Hardy kiwi vines (actinidia argutua) are a fast-growing plant with beautiful round soft foliage and delicious small tropical tasting fruit that grows easily in Northern climates. These vines have smaller fruits with smooth skins, they are not hairy like their New Zealand cousins but are sweeter than a hairy kiwi! They can be eaten raw and with the skin on. Hardy to -30 Celsius, it can be grown in many zones in Canada and is generally hardy to zone 4. So, can you grow kiwi in Canada? Yes, you can!
MUST FOLLOW PROCESS: Soak seeds in water for 24 hours. Cold stratify for 90 days in moist medium in the fridge. Sow seeds 1/4" deep and firm soil. Hardy Kiwi are very fragile for their first year and are best kept protected or in a pot until permanent planting after one year orso. They require male and female plants to pollinate so you should plant more than one. Kiwi seeds CAN take longer than 90 days to begin to germinate so please be patient, don't over water, and be very careful. I know these seeds are very viable because I am growing them and have grown them myself for the past few years because they are fun plants to grow! However, they will only germinate if you follow the proper directions.
Hardy Kiwi are vines that require trellising or some thing to climb on and will take a few years to mature and begin fruiting. Sometimes they are also called Chinese Gooseberry. You will need male and female plants so it is best to plant at least a few vines near eachother to ensure you get both males and females. One male vine can pollinate up to 6 female vines. Male and female vines can only be identified by their flowers once they flower. Once they are identified you can also remove the vines you don't desire.
