We call our place Kiwi Cove because it's an ocean front property
and we grow kiwi fruit! Sorry if you were hoping we're New Zealanders! And we
have kiwi recipes, too!
We planted the kiwi vines in 1997 in a sunny and wind protected
area near the waterfront. A 6-ft overhead trellis system, called
a pergola offers support to the vines. When mature, the vines
create a thick overhead canopy. The rows are slightly contoured
to assist drainage and there is an above ground irrigation system.
Kiwi vines require a generous irrigation schedule. Mature vines
are capable of producing 100 lbs. of fruit and reportedly live
for 40 years or more. Our ¾ acre vineyard holds 134 vines. Some
of the vines have not yet matured, but in the fall of 2001,
the first crop was harvested.
There are many varieties of kiwifruit or Actinidia, but if
we put them into two groups, there are fuzzy kiwifruit and hardy
kiwi fruit. Both need corresponding males for pollination.
HARDY KIWI
Hardy Kiwi are bite size cousins of the fuzzy variety that
we usually find in stores. They have the same green flesh and
ring of seeds, but have no fuzz and can be eaten like a grape.
The variety of hardy kiwi that is grown at Kiwi Cove in Ladysmith
BC is the Actinidia Arguta Ananasnya or Hardy Anna. Arguta
have twice the sugar content of the fuzzy kiwifruit.
There are 33 Hardy vines in our vineyard. They bloom in June
and ripen on the vine in late September.
FUZZY KIWI
There are many fuzzy varieties available. At Kiwi Cove, we
have the Hayward variety which is the variety, sold in
stores, and we also have Elmwood, and Sannichton varieties
of female. One variety of fuzzy male pollinates them all, called
Tomuri.
Compared to the fine leaf of the hardy kiwi vines, fuzzy kiwi
have a much larger leaf, often getting as large as a dinner
plate! The blooms appear in June and it is interesting to compare
the male flowers to the female flowers. By July, the fruit is
formed but needs to remain on the vine until after the autumn
frosts. Even then, they do not ripen on the vine, but are harvested
all at once and are placed into cool storage. The fruit is taken
out of storage as needed, and ripens slowly at room temperature.
It is also possible to hasten the ripening by placing them in
a plastic bag with an apple or a pear.
Kiwi vines are amazing plants with lots of attitude and are
really fun to grow. The fruit is beautiful and delicious and
deserves first prize for nutritional value!
