Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: 3759allen on November 12, 2016, 09:31

Title: growing kiwi in the uk?
Post by: 3759allen on November 12, 2016, 09:31

i've just started looking at more fruit tree's and saw kiwi's.

i have a space in the poly tunnel that i was going to use for a fig tree, but am now thinking the space may be better used for something different.

has anyone grown kiwi's before? they say they are self fertile but do they pollinate ok with just 1 plant? how big will the vine/ plant need to get to produce sensible fruit? will they do better if i restrict the roots to control the size or will it be fine as is in the confines of the tunnel?

any help and advise welcome.

Title: Re: growing kiwi in the uk?
Post by: SusieB on November 15, 2016, 18:55

I'm no expert, but I think they get quite big but do not need protection.  So may waste space in a polytunnel.

Title: Re: growing kiwi in the uk?
Post by: 3759allen on November 16, 2016, 07:31

i have about 10ft, maybe a little more of space that is spare at the moment. given the direction of the sun i can have something that will grow tall as it won't block the sun light from other plants around it.

i have enough room for everything else i want to grow in there so looking for something to fill the space. i was thinking a fig tree (with roots contained so along with pruning the size of the tree shouldn't get too big). but then saw kiwi that took my interest and thought it may be better suited in the tunnel.

Title: Re: growing kiwi in the uk?
Post by: SusieB on November 19, 2016, 19:07

Kiwis spread.  I think you'd need 4 to 5 metres width.

Title: Re: growing kiwi in the uk?
Post by: 3759allen on November 22, 2016, 19:32

can you not control the size of the plant by containing the root system and pruning?

i'll have a look else where on the internet but most web pages are from other countries.