[Cavolo Nero]

Has anyone tried growing kiwi fruit? Ive read that they climb chicken wire well so it would be a good use of space for me. Im in the south so given a decent summer they should be ok.

[mumofstig]

No personal experience of kiwi, but my neighbour is growing some on a trellis fence and they are doing quite well, she had a few fruits last year (2nd year)

[sunshineband]

You can get self fertile varieties too 

[Kristen]

From what I have read the varieties "bred" to make fruit in a short season are not that fantastic ... but if sticking to the older, more prolific varieties, you need a greenhouse to give them enough "summer" to do a proper job.

[DD.]

"hargrave" has made this reply, but I think pressed the wrong button and it's come by way of "Reported Post".

"kiwi jenny is self fertile it is the one i have but not had any fruit in the 6yrs ive had it"

[TimLundSE26]

I've a well established kiwi fruit vine, which in 2008 produced some very small but good tasting fruit.  I'd never expected anything, so I'd not bothered about pruning it, but because of this (small) success I did.  Result masses more flowers and fruit, but in fact nothing worth eating - I think I should have thinned out the fruit.  So this year, I'll try again.

One thing -  before 2008, there'd always been late frosts, which really knocked it back.  It grows mainly on the south side of my allotment shed.

[sunshineband]

I've never known anyone have a decent crop of kiwi fruit

[Kristen]

Mrs K is keen for me to try. I'm going to put Male + Female in the greenhouse this year. I'll report back (that will be in a few years time, right? )

[Trikidiki]

I have a friend who has had one, must be self fertile, growing on a 12ft south facing wall sheltered by houses on both sides. It produces lots of small fruits used for making jams or pickles or something, just about edible as a raw fruit.

I bought a self fertile variety called Jenny about 3-4 years ago and planted it under a large lilac to give it support and give interest to the lilac after flowering. It hasn't got above about 5 ft and no sign of a flower. I think it may be too dry or deprived under the lilac so will move it to a better site next year if nothing happens this year.

[new_2_veg]

i never knew they where hardy,

iv got one here that i collected back with stuff from my ex but i always kept it in the greenhouse.

got to wait and see if it comes again tho as doubt she watered it

nathan

[A. Fallowfield]

I've a couple of the self fertile ones on order! So I'll keep an eye onthis post. :blink:
The blurb says they can grow to ten feet, whereas the others are thirty foot trees!
I've built a fence come espalier ready for them that could easily be extended upwards!
If we get a decent summer they'll be in a very sunny position.

[Torreya]

We have one in the cold W. Mid's that grows okay, but hasn't produced anything in 3 years. Friends in Worcester have one in a cold greenhouse that's over 20 years old and that's fruited regularly!