Kiwi, or, as it is also called, actinidia, belongs to the group climbing plants. Its natural habitat is preferably forests. Since kiwi grows like a vine, for effective growth it needs to wrap around a tree or support with its vine. By its type, the plant is a distant relative of grapes, and therefore in agriculture Growing kiwi is not much different from growing it.
Origin story
It is generally accepted that the first varieties of kiwi were bred and cultivated in China, where this plant was called yang tao (translated from Chinese - strawberry peach). Later, Europeans began to call kiwi "Chinese gooseberry", and this berry began to be in demand around the world.
In order for the fruit to become more in demand on the market, New Zealand producers in 1962 came up with a more attractive name for it, which has been assigned to it to this day - kiwi. The producers borrowed the new name from the flightless kiwi bird, which bears a distant resemblance in shape and color to this fruit.
In scientific circles, kiwi is called actinidia. It is quite sensitive to temperature and climate conditions. Even the most insignificant deviations from the required plant are enough temperature norm to reduce the level of its flowering, and this entails the destruction of the fruits and the death of the whole plant.
Since kiwi is a rather finicky plant, the branches of which react very sharply to environmental conditions, many attempts to grow the crop of this fruit in different areas and climatic conditions did not bring positive results. On the contrary, producers wishing to grow kiwi suffered significant losses.
Despite the fact that the birthplace of actinidia is Northern China and the coast of Eastern China, where it has been cultivated for three centuries, this fruit has not received much popularity and demand there. This is due to the limited amount of territory that is suitable for plant cultivation in large scale and population density on suitable land. Not so long ago, the actinidia vine was quite common in the natural wild environment, it climbed unhindered through wild trees.
Fruit promotion
Despite the unfavorable climate for actinidia, many American farms expressed a desire to grow this fruit, not only for domestic distribution, but also for mass export. However, all attempts ended in the bankruptcy of the farmers, as they could not create conditions similar to how kiwi grows in nature. The only states whose climate is relatively suitable for this plant are California and Hawaii.
The kiwi plant (Chinese actidinia) is of great value due to its fruits. Depending on the variety, their weight can be from 50 to 150 g. The kiwi fruit is very tasty and has excellent taste.
Where does kiwi grow - in which country?
Historically, the country of origin of kiwi is China, namely the northern region and the eastern coast. Hence the second name of kiwi - "Chinese gooseberry". The cultivation of the plant took place over 300 years. But, since China has limited areas for cultivation, kiwifruit has not been widely distributed.
Kiwi cultivation is now very common in New Zealand. Exports from this country account for more than half of all grown kiwi fruit in the world. The largest plantations are located on the North Island in the Bay of Plenty.
In addition, plantations that produce kiwifruit for domestic consumption are located in the following countries: South Korea, Italy, Greece, Chile, France, Iran, Japan. In the United States, Chinese gooseberries have taken root only in Hawaii and California.
In all these countries and their individual regions, there is a main condition for the full ripening of kiwi - a subtropical climate, which is characterized by the right amount of precipitation.
Many are interested in the question: where does kiwi grow in Russia? It is grown in Krasnodar Territory on the Black Sea coast.
How does kiwi grow in nature?
At first glance, the answer to the question of how kiwi grows in nature is obvious. Many people think that kiwi grows on a tree. But it is not so. The plant is a tree-like vine on which kiwis grow. If it is planted in open ground, its height can reach up to 9-10 m.
Liana grows well in greenhouse conditions. During summer growth, the color of the leaves of the plant constantly changes: from green to white, pink and crimson. The fruits on it are arranged in clusters. Growing fruit is not particularly difficult, as the vine is unpretentious in care. In addition, she is practically not susceptible to diseases.
Kiwi's benefit
Kiwi fruits have many useful properties, namely:
Thus, by regularly eating this useful fruit you will bring significant benefits to your body.
China is considered to be the country of origin and cultivation, where kiwi grows historically, where this plant was originally called Yang Tao, which can be translated as strawberry peach. Subsequently, the name was changed by Europeans and kiwi, gradually gaining popularity in the world, began to be referred to as "Chinese gooseberry". The usual and most common name for this fruit appeared in 1962, it was coined by New Zealand producers in order to give the fruit a market appeal. Served as a prototype flightless bird Kiwi, vaguely reminiscent of the shape and color of Chinese gooseberries.
The scientific name for kiwi is Actinidia deliciosa. At its core, kiwi is a type of grape, its branches are vine. The plant is very sensitive to temperature and climatic conditions. Even small deviations from the conditions required for the growth of kiwifruit can reduce flowering, destroy fruit, or kill the entire plant.
The kiwi vine is so picky about growing conditions that most attempts to harvest these fruits in various parts of the world ended in vain, or rather, with significant losses for producers.
Kiwi is a plant native to Northern China and the coast of Eastern China. In their historical homeland, they were cultivated for approximately 300 years in small volumes. In the recent past, the kiwi vine could be found growing in wild nature, winding through the trees, at the moment it is almost impossible. In its native country, the kiwi has never gained wide distribution due to the limited areas suitable for growing kiwi and the high population density of these lands.
Currently, kiwifruit is grown mainly in New Zealand. This state produces more than half of all kiwi fruits grown for export in the world. Plantations are found mainly in the Bay of Plenty in the North Island, where the climate is ideal for this capricious grape to thrive. Kiwi cultivation in New Zealand employs about 2,700 farms, whose products are supplied to more than 60 countries around the world.
Other countries produce kiwi mainly for the domestic market. The largest of them are China, Italy, Iran, Chile, Greece, France, Japan, South Korea. IN South Korea about 30,000 tons of kiwi are grown for domestic consumption. This is despite the relatively small territory of the country, formerly agricultural, and now one of the most industrialized, which has become popular with tourists.
The attitude towards kiwi in the USA is not unambiguous. Many farms went bankrupt in an attempt to grow kiwi. The Chinese gooseberry vine has taken root only in California and Hawaii.
Kiwi or actinidia chinensis - tree-like tropical liana, its habitat is in the subtropics of Italy, Abkhazia, New Zealand, Chile and Black Sea coast. This wild fruit first appeared in New Zealand at the beginning of the twentieth century. Was later released large-fruited variety actinidia. But few people know how kiwi grows in nature and at home. Therefore, this information will be useful for those who want to grow this plant at home.
In appearance, kiwi appearance resembles a tree that needs support. In the natural environment, kiwi fruits, collected in clusters, ripen at the top of the shoots. Throughout the season, tropical liana changes the color of the leaves from green to white, pink and crimson. In the people, this plant is called the Chinese gooseberry. Ripe fruit is covered with a thin skin and has an amazing taste. Inside the fruit is a green sweetish-sour pulp with numerous small black seeds. For most gourmets, the taste of this fruit is associated with strawberries, gooseberries, melons, apples or bananas. On average, the weight of one fruit is 80 grams. Kiwi fruits are rich in vitamin C, which is more in fruits than in currants and lemons, and the content of a vital trace element - potassium is twice as much as in the same bananas.
Growing kiwifruit at home is a completely real, exciting and effortless process. In order to get the seeds, you need to purchase a ripe fruit in any grocery store. Currently, there are several varieties of this plant, and each of them can be grown quite successfully at home.
Given the natural growing conditions, kiwi is a sun-loving plant. He needs a certain place of detention on the windowsill on the south side, where there is no cold and drafts.
The technology for growing kiwi at home consists of several stages:
- Pre-sowing preparation and germination of seeds.
- Seedling picking.
- Plant care.
Seeds extracted from a ripe fruit must be washed well from the remnants of the pulp. Keep in mind that kiwi seeds are very small, they are washed through a sieve or gauze. Purified planting material put into a glass of water room temperature and put in a warm place, on the south side.
After 8-10 days, the seeds should open. If this does not happen, it is necessary to replace the water in order to prevent the planting material from rotting. Opened seeds need to provide greenhouse conditions with systematic ventilation.
A rag soaked in water is laid out on a saucer, the hatched seeds are evenly spread on top of it. In order to create greenhouse conditions, planting material is covered with a transparent jar or glass and placed in a warm, well-lit place.
Greenhouse conditions will ensure rapid germination of seeds - literally in 3-4 days. Germinated seedlings will have microscopic roots, which means only one thing, that the time has come to plant them in the soil.
A nutrient mixture of peat soil, sand and black soil is optimal for growing this plant at home. A small drainage layer of expanded clay is laid out at the bottom of the landing containers, a little moistened soil mix. In order to facilitate further picking, seedlings are planted separately.
Sprouted sprouts are spread on the surface of the nutrient substrate and sprinkled with a thin layer of earth - from 2x to 3 mm. Plantings are placed in a warm place and irrigated daily with warm water from a spray bottle. Spraying with water can be replaced by building a mini greenhouse from a transparent material. Collecting condensate under the film will create required humidity for seedlings.
After the shoots appear, the shelter is removed. As soon as the seedlings grow up and release one pair of leaves each, they dive into other planting containers a little bigger size. By this time, the plant reaches 10-12 cm in height. In this case, the same soil mixture is used as for sowing seeds, only with a smaller amount of peat. Unpromising and unnecessary sprouts must be immediately discarded, selecting only the strongest and healthiest. Timely picking is extremely important, since the further development and fruiting of tropical vines will depend on it.
In order to ensure the full and active growth of plants at home, they need special care. For kiwi, it is necessary to create conditions close to the natural habitat:
- First of all, these are frequent and moderate waterings. This fruit does not tolerate drought, as well as an excess of moisture. Therefore, in order to avoid such consequences, kiwi is irrigated from a spray bottle. IN winter period season exotic fruit suspends its growth, so its watering is reduced to a minimum - no more than three times a month. During the period of active growth, plants are moistened more often - 2-3 times a week. In hot summer days kiwi needs frequent irrigation of the aerial part.
- This fruit, just like the others exotic plants, actively grows in conditions of good and long daylight hours. In addition, he needs warmth. Therefore, plants are placed on windowsills on the southwest or south side. If this is not possible, replace daylight can be artificial lighting lamps.
- In order for the plants to fully develop, they must be periodically thinned out. On the early stage young sprouts are simply pulled out. It will be more difficult to extract grown plants from the soil, since kiwi grows very quickly and actively. root system. Weaker plants that thicken plantings are sheared.
- You can get healthy fruit-bearing plants provided good food. Kiwis are fed with compost or biohumus once a year.
A shallow trench is dug around the plant and fertilizer is placed in it. In the process of watering, top dressing will seep deep into the soil, nourishing the entire root system of plants.
Kiwi rarely gets sick and is affected by pests, even at home. However, carrying out periodic inspections for the appearance of diseases and harmful insects won't be redundant.
With good and faithful care, this plant, grown from seeds, already in the third or fourth year of life, blooms and begins to bear fruit at home.
Is it possible to grow a kiwi tree in room conditions? Experienced gardeners claim yes! Moreover, even a beginner can get on the windowsill home plant which will bear fruit. Its cultivation is quite painstaking, but many call the process fascinating for this. Description and photo instructions will help you understand the algorithm.
Home growing kiwi: what you need to know before planting
In the wild, the Chinese kiwi gooseberry, like apples or pears, is a small 30-gram fruit. The habitual large fleshy fruits from 100 g and heavier were received by New Zealand breeders. Today, fruits with a refreshing, delicate taste are popular all over the world. In addition, they are very useful and are used in cosmetology, as well as for the prevention of a large number of diseases.
Kiwi grows on beautiful tree-like vines resembling a grapevine. At home, a fruit tree is grown from seeds. Key points to consider before boarding:
Kiwis need plenty of sunlight
- Kiwi is a dioecious crop. To grow fruits at home, you will need at least two plants. You can only determine which specimen is female and which is male only during flowering. Therefore, it is better to plant several vines at once.
- Under optimal conditions of maintenance and care, you will receive the first flowering and fruits no earlier than after 4-6 seasons.
- Any variety is suitable for growing indoors.
- The plant needs about the same conditions as grapes. For example, in the abundance of sunlight.
If your home does not have south-facing windows or adjacent sides, a normally developed plant may not come out.
Attention! There are special frost-resistant varieties that are suitable for growing in open ground middle lane. Conditions and care in this case are similar to room ones. Only for the winter the plant should be wrapped. It may take up to 10 years to wait for fruits from such vines.
Planting kiwi: technology and features
Gardeners recommend starting all kiwi planting procedures in early spring. This time is considered optimal to get maximum germination. Kiwi seed is not difficult to find. Buy a fully ripe fruit - soft and crumbly. Without peeling, cut it in half.
Take seeds from a ripe juicy fruit
- remove about 20 seeds, carefully remove the pulp from them;
- wrap the material in gauze and rinse several times with tap water;
- spread the seeds on a saucer and leave to dry for a couple of hours under normal room conditions.
Attention! At the stage of harvesting seeds, you need to completely get rid of the pulp. Otherwise, the material will begin to rot.
The next step is to germinate the seeds to speed up germination:
- Put on a saucer cotton wool moderately moistened with hot water. Place seed on it.
- Place the plate on a well-lit window sill and cover with cling film. At night, the mini-greenhouse should be opened. But make sure that there are no drafts at this time. Wet the cotton again in the morning hot water and stretch the film.
Under such conditions, the seeds should form seedlings in 7-10 days. Maintain the mode until you see delicate white roots. Now the germinated seeds should be transplanted into the soil:
Kiwi sprout
- Mix equal parts of humus, peat, turf and sand.
- Fill small pots with soil. In each, right on the surface, put a few seeds. Sprinkle them on top with a thin layer of soil. You can't ram the ground.
- Spray the planting daily, keeping the topsoil moist. Use only a spray bottle, simple watering cannot be done.
Advice. Moisturizing the earthy coma at this and subsequent stages of cultivation is extremely important for plants. Therefore, other methods are suitable for these purposes. For example, the installation of a mini-greenhouse from half plastic bottles over each pot. However, an excessive amount of water for the root system of the plant will be fatal.
Growing kiwi: caring for young plants
To care for fruit tree was effective, bring the growing conditions as close as possible to his native, natural. Kiwi grows in climates with long warm and humid summers. In addition to low humidity or an excess of water, the plant does not like:
- cool climate, temperatures below +20 °C;
- a sharp drop in temperature even in warm weather;
- wind;
- deficiency of sunlight.
Advice. If these features are taken into account, it is possible to take the plant outside in the summer, and at other times of the year - to a warmed loggia or balcony.
Other nuances of kiwi care:
Fertilize Kiwi Fruit Regularly
- The key to the health and beauty of a tree is top dressing organic fertilizers: biohumus or compost. Mixtures are applied in the spring, no more than 2-3 times. You can add the entire composition of fertilizers and once, in dry form, to a trench dug around the stem. In the process of watering, the substances will gradually flow to the roots.
- In summer, gardeners recommend fertilizing kiwi with mineral complexes. Frequency - 3-4 times a month.
- To strengthen and make the vine more branched, pinching its top from time to time will help.
- A month after rooting in the ground, the plant will need a new transplant.
- Each plant needs a separate pot. It is important that wide leaves do not block each other's access to light.
- Room conditions will not become limiters for the growth of vines. mature plant can reach 7 m in length. Creepers need support (for example, trellises) along which the kiwi will climb to the ceiling.
How to get a kiwi harvest at home
The optimal ratio of male and female plants for good harvest- 1 to 5-6. It is very likely that by flowering you will find that this is not the case. Often there will be more male specimens than necessary. In this case, grafting female twigs-eyes on their stems is effective.
The gardener will have to pollinate the plants on their own. Transfer pollen from male flowers to female flowers with clean and disinfected tweezers.
kiwi blossom
To prevent the plant from degenerating, remove old branches in the fall, especially if the shoot has already borne fruit. So you make room for young vines and keep fruiting at the same level.