arguta Plant Information
• Name: Kiwi Arguta
• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: well drained moderate fertile
• Rate of Growth: fruit 2nd or 3rd year.
• Fruiting Period: Summer – Autumn
• Fruit Colour: Kiwi = green
• Grow in: open ground, or on the patio
• Hardiness: frost tender to fully hardy
• Garden Care: may need protection in extreme winter days!

Up-date: 2012 was the first year I picked some. There weren’t many about a dozen fruits but they were delicious. I could eat them whole, they don’t have the usual prickly skin that is associated with kiwis. So here’s hoping for more fruit for 2013.