{"id":6687,"date":"2026-03-28T06:29:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T13:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/28\/how-to-grow-and-care-for-hardy-kiwifruit-vines\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T06:29:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T13:29:28","slug":"how-to-grow-and-care-for-hardy-kiwifruit-vines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/28\/how-to-grow-and-care-for-hardy-kiwifruit-vines\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Grow and Care for Hardy Kiwifruit Vines"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Water<\/h3>\n

Keep the soil moist at all times during the growing season. The top inch or so can dry out, but don\u2019t let it get drier than that.<\/p>\n

Hardy kiwis are particularly susceptible to root rot in waterlogged conditions.<\/p>\n

Fertilizer<\/h3>\n

Feed the vines with an all-purpose fertilizer in the spring and again as the fruits start to develop.<\/p>\n

A product like Down to Earth\u2019s All Purpose food has the right mixture to keep fruiting vines happy.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Down to Earth All Purpose Food<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Grab some at Arbico Organics<\/a><\/strong> in one-, five-, or 15-pound boxes.<\/p>\n

Cultivars to Select<\/h2>\n

Remember I mentioned that kiwiberries are dioecious? When shopping, make sure you choose at least one male plant for every five or six females.<\/p>\n

The male plant won\u2019t produce fruit, they are in charge of making the pollen that pollinates the flowers that will turn into the fruit. Keep the male within 50 feet of the female plants.<\/p>\n

Anna<\/h3>\n

\u201cAnna\u201d is technically named \u2018Ananasnaya,\u2019 but that\u2019s a mouthful so she goes by Anna for short.<\/p>\n

Ananasnaya is Russian for pineapple-like, an homage to the fruit\u2019s flavor.<\/p>\n

This cultivar is flavorful, but I think it\u2019s particularly cool because the skin turns purple-red in full sun exposure.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018Ananasnaya\u2019 aka Anna<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Anna is one of the most popular options out there, both because it\u2019s tough and the fruit has an excellent flavor.<\/p>\n

You can find Anna vines available at Fast Growing Trees<\/a><\/strong> in two- and three-gallon containers along with the male pollinator \u2018Meader\u2019 (described below).<\/p>\n

Arctic<\/h3>\n

Arctic kiwi isn\u2019t a cultivar, it\u2019s the common name for the species A. kolomikta<\/em>. This vine can tolerate extremely cold temperatures, surviving down to -40\u00b0F.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

There are numerous cultivars like the females \u2018Emerald\u2019 and \u2018September Sun,\u2019 and the male \u2018Pasha.\u2019<\/p>\n

Many cultivars are grown as ornamentals for their striking pink, green, and white leaves.<\/p>\n

The fruits aren\u2019t as flavorful as the A. arguta<\/em> cultivars, but they\u2019re still quite good.<\/p>\n

Think of it as an ornamental that offers up some tasty treats rather than an edible and you\u2019ll be in heaven.<\/p>\n

If, like me, you\u2019re interested in plants that do double-duty in the garden, I can\u2019t recommend an Arctic cultivar enough.<\/p>\n

Issai<\/h3>\n

We talked about needing a male pollinator, but that\u2019s actually not true with this one. \u2018Issai\u2019 is self pollinating, which means no second plant is needed.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

This cultivar is a hybrid of A. arguta<\/em> and A. polygama<\/em>, and it isn\u2019t the most vigorous and the fruit is smaller than average, but you\u2019ll be enjoying the sweet treats even with a single plant.<\/p>\n

Plus, it tolerates the heat and humidity that would make other hardy kiwis struggle.<\/p>\n

You can find plants in #2 containers at Nature Hills Nursery<\/a><\/strong> for your singleton growing needs.<\/p>\n

Geneva<\/h3>\n

\u2018Geneva\u2019 is a prolific producer of medium-sized, round fruits with a sweet, honey flavor.<\/p>\n

This cultivar was discovered at Hedrick Hall, home of agricultural research at the Cornell Experiment Station in Geneva, New York.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n