Does a male hardy kiwi need to be trellised?

17 years ago

I am planning to plant some hardy kiwi (arguta). I know that they need a substantial trellis, but nowhere have I seen any discussion or rationale for putting the male plant on a substantial trellis. Since it is needed only to pollinize the female and not to produce fruit, can I get away without trellising it, or by only putting it on a relatively small trellis -- say, a single wire, and cutting it back once it has done its duty? (I was planning a multi-wire T trellis for the female).

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Comments (4)

chills71
17 years ago
If hardy kiwi's bloomed exclusively on new wood, your idea might work. I am not sure on what wood they bloom, as mine has not yet done so, but everything I've read does say that the plants can be pruned hard after flowering, but I don't know if they can be pruned that low. Why not put an extra t-bar in the middle of your trellising and let the male run up that. Then you could trim it back to the top of the T after bloom.

~Chills
bejay9_10
17 years ago
I recently replanted my male and female kiwi (fuzzy types). They were growing beneath a strong arbor - which was also occupied by 3 other occupants - 1 wine grape and 2 eating types, that took a liking to their habitat, and I decided the kiwi would probably resent the intrusion - eventually.

Anyway, since my son built a 2nd arbor on the east side of the house, it seemed like a great new home for the fuzzies.

So I moved them there. They are both about 5 feet tall now, and I pruned back quite hard this winter. I planted both of them in the same hole, and it is my thought to let them intertwine until they reach the top of the arbor.

Hopefully, the intimate relationship will prove to be fruitful. If they survive the move, time will tell.

Just my 2 c's.

Bejay
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kiwinut
17 years ago
Argutas are some of the least precocious Actinidia, and need to get rather large before they begin to bloom. They do bloom almost exclusively on new growth from one-year old wood. Once you have a large root system and trunk in place, then you can prune 90% after bloom. You not only need a trellis, it needs to be very strong, as its not just the weight of fruit that needs to be supported, but the leaves can catch a lot of wind.

~kiwinut
red_sea_me
17 years ago
mine are young also,

I have read about allowing a male to grow up a tree that is near to your trellis or pruning it back hard after it flowers. It can also be kept as a smaller plant since it only needs to pollinate, not carry fruit. Check CRFG and the link bellow for more info.

If I'm lucky, maybe next year I'll get some fruit.

Here is a link that might be useful: Burnt Ridge Nursery Kiwi Guide

Does a male hardy kiwi need to be trellised?

Comments (4)

chills71

bejay9_10

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kiwinut

red_sea_me

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