Minikiwi 'Issai' Self-fertile Variety 60-80 cm (Actinidia arguta x polygama)
365 SEK
Unit price perEstimated delivery to you: 06 February to 13 February.
Mini kiwi of the self-fertile variety 'Issai': current height 60-80 cm
Common names: Mini kiwi, Gooseberry actinidia, Hardy Kiwi
Scientific name: Actinidia arguta x polygama
Family: Actinidiaceae
Plant history & use:
The mini kiwi is a perennial climbing plant originating from Japan, Korea, and northern China. It is a hardy kiwi variety that can grow and produce good fruit outdoors in our climate. The fruits are small and hairless, and eaten with the skin on, unlike the hairy kiwifruits we are used to buying in stores.
The 'Issai' variety is a Japanese hybrid between a mini kiwi from Russia/China (Actinidia arguta) and the climbing actinidia (Actinidia polygama). The combination gave a flavorful, very hardy, and vigorous kiwi variety that is excellent to grow in our northern climate.
'Issai' is self-fertile and produces small green, smooth fruits about 3 cm in diameter.
The fruits ripen in September and have green flesh with a fresh and sweet-sour taste, similar to the "regular" kiwi.
The fruits are a rich source of vitamin C (up to 5 times more than, for example, blackcurrants) and can be eaten directly from the plant without peeling. The fruits can also be made into jam.
In Korea, young leaves are used in a vegetable dish called namul.
Cultivation:
Mini kiwi 'Issai' is a hardy variety that withstands temperatures down to -30℃. It has a twining growth habit and can grow up to 3-4 meters tall. Some type of climbing support is necessary, such as a trellis, wall, or pergola. If you want to grow it in a food forest, it works excellently to let the mini kiwi grow against a tree trunk - just try to ensure there is reasonably good light reaching down to the plant.
In June, 'Issai' blooms with small, fragrant white flowers that then turn into flavorful, smooth small fruits. The summer-green leaves turn a beautiful yellow autumn color in the fall.
The mini kiwi thrives best in a sunny, warm, and sheltered location. The optimal growing place is in a greenhouse, against a wall, or on a trellis. However, it also does well outside a greenhouse and in shadier environments - but for the best fruit production, the plant should at least be provided with good light access and wind protection.
Plant the mini kiwi in a nutrient-rich, well-drained, and moisture-retentive soil. If you want to fertilize, it should be done with, for example, blueberry fertilizer, as the mini kiwi thrives best in a slightly acidic pH. Natural manure and compost also work well.
Even though 'Issai' is self-fertile, it is beneficial to plant it together with a male plant (within the same genus: Actinidia spp.) to promote fruit production. It can take a couple of years before the plant starts producing fruit. An established plant can produce large amounts of fruit per year, about 25 kg per plant and in some cases more.
It is advantageous to grow against a trellis to get good air circulation and more sunlight to the fruits.
Pruning when trellising:
- In the first planting year, it is good to let the plant start to form 1-3 main stems. Top your main stem(s) at the end of the season to encourage stronger growth next year.
- In the second year, top the main shoots that come from the main stems again. The side branches, or long shoots, then begin to develop. You should keep to a maximum of 4 long shoots per main stem.
- In the third year, the long shoots should also be shortened to 1-1.5 meters. At this time, flowers often begin to form around the first centimeters of the side branches, which then turn into fine fruits.
- In the following years, each year select the best side branches/long shoots on your plant. Cut away other emerging branches. In this way, you have formed a star-shaped branch base, a collar, that supports the rest of the plant with fruits.
- Do not leave too many side branches as this creates a dense plant with fewer fruits. By topping emerging herbaceous branches during the summer, you let in more sunlight and air to the fruits, which benefits their growth.
- Any pruning of woody parts is done in late autumn/early winter to avoid bleeding.
Characteristics:
Longevity: Perennial
Growing position: sun
Height: 3-4 m
Growing zone: 1-5
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Minikiwi 'Issai' Self-fertile Variety 60-80 cm (Actinidia arguta x polygama)
365 SEK
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365 SEK
Unit price perMini kiwi of the self-fertile variety 'Issai': current height 60-80 cm
Common names: Mini kiwi, Gooseberry actinidia, Hardy Kiwi
Scientific name: Actinidia arguta x polygama
Family: Actinidiaceae
Plant history & use:
The mini kiwi is a perennial climbing plant originating from Japan, Korea, and northern China. It is a hardy kiwi variety that can grow and produce good fruit outdoors in our climate. The fruits are small and hairless, and eaten with the skin on, unlike the hairy kiwifruits we are used to buying in stores.
The 'Issai' variety is a Japanese hybrid between a mini kiwi from Russia/China (Actinidia arguta) and the climbing actinidia (Actinidia polygama). The combination gave a flavorful, very hardy, and vigorous kiwi variety that is excellent to grow in our northern climate.
'Issai' is self-fertile and produces small green, smooth fruits about 3 cm in diameter.
The fruits ripen in September and have green flesh with a fresh and sweet-sour taste, similar to the "regular" kiwi.
The fruits are a rich source of vitamin C (up to 5 times more than, for example, blackcurrants) and can be eaten directly from the plant without peeling. The fruits can also be made into jam.
In Korea, young leaves are used in a vegetable dish called namul.
Cultivation:
Mini kiwi 'Issai' is a hardy variety that withstands temperatures down to -30℃. It has a twining growth habit and can grow up to 3-4 meters tall. Some type of climbing support is necessary, such as a trellis, wall, or pergola. If you want to grow it in a food forest, it works excellently to let the mini kiwi grow against a tree trunk - just try to ensure there is reasonably good light reaching down to the plant.
In June, 'Issai' blooms with small, fragrant white flowers that then turn into flavorful, smooth small fruits. The summer-green leaves turn a beautiful yellow autumn color in the fall.
The mini kiwi thrives best in a sunny, warm, and sheltered location. The optimal growing place is in a greenhouse, against a wall, or on a trellis. However, it also does well outside a greenhouse and in shadier environments - but for the best fruit production, the plant should at least be provided with good light access and wind protection.
Plant the mini kiwi in a nutrient-rich, well-drained, and moisture-retentive soil. If you want to fertilize, it should be done with, for example, blueberry fertilizer, as the mini kiwi thrives best in a slightly acidic pH. Natural manure and compost also work well.
Even though 'Issai' is self-fertile, it is beneficial to plant it together with a male plant (within the same genus: Actinidia spp.) to promote fruit production. It can take a couple of years before the plant starts producing fruit. An established plant can produce large amounts of fruit per year, about 25 kg per plant and in some cases more.
It is advantageous to grow against a trellis to get good air circulation and more sunlight to the fruits.
Pruning when trellising:
- In the first planting year, it is good to let the plant start to form 1-3 main stems. Top your main stem(s) at the end of the season to encourage stronger growth next year.
- In the second year, top the main shoots that come from the main stems again. The side branches, or long shoots, then begin to develop. You should keep to a maximum of 4 long shoots per main stem.
- In the third year, the long shoots should also be shortened to 1-1.5 meters. At this time, flowers often begin to form around the first centimeters of the side branches, which then turn into fine fruits.
- In the following years, each year select the best side branches/long shoots on your plant. Cut away other emerging branches. In this way, you have formed a star-shaped branch base, a collar, that supports the rest of the plant with fruits.
- Do not leave too many side branches as this creates a dense plant with fewer fruits. By topping emerging herbaceous branches during the summer, you let in more sunlight and air to the fruits, which benefits their growth.
- Any pruning of woody parts is done in late autumn/early winter to avoid bleeding.
Characteristics:
Longevity: Perennial
Growing position: sun
Height: 3-4 m
Growing zone: 1-5
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