The mini kiwi is very trendy. We show when and how to best plant the kiwi berry in your own garden and what needs to be considered.
Mini kiwis (Actinidia arguta), also called kiwi berries, look like large kiwis inside (Actinidia deliciosa), From the outside, however, the risk of confusion is low. As the name suggests, mini kiwis are very small and have a smooth, edible skin. Frost does not damage the kiwi berries down to -30 °C. In addition, they are easy to care for and there is nothing wrong with growing them in our garden. However, to enable optimal growth and the best possible yield, you should know how the delicious fruit should be planted and cared for. Our article tells you everything you need to know about the right location, time and planting.
Plant kiwiberries
Mini kiwis are native to eastern Asia, where they usually grow wild as lianas on trees. But things should be a little more orderly in our gardens. We have therefore put together for you what you need to consider when planting the superfruit.
Mini kiwis are dioecious, like their big sister, the kiwi. Dioecious means there are both male and female mini kiwi plants. Although only the female plants bear fruit, the male plants are necessary for pollination. As a rule of thumb, you can grow six female fruiting plants from one mini kiwifruit male plant. The only exception here is the monoecious variety 'Issai'. This has both female and male flowers combined on one plant and is self-pollinating. But even with self-pollinating varieties, an additional male plant increases the yield.
After planting, however, you have to be patient, because mini kiwis only bear fruit from the third year.
Mini kiwis and the right location
Since the mini kiwis climb up trees like lianas in their original home, one location is at the edge of the treeto recommend. West and east locations are particularly suitable for this. The area around the roots should be in semi-shade, further up towards the crown it should get sunnier. The more sun the fruits get, the sweeter they ultimately become. In addition, the location should be well protected from the wind to avoid rubbing damage to the fruit. The mini kiwis love well-aerated, evenly moist and cool soil with a high humus content. The pH value should be slightly acidic and between 5.5 and 6.5, which is why the kiwi berry tolerates very calcareous soil less well.
Summary location for mini kiwis:
- Near the tree
- Protected from the wind as much as possible
- Sunny in the crown area, semi-shady in the root area
- Loose, well aerated substrate
- High proportion of humus
- A pH between 5.5 and 6.5
- Lime-poor soil
When to plant kiwiberries?
The best time to plant kiwiberries is spring. Wait until there is no longer any frost at night. This is usually after the Ice Saints, i.e. in mid-May. Then the climate offers the best conditions for the plant to grow well and gather enough strength for the winter.
Instructions for planting kiwiberries
Once you have found a good location for your kiwiberries, you can start planting. Loosen the soil well and work in plenty of humus. Leaf or bark compost or well-rotted animal manure is suitable for this. Then dig a planting hole about 40 cm deep into which you put the plant. Fill in the planting hole with the excavation that you have previously enriched with compost. Alternatively, you can simply add a dose of primarily organic long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer to the planting hole. This provides your kiwi berries with all the nutrients they need for the first few months. Then water the plant well. Cover the root area with a layer of mulch, such as bark mulch. This protects the heat and light-sensitive roots of the mini kiwi and also reduces the risk of drying out.
Tip: Mini kiwis are flat-rooted. Therefore, you should refrain from tilling the soil in the root area so that you do not damage the roots.
Summary of planting kiwiberries:
- Loosen the soil well and work in the hummus
- Dig planting hole
- Put in the kiwiberry plant
- Fill the planting hole with compost and excavation
- Water well
- Apply mulch layer
The planting distance for mini kiwis is at least one meter, even a distance of two to three meters does not hurt. In this way, they ensure that the vigorous roots of the plant can spread enough and do not get in each other's way. It is also important to note that the male plants usually grow faster than the females. With a sufficiently large planting distance, you also ensure that the female plants are not overgrown by their male neighbors.
Since mini kiwis are climbing plants, they are also happy about a climbing aid, similar to strong-growing blackberries or raspberries. A pergola or a trellis with horizontal tension wires is suitable for this. You can easily build a trellis yourself: To do this, two posts are placed in the ground and wires stretched between them at a distance of about 20 to 30 cm. The lowest wire should not be stretched higher than 40 cm above the ground so that the young tendrils of the kiwi berries can quickly catch up.
Once you have planted your first kiwi berries, the right care is of course crucial for a successful harvest. Everything you need to know about caring for kiwiberries can be found here.