Actinidias

[jack66]

I planted 12 kiwis in January, here an already valiant male:










Cool!

[wildseed57]

Nice close ups, what variety are they? you'll need some strong supports once the get big.
I may get some next year once I figure out where I can put two or three as most require at least one male plant although there is one variety that is self pollinating.
George W.

[steev]

Issai, the hardy kiwi generally listed, still produces much better with cross-pollination. I've got ten varieties of cuttings rooting this year, mostly arguta, but a couple kolomicta. I think they'll do fine on the farm. I can't seem to get the basic commercial kiwi to survive there. That seems to be what those pictures show, as none of my cuttings have that fuzziness. BTW, I just saw some commercial-sized kiwis in a produce market, but they had a yellower and fuzz-less skin. Anybody know would that be a new variety, or a hybrid?

[wildseed57]

I would guess that its a hybrid of the tropical and one of the cold hardy varieties, although I'm not sure if the tropical ones will cross or not. If they can cross I wonder if the fuzz less commercial varieties are more cold hardy?
George W.

[jack66]

wildseed57 :no hybrid ,old variety of my area, I looking for for his name.

[bertiefox]

I'm growing Issai, described here as a KIWAI, and based on Actinidia arguta. Last year it flowered, produced a lot of little fruit, which then fell off, although it's described as self fertile. Is it?
I'm also having great difficulty taking cuttings. I tried taking half ripe cuttings last year, I even tried a layering, and then hardwood cuttings during the winter, but none of them have rooted. (All put into a half/half vermiculite and compost mix, with bottom heat). Any suggestions for the best way of propagating this?

[steev]

I'm rooting hard cuttings: ~12" x 1/4", dipped in rooting hormone, inserted ~2/3 into compost, kept moist and out of direct sun outside; it's past frost here and the weather has been cool. They seem to be sprouting well, but I've no idea yet on their root growth. Generally, it seems to me that they root slowly. I wonder whether bottom heat promotes mildew in the time these take to get going.

[bertiefox]

I got lots of shoot growth on the cuttings and especially during early spring I was sure they were taking as they seemed to be growing away. But then the leaves shrivelled and died and there was no sign of rooting on the stems. Perhaps as steev says, trying to rush it with bottom heat is not a good idea, and I should keep them outside in the shade.
The other problem with the main plant is that several of the long stems it made last year have died back and the new growth is coming from near the base, though it is supposed to be a very hardy plant.

[wildseed57]

You might want to try first year new growth, either layering or as green cuttings with rooting hormone. I wouldn't use bottom heat on the cuttings, but some warm humid conditions might be better.
George W.

[steev]

As long as the plant keeps coming back each Spring, the roots should be getting more extensive, so the amount of top-growth should increase each year; eventually more of the canes may get heavy enough to withstand the cold.

[atash]

Jack, Wildseed is right, if that is a fuzzy kiwi (A. chinensis), they get big. They need strong supports. It might be worthwhile to design one so that you can walk under it and reach the fruit. Keep them away from tall structures as they are capable of growing far out of reach. There is one down the block from me that was trained up a tall house, and the owners never harvest the fruit, because it is far out of reach and nobody bothers with a ladder.

Bertiefox, Issai is reputedly self-fertile but I doubt that it is significantly so. I've never seen any fruit set on an Issai without a pollinator. I suggest giving it a mate anyway.

Issai's claim to fame is precocious blooming--but I think that is normal on Kiwis anyway. I don't think there is really anything special about it.

Personally I prefer Arctic Beauties (A. kolomitka), just because they're pretty. They're the ones with colored leaves. I have several, unfortunately my "boy" specimen is sickly and sluggish. Hopefully both of them bloom this year so I will get fruit.

[bertiefox]

Just been examining my 'Issai' and it has very vigorous new growth and lots of flower buds. I'm hoping I might actually get some fruit this year, I guess the point about it getting stronger roots each year is right.

[steev]

I've been lifting my cutting pots to check, and am starting to see a little root growth out the drain holes; I've not yet got the nerve to dump any out for potting up, fearing the roots are yet too delicate. All the top growth looks vigorous, which can't be said of several of my quince varieties, those cuttings are clearly dead parrots. All my pomegranates seem chugging along as slowly as they will, but steadily. Hopefully they'll be up-pottable next Spring.

[castanea]

Apr 4, 2011 22:03:55 GMT -5 steev said:

Issai, the hardy kiwi generally listed, still produces much better with cross-pollination. I've got ten varieties of cuttings rooting this year, mostly arguta, but a couple kolomicta. I think they'll do fine on the farm. I can't seem to get the basic commercial kiwi to survive there. That seems to be what those pictures show, as none of my cuttings have that fuzziness. BTW, I just saw some commercial-sized kiwis in a produce market, but they had a yellower and fuzz-less skin. Anybody know would that be a new variety, or a hybrid?

That is probably the gold variety that has yellow flesh inside. They have been pretty common in stores here in California for the last 5 or 6 years at least. The flavor is much milder than the green fleshed varieties.

brigettelee.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/zespri41.jpg

[bertiefox]

I read somewhere that you can graft Actinidia arguta on to Acitinidia chinensis. Anyone have any information about grafting vine fruit like this... when do you do it, with hard wood or soft growth etc.?
I've had a lot of success 'proximity grafting' citrus and wonder if this might work with actinidias?
The reason for doing this would be that for me Actinidia chinensis grows much more vigorously than Act. arguta.