Self set kiwi fruit

[weeeed]

Well for many years if my compost bin is empty I've used anything handy to put my gunk in! Normally it is the empty dog food bag, which is where my 20ft. visitor comes in! Oh, yes, it is at least 20ft if not more. I love the leaves and have no problem with the plant as such other than the fact that in the 2 years it's been with me I've seen no sign of flowers or fruit, yet it must be happy or it wouldn't be here would it? Suggestions please?

[TPeers]

Only thing I can think of - never having grow a kiwi - is that like many fruit trees/vines it needs to have established itself for a few years before it produces fruit.

If you grow an apple or pear from seed it can take 10 or 15 years before you see fruit, that is one of the reasons for grafting.

Other thoughts that occur to me......

Is it still in the sack - does it need more root space?
Should it be pruned to encorage fruit bud formation?
Does one do that on a kiwi?

I *do* know that they are large plants - so the size sounds right - but could the plant have insufficient/too much light? It's a jungle vine I think?

These and other rambling answers!

Terry

[Lesley Jay]

I have just had a quick look in my book. You need both a male and female kiwi variety to set fruit and they are also fussy about the weather.

[TPeers]

Thought there were some self-fertile varieties out there LJ? Seem to remember reading about them on the Ken Muir site.

Could easily be wrong though!

Terry

[Lesley Jay]

I have just googled it Terry and there are self fertile varieties. It was Ken Muir's book that I was reading!

[TPeers]

Opps!

I'll just creep away quietly then.....

[jlottie]

There is a self fertile Kiwi available

http://www.dobies.co.uk/pd_479657.htm

I've had a kiwi for the last 3 years and its just starting to really get going, its not a self fertile variety and any ideas on how to identify if its male or female appreciated.

[TPeers]

At a wild guess - female flowers will have a proto kiwi behind them, much like a melon.

[Lesley Jay]

This link shows you photo's of both the male and female kiwi flowers.

http://www.cornhillnursery.com/retai...wiflowers.html

[jlottie]

Thanks Lesley, I'd been googling for ages and not come up with anything Haven't had any flowers yet so I will have to wait and see.

[Lesley Jay]

I have a bit of a reputation where Google is concerned!!

[weeeed]

Wow this has caused some interest! Now the self set one in my plastic bag is very healthy, just never flowered! Several years ago I bought my niece a self fertile one called Jenny. Sophie lives in Sydenham and her back garden slopes upwards towards a railway line. It is very sheltered and this plant flowers and fruits. The new self fertile varieties have larger thinner skinned fruit. Hows that for swallowing a garden book! Just wish I could help myself.

[jlottie]

Originally Posted by jlottie

Thanks Lesley, I'd been googling for ages and not come up with anything Haven't had any flowers yet so I will have to wait and see.

I haven't seen any flowers yet so I'm still non the wiser

[weeeed]

Hi guys, it's me again! Now it is after the watershed so please bear with meHow does one know which sex said kiwi is if a) it has never flowered, b) there is nothing obvious on the stems near the leaves, if you see what I mean

[Lesley Jay]

After intensive Googling I have found out that the male plants have a more colourful varigation on the leaves. The most common variety that is grown for the shops is Hayward which is a female variety. I will endeavour to discover more!