Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Hardy Kiwi vine
Have you ever thought of growing kiwi? Me either. I mean, come on, we live in zones 3 and 4! BUT, Hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta and Actinidia kolomikta) is the cold-hardy cousin of the vine that produces the familiar kiwi fruit sold at grocery stores.
Hardy kiwi is much more cold-tolerant and can be grown in zones 3, 4, or 5. Primarily it’s grown for it’s heart-shaped leaves but it also delivers that tasty little fruit, however, the plants hardy to zones 3 and 4, need a male and a female plant to produce fruit!
The fruit is smaller with a smooth skin so no need to peel! It’s fast growing, covering a pergola quickly. You do need to train the vine so it doesn’t take over shrubs or trees in the area you’re growing it.
In our regions, the University of Minnesota Extension recommends ‘Arctic Beauty’, it’s a kolomikta variety. A great choice with tri-color green-white-pink variegated foliage on mature vines of both sexes.
The fruit, when you have a male and female plant, is very high in Vitamin C. The berries can be dried like raisins!
The best location for planting is on the north or east side of a building or stand of trees where it’s shaded from the harsh afternoon sun and winter sun. Do avoid low-lying areas and make sure your soil is well-draining.
‘Arctic Beauty’ has dainty fragrant white-buttercup flowers with yellow anthers are featured along the branches from mid to late spring. It grows 15 to 20 ft. tall with a 3 to 5 ft. spread.
