Kiwi Farming, Kiwi Planting, Kiwi Fruit Cultivation Practices

Kiwi Farming Information Guide

Today, we learn kiwi farming techniques, ideas for kiwi plantation and common cultivation practices.

Kiwi Farming
Kiwi Farming.

About Kiwi Fruit:

Kiwi or Chinese gooseberry is grown widely in New Zealand, Italy, USA, China, Japan, Australia, France, Chile, and Spain. The kiwi fruit has high nutritive and medicinal value. It is a rich source of vitamin B & C and minerals like phosphorus, potassium & calcium. Kiwi Fruits are consumed fresh or combined with other fruits in salads and desserts. It is also used for the preparation of squash and wine. In India, Kiwi is mostly grown in the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, J & K, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Kerala.

Varieties of Kiwi Fruit Cultivated in India:

The main kiwi varieties cultivated in India are Abbott, Allison, Bruno, Hayward, Monty, and Tomuri.

Growing requirements for Kiwi Fruit:

Read: Sericulture Training Guide.

Kiwi Orchard.
Kiwi Orchard.

Kiwi fruit vines are fairly hardy and grow in a wide range of temperatures, but to produce best quality Kiwi fruit they need:

  1. well-drained, fertile soils
  2. shelter from the wind
  3. adequate moisture year-round
  4. protection from autumn and spring frosts.

Suitable Soil for Kiwi Farming:

The deep, yellow-brown loams of the Bay of Plenty are well-drained but need regular nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium once the vines begin cropping. Orchards are usually fertilized in spring and early summer with 200 kilograms of nitrogen, 55 kilograms of phosphorus and 100–150 kilograms of potassium per hectare.

Wind Protection for Young Kiwi Plants:

Wind is a major limiting factor in establishing a kiwi fruit farm and growing high-quality kiwi fruit. Young and flowering shoots are easily damaged, and most Kiwi orchards need protection from winds.

Land Preparation for Kiwi Fruit Production:

Steep land is contoured into terraces for planting vines. The rows are to be oriented in a north-south direction to avail maximum sunlight. Thorough preparation of the soil is essential for the successful establishment of its vineyard. Preparation of pits, a mixture of farmyard manure and filling of pits are to be completed by December.

Read: Pearl Farming Training in India.

Land Preparation for Kiwi Farming.
Land Preparation for Kiwi Farming.

Planting Material for Kiwi Orchard Establishment:

Kiwi Plants are mostly propagated vegetatively through cuttings and grafting.

Best Planting Season for Kiwi:

Kiwi Planting is usually done in the month of January. The planting should be done at the same depth at which the plants were growing in the nursery. The soil should be firmly placed around the roots. The plants are pruned hard to about 30 cm. to encourage vigorous growth.

The spacing of Kiwi Plants:

Kiwi Planting distance varies according to variety and system of training. Usually, the T-bar and pergola system is adopted for planting. In T-bar, a spacing of 4 m. from row to row and 5-6 m. from plant to plant is common whereas, in pergola system, a spacing of 6 m. from row to row should be maintained. To ensure pollination, male plants are distributed through the orchard, with male to female plant ratios around 1:5.

Frost protection of Kiwi Plants:

In winter, kiwifruit vines are leafless and dormant and can withstand frosts to -10°C. But in spring and autumn, plants are vulnerable to frost damage. Growers use water sprinklers and wind machines to protect their crop if frosts are forecast.

Fertilizers and Nutrition requirement for Kiwi Plants:

A fertilizer dose of 20 kg. farmyard manure (the basal dose), 0.5 kg. NPK mixture containing 15% N is recommended for application every year. After 5 years of age, 850-900 g. N, 500-600 g. P, 800-900 g. K and farmyard manure should be applied every year.

Kiwi requires high Cl because its deficiency adversely affects the growth of shoot and roots. In contrast, excess levels of B and Na are harmful. The N fertilizer should be applied in two equal doses, half to two-thirds in January-February and the rest after fruit set in April-May. In young vines, the fertilizer is mixed in the soil within the periphery of the vine, and for the matured vine it is broadcast evenly over the entire soil surface.

Training of Kiwi Plants:

Read: Crab Training in India.

Training of Vines.
Training of Vines.

Training is required to establish and maintain a well-formed framework of main branches and fruiting arms.  The supporting branches are erected even before planting the vines or thereafter as early as possible. Three types of supporting structures (fences) are constructed. A single wire fence is commonly adopted through another wire is sometimes provided and then structure takes the form of Kniffin system. One 2.5 mm. thick tensile wire is strung on the top of pillars which are 1.8-2.0 m. high above the ground. The pillars are made of wood, concrete or iron and are erected at a distance of 6 m. from each other in a row.

The wire tension at installation should not be over-strained otherwise wire can break at knot due to crop load. A cross arm (1.5 m.) on the pole also carries two outrigger wires. This training is known as T-bar or overhead trellis/telephone system. The laterals arising from the main branch are trained on a canopy of three wires. A flat-topped network or criss-cross wires are prepared to train vines on pergola or bower system. The system is costly and difficult to manage but gives higher yield.

Irrigation requirement for Kiwi Plants:

Irrigation is provided during September-October when the fruit is in the initial stage of growth and development. Irrigation at 10-15 days interval has been found to be beneficial.

Weed Control in Kiwi Field:

Inter-cultural operations are carried out on a regular basis to remove the weeds.

Intercropping in Kiwi Crop:

Inter-cropping with many vegetables and leguminous crops is beneficial during the initial five years of  Kiwi Farming.

Pests and Diseases of Kiwi Plants:

 In Kiwi Farming, root rots can develop from infection by Phytophthora soil fungi, especially on poorly drained sites. The native bootlace fungus Armillaria novaezelandiae spreads to kiwifruit from infected dead tree stumps or buried wood and causes fatal infections. In humid climates, grey mold Botrytis cinerea rot infects flowers and young fruit.

Pollination and fruiting in Kiwi Farming:

In early summer, flowers are pollinated and thinned. Kiwifruit is not self-pollinating, so part of each orchard must be devoted to male vines unless pollen is brought in for artificial pollination. Unlike most other fruits, kiwifruit needs high levels of pollination (about 13,000 pollen grains per stigma compared to only 12 grains for apple flowers). Growers either place numerous honey-bee hives in the orchards temporarily or artificially pollinate the flowers.

Read: Teff Grain Farming Practices.

Harvesting and Yield of the Kiwi:

Kiwi vine starts bearing at the age of 4-5 years while the commercial production starts at the age of 7-8 years. The fruits mature earlier at a lower altitude and later at high altitudes because of variation in temperature. Large sized berries are harvested first while smaller ones are allowed to increase in size. After harvesting, the fruits are rubbed with a coarse cloth to remove stiff hairs found on their surface. Hard fruits are transported to the market. Subsequently, they lose their firmness in two weeks and become edible.

Harvested and Riped Kiwifruit
Harvested and Ripened Kiwifruit.

Post Harvesting Tasks of Kiwi: 

Grading:

Fruits are graded on the basis of their weight. Fruits weighing 70 grams. and above are graded as ‘A’-grade fruits and between 40-70 grams. as ‘B’ grade fruits.

Storage of Kiwi:

Kiwi fruits have an excellent keeping quality. The fruits can be kept in good condition in a cool place without refrigeration up to 8 weeks. It can be kept for 4 to 6 months in cold storage at -0.6°Cto 0°C.

Packing of Kiwi fruit:

There is no standard package for kiwi fruits. Cardboard boxes of 3-4 kg. capacity is generally used for packing. Polythene liners in storage cases are very effective in maintaining high humidity and can be used to maintain fruits in good condition for a longer period.

Transportation and Marketing:

Road transport by trucks/lorries is the most convenient mode of transport due to the easy approach from orchards to the market. Majority of the growers sell their produce either through trade agents at village level or commission agents at the market.

Bottom Line of Kiwi Farming:

Wonderful fruit with excellent profits.

Read: Growing Fruits Hydroponically.

16 COMMENTS

  1. Am happy about the article on kiwi farming information guide for beginners. Can i get a copy of this through my email.

      • I have 13 cents of steep land in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu..
        1. Is it viable to put up a Kiwi farm in 13 cents.
        2. Which variety of Kiwi is suitable for the climate in Kodaikanal..
        3. Is there any nursery in Kodaikanal that supply Kiwi grafted plants.

  2. I’m interested on kiwi farming did you know where I can buy for the Planting Materials (Male & Female Seedlings). Thus can be shipped to the Philippines. Please I’m waiting for the information.

  3. Sir, may I know we’re can I buy kiwi plants in kashmir, and also I want to know that is kiwi fruit cultivation profitable than apple fruit cultivation

  4. Sir iam from Karnataka (Bidar district) iam also interested to grow kiwi fruits in my 1 acre field(initially) can you please help me or is it suitable area and how can I planted.

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