Hardy Kiwi

Hardy Kiwi

Hardy kiwi is a perennial, dioecious vine that produces fruitful, delicious, and healthy yields of green berries annually from August to October. The plant is native to Japan, China, and Russia, but because of their hardiness, grow wonderfully in the northeast - the first time I saw the berries was in Holyoke, on a tour of Jonathan Bates' and Eric Toensmeier's garden. The second time was here in Belarus, climbing up the wall of my grandmother's house, beautiful and abundant and raining down sweet late-summer fruit.

Hardy kiwi can be grown almost anywhere as long as it has something to climb - a tree, a trellis, a wall, a veranda are all good habitats. They are cold hardy (they can survive temperatures as low as -25 degrees F) and adapt to most soil conditions, as long as the soil is well drained. They can remain healthy with almost no maintenance; they can be pruned if you want to keep them from getting out of control - they grow rapidly and produce a large amount of biomass. Other than that, they are not prone to disease or insect problems, and do a good job of taking care of themselves. These characteristics can make hardy kiwi a great selection for adding color to a wall or privacy to a home or property. Since the plant is dioecious, it is necessary to plant a male and a female (or a male and two females, for higher yields) in order for the plant to produce fruit.

Hardy Kiwi Berries

The fruit itself is impossible to stay away from - it is tender and sweet, and tastes (and looks) just like a kiwi. The berries are an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K, as well as of dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, electrolytes, and minerals. Because the fruits are  smaller, softer versions of traditional kiwi, they can be eaten with the skin by the handful. In order to enjoy the harvest for a longer period of time, it is best to pick the berries before they soften on the vine and store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator. When ready to use, they can be ripened on a windowsill. As soon as they soften on the vine, they fall, and because of their delicate skin this can be a messy affair. If you do let them soften on the vine, make sure to pick them before they tumble to their demise!

If you live in Western Massachusetts and are interested in Hardy Kiwi, it is available at Tripple Brook Farm in Southampton! http://www.tripplebrookfarm.com/index.shtml