Kiwi planting and care in the open field. All about growing kiwi at home. The work of the nervous system

Kiwi, or, as it is also called, actinidia, belongs to the group of climbing plants. Its natural habitat is preferably forests. Since the kiwi grows like a liana, for effective growth it needs to twine its vine around a tree or support. By its type, the plant is a distant relative of grapes, and therefore in agriculture growing kiwi is not much different from growing it.

Origin story

It is generally accepted that the first varieties of kiwi were bred and cultivated in China, where this plant was called yang tao (translated from Chinese - strawberry peach). Later, Europeans began to call kiwi "Chinese gooseberry", and this berry began to be in demand all over the world.

In order for the fruit to become more in demand in the market, New Zealand producers in 1962 came up with a more attractive name for it, which is still assigned to it to this day - kiwi. The producers borrowed the new name from the flightless bird kiwi, which has a distant similarity in shape and color to this fruit.

In scientific circles, kiwi is called actinidia. It is quite sensitive to temperature and climatic conditions. Even the smallest deviations from the temperature norm required by the plant are enough to reduce the level of its flowering, and this entails the destruction of fruits and the death of the entire plant.

Since the kiwi is a rather picky plant, the branches of which react very sharply to the surrounding conditions, many attempts to grow the crop of this fruit in different regions and climatic conditions did not bring positive results. On the contrary, growers willing to grow kiwi suffered significant losses.

Despite the fact that actinidia is native to North China and the coast of East China, where it was cultivated for three centuries, this fruit did not receive much popularity and demand there. This is due to the limited amount of land that is suitable for large-scale plant cultivation and the population density on suitable land. Not so long ago, the Actinidia vine was quite common in the natural wild environment, it curled freely through the wild trees.

Fruit popularization

Despite the unfavorable climate for actinidia, many American farms expressed a desire to grow this fruit, and not only for domestic distribution, but also for mass export. However, all attempts ended in bankruptcy of farmers, as they were unable to create conditions similar to how kiwi grows in nature. The only states whose climate is relatively suitable for this plant are California and Hawaii.

Kiwi is a favorite delicacy of many, which can be easily grown right at home! We'll walk you through the ins and outs of growing this tropical seed fruit and share important tips for caring for your kiwi.

How to grow kiwi from seeds at home

This exotic plant is native to China, therefore it is also called the Chinese gooseberry. The scientific name of kiwi is chinese actinidia, but a breeder from New Zealand has given the fruit a new name "kiwi" in an honor that resembles this tropical fruit in color and fluffiness!

The plant curls very beautifully, because it belongs to tropical vines, and when proper care very soon it will also give you juicy fruits. 😉

Preparing seeds for planting kiwi

Fortunately, you don't have to bother buying overseas seeds to plant kiwi. All you need is to choose a beautiful juicy fruit in the store. Please note that the fruit is ripe enough, but not overripe, greenish fruits are also not suitable. If you still want really tasty and large fruits, you should look for the Jenny variety.

So, choosing the best of the best, let's get down to the fun part!

• First, cut the kiwi in half and gently spoon out the pulp and seeds with a spoon.
• Place it in a gauze cloth and, gently kneading the pulp, thoroughly rinse the seeds from it in running water, otherwise they may deteriorate in the soil from mold or rot.

You can also knead a little and stir the pulp with seeds in a glass of water. All the seeds will float to the surface, and you only need to collect them and wash them from the pulp.

• Then we lay out the clean seeds on a plate and leave them like this until they dry completely!

If you have had to germinate grains or seeds before, you know the whole process. Well, if this is your debut, then do this:

• You will need 2 small plates (plastic is better).
• Place wet cheesecloth or cotton wool on the bottom of the plate, and put the ready-made seeds on top. (The water should saturate the fabric well, but the seeds should not float in the water.)
• Now just cover with a second plate and place ours in a warm and sunny place. So the sprouts will hatch faster!

Experts advise to remove the top plate or film at night, and in the morning again moisten the gauze from the spray bottle, leaving it in a warm place. Please note that it is important to protect the sprouts from drafts!

When the first white sprouts appear, this is a sign that it's time to transplant the kiwi into a separate pot.

Kiwi soil and planting

Choosing a pot for young plant remember to plant a small plant in a small pot! Otherwise, all forces will go to root system, taking away the growth of the tip and fruit. It is better to gradually grow and replant it a couple of times a year, and start with plastic cups... This will make it much more convenient to transplant the sprout.

• A mixture of black soil, peat, turf and sand is best suited for growing kiwi. Add everything in equal parts.
• Do not forget to place a drainage layer of expanded clay or broken brick at the bottom.

Place the sprouted seed (3-4 things) into the moistened soil to a depth of 5-7 millimeters and lightly sprinkle with soil. Do not tamp the soil or it will be harder for the seeds to break through!

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When the first green leaves appear (after about a week), it's time to transplant the kiwi into a serious pot. 😉

Kiwi care and fertilization

Taking care of your kiwi is simple, but it's important to stick to the basic rules.

• So, kiwi does not like sudden changes in temperature, dry soil and drafts.
• In winter, the temperature in the room should not drop below 10 degrees.
• Make sure that the ground is always moist, but do not make a swamp in the flowerpot, otherwise the roots will quickly die.
• It is important to place the plant in a warm and sunny place, if this is not possible, be sure to arrange a corner with artificial lighting for it.
• It is best to replant the kiwi fruit in a larger pot every spring.
• Fertilizing kiwi is best done once a season.

The best fertilizers for kiwi:

• Ideally, this is vermicompost and compost, for this, simply sprinkle dry powder of fertilizers on top and pour water on it, or dig a small funnel around the kiwi and add fertilizer there, after a layer of soil and water as usual.
• Also, any mineral and liquid kiwi will do

Kiwi on the windowsill is a real exotic. This large liana, which grows up to 7 meters in length, will gladly settle on a warm glazed balcony or a bright veranda. And with proper care adult plant can not only bloom, but also give fruits.

The homeland of kiwi is China, it grows in nature as a liana, prefers a sunny warm place. Therefore, in home breeding, the same care rules should be followed.

In the southern latitudes, kiwi has long been grown using grape technology - on trellises

Before deciding to grow kiwi from seeds at home, consider whether you can provide the plant with a humid southern microclimate, plenty of sun and warmth, and decent care. I must say that most often young seedlings are grown from seeds, which are planted on the site next spring, that is, in open ground. Or they grow a vine to a large tub, taking it out into the yard for the summer, and providing it with home care in the winter.

The kiwi plant is unpretentious, but with a lack of light, the shoots stretch out, so the optimal location is in a room with windows facing south, southwest. At the same time, in the southern regions, the plant should not be placed on the windowsill, since the delicate leaves can burn in the sun. Place the vine away from the window.

Theoretically, kiwi can be grown in an apartment, but most often the grown liana is transplanted into open ground in the spring.

Important! In winter, the plant sheds leaves and rests, so the pot of kiwi will have to be removed to a room where its bare branches will not interfere with anyone, while the air temperature should not be lower than +10 0 C.

Kiwi is a large-sized vine, somewhat reminiscent of grapes, its shoots can grow up to 6-7 meters in length, which must be directed to supports and regularly pruned. Vines grown from seeds bloom 3-4 years in the south, and in central Russia - 6 years.

Need to know! Kiwis distinguish between female and male plants, and if you want to get fruit, then before the first flowering you will have to grow many seedlings. One male is enough for two female plants, while the seeds can be taken from one fruit.

With seed propagation, seedlings usually do not repeat the mother fruits in size and taste, but varietal cuttings can be grafted onto them in the future.

Kiwi has female and male flowers

Preparing seeds for planting

Best time for planting kiwi - spring: from March to May, during the summer months the seedling will grow, get stronger, and there will be enough light for growth. It is better to take the soil loose, moisture-absorbing and breathable.

Do not use soil from front gardens or vegetable gardens.

For kiwi, you can use a special citrus soil, in extreme cases, a universal one.

You can use citrus soil for planting kiwi

If possible, it is better to make soil by yourself from universal soil, coconut fiber, vermiculite and vermicompost.

On a 10-liter pack of universal soil add 2 liters of soaked coconut fiber from a briquette, 1 liter of vermiculite, 1-2 liters of biohumus. Mix everything well so that the components are evenly distributed over the soil mixture.

Planting kiwi seeds

It is best not to buy kiwi seeds for growing, but to get them from the fruit purchased in the store. Choose ripe fruits that show no signs of rot, damage or overripe. The fruit is cut in half, the seeds with pulp are pulled out with a spoon, washed so that the seeds remain clean.

Seeds are pulled out of a ripe fruit with a spoon without signs of rot

If the remains of the pulp remain on the shell, then after planting in the ground, it may rot, and seedlings may not appear.

The pulled seeds are washed from the pulp

Freshly harvested seeds can be dried before planting, or they can be planted directly in the ground or germinated.

How can seeds germinate on cotton wool or in a hydrogel

Sprouted seeds sprout faster and more friendly than dry seeds. For germination, you can use a regular cotton pad or hydrogel.

1. A cotton pad moistened with warm water, preferably thawed, is placed on a saucer, and kiwi seeds are placed on it.
2. The dish is placed in a transparent plastic bag and put away in a bright and warm place. Optimum temperature seed germination +25 0 С + 28 0 С.
3. Every day you need to open the package and look at the seeds, if necessary, moisten a cotton pad.
4. As soon as the roots appear, you need to immediately plant the seeds in the ground, otherwise the root will grow into a cotton pad and may break off during planting.

You can germinate kiwi on cotton pads or napkins

When using a hydrogel, they act as follows:

1. A small amount of dry powder is diluted with water until the crystals swell.
2. Place the hydrogel in a container and lay the seeds on top.
3. Close the container with a lid or foil and also keep it in a bright, warm place.
4. The roots of the seeds that have hatched can even germinate into the hydrogel, but this is not scary, you can plant such a seed directly with the remains of the gel on the roots.

Sprouted seeds are planted in a shallow bowl or pot with prepared soil. It is imperative that there are drainage holes at the bottom so that excess water flows down and the soil does not sour.

1. The seeds are evenly distributed over the moist soil surface.
2. Filled with soil, up to 5 mm layer, no more... The seeds are rather small, and from under the larger volume of soil, they may not break through.
3. A dish with planted plants is placed in a bag and removed to a warm place.
4. Germinated seeds usually germinate in a week. Remember to ventilate and moisturize crops.
5. When the first green loops appear, move the pot to the light, but not in direct sunlight.

Video: planting kiwi at home

Care for seedlings on the windowsill

As soon as the plants sprout, you need to constantly maintain the moisture content of the soil, avoiding overdrying.

Usually germinated kiwi seeds give quick and friendly shoots

Small sprouts can be watered by spraying from a spray bottle or pouring a bowl from a syringe or syringe.

If there is a lack of light, you can additionally turn on fluorescent lamps or special phytolamps, bringing daylight hours to 14-16 hours.

If the plants have sprouted too densely, then it is necessary to thin out the plants in time. When growing kiwi for fun, you can leave 3-4 copies, and if you want to get fruits, you need to leave more in order to ensure that you get both male and female plants.

Too dense seedlings can be thinned out so that the plants are not crowded

When the seedlings have 2 true leaves, you can carefully transplant them into separate pots. The size of the pots can be small, with a diameter of 7–8 cm. Later, as the kiwi grows, it will be possible to transfer the plants together with a lump of earth, so as not to damage the roots, into large pots.

The root system of kiwi is shallow, but wide, so it is better to take pots for mature specimens that are low, but wide, and for good stability - ceramic. Drainage in the form of expanded clay must be laid at the bottom.

For adults, kiwi is better to take wide pots

Transplantation of adult plants is carried out once a year, in spring, increasing the size of the pot by 3-4 cm in diameter. Young plants are transplanted more often - once every six months by transshipment, trying to injure the roots as little as possible.

Throughout the entire period of kiwi growth, regular and abundant watering is required, and a month after germination, you can already start feeding.

What top dressing can be used for kiwi

Most of all, kiwi loves organic fertilizing, both at an early age and when the plant is already an adult. The best feeding is considered to be vermicompost, dry, in bags, or liquid in bottles.

Liquid biohumus is diluted according to the instructions and the plants are fed after watering

Dry biohumus can be used as a top dressing for adult plants, scattering 1-2 tablespoons in each pot 1-2 times a month before watering. Liquid vermicompost is diluted according to the instructions and watered on wet soil every 1-2 weeks.

Kiwi feeding is carried out only during the period of active growth: from spring to late summer.At the end of summer and autumn, feeding with vermicompost is stopped, and for successful wintering, you can use twice phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. The first feeding is carried out at the beginning of September, and the second - 3-4 weeks after the first.

In the fall, before wintering, plants are watered with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Also, for feeding kiwi during the active growing season, you can use folk remedies: yeast tinctures, herbal infusions, chicken manure infusion (only once in spring after bud break).

When chlorosis appears on the leaves, spraying with any complex mineral fertilizer can be applied.

When chlorosis appears on the leaves, you need to sprinkle the plant with a complete mineral fertilizer

Pests and diseases

Kiwi is practically not affected by pests, diseases bypass it, and a deterioration in appearance is most often provoked by the gardener himself - due to improper care. Most often, the leaves droop due to rare watering, and if the soil is wet, but the leaves hang with a rag, it means, on the contrary, they are overmoistened. To remedy this situation, check the drain holes to see if they are clogged. Gently loosen the top layer of the soil, and if the soil is very dense, use a knitting needle to pierce the soil to the bottom in several places to let air in to the roots.

In the dry air of the apartment, the kiwi can be amazed spider mite, therefore, preventive spraying is needed, especially in summer, and if a pest is detected, treatment with Fitoverm.

An exotic kiwi plant can be grown in a city apartment on a windowsill or in a country house on your own. Cultivating actinidia is a very exciting process. By doing simple rules Agricultural technology can get kiwi from tiny seeds that are inside the fruit. If you fulfill certain requirements and create the necessary conditions, then a strong, fruiting vine will grow from a small bone, even on the windowsill.

To grow kiwi at home, you must first choose the right planting material. A well-ripened fruit without any flaws is selected for planting. The best time to grow this crop at home is spring. You can plant and grow kiwi in an apartment from a stone.

The fruit is washed well with warm water and cut into slices. The pulp is gently kneaded, and then put in a plate of water. Mix the consistency thoroughly by adding fresh water. Wash the pulp until the seeds separate. As a result, only seeds should float on the surface of the water.

After that, they are laid out on dry gauze to dry. When the planting material becomes free-flowing, it is transferred to a damp cloth in a plate and covered over with a cloth. Kiwi seeds need to be constantly moisturized. To make them hatch faster, the plate can be covered with a transparent film on top.

After about two weeks, the seeds will sprout. Now all that remains is to plant them in the ground. But before that, it is necessary to steam the soil in order to disinfect it. Growing kiwi fruit in an apartment from seeds is a rather laborious process, but very exciting.

Seeds sprouted on a damp cloth are planted in pots, embedded to a depth of about 5 mm. After sowing, the earth is watered, and the pot is tightened with a transparent film. The pots should be kept warm and bright room... You cannot put flowerpots in the sun. The first shoots will appear in a few days. At this point, the kiwi is watered again. room temperature and remove all weak shoots, leaving only strong plants.

When the kiwi sprouts reach a height of 10 cm, they are planted in larger, separate pots. In a few years, it will be possible to vaccinate any kind of kiwi on young seedlings.

Soil requirements

To grow kiwi in a room, you can buy ready-made soil at a flower shop, or you can make up a soil mixture yourself.

A detailed description of mixing actinidia soil:

• part of humus;
• part of the turf;
• part of river sand;
• part of the peat.

Subtleties of care

A flower grower should take into account when growing actinidia in an apartment, that this plant is dioecious. This means that male and female specimens are needed for fruiting.

The only exception to this rule is the Jenny variety.

Watering

This vine is native to the humid tropics, so it does not tolerate dry soil at all. Therefore, the main care for the plant is timely watering. It is necessary to ensure that the soil in the pot is always moist..

But when watering a liana, you need to take into account that it does not tolerate excess moisture. If water stagnates at the roots, they will rot and the plant will die.

Temperature regime

In warm regions, the plant feels great in open ground... In the middle lane, actinidia can be taken out on the balcony for the summer. Liana does not tolerate cold weather, so you need to monitor the air temperature. Kiwi grows well at around 20-24 degrees.

A sharp drop in temperature will be disastrous for the vine. Therefore, before the autumn cold snap begins, it must be brought into the house.

Top dressing

In order for the seedling vine to be strong and healthy, it is necessary to make additional fertilizing. Kiwi loves organics very much. You can feed the plant with well-fermented bird droppings or manure.

Fertilizer solution preparation:

1. 1. 0.5 liters of dry poultry droppings pour 10 liters of warm water.
2. 2. Cover the container with fertilizer and leave for 10 days.
3. 3. Mix the fertilizer every day.
4. 4. When the droppings are fermented, dilute 0.5 liters of solution with 10 liters of water.
5. 5. The resulting liquid fertilizer is fed to kiwi.

The first feeding is made in early spring, pouring 0.5 liters of solution under the bush. It is enough to do this three times with an interval of two weeks.

It is very important not to fertilize the kiwi while the fruit is setting and ripening, as it may fall off.

Growing in the garden

Actinidia can be grown not only in a room, but also in the country or in the garden. Many varieties have long been bred that grow well in the open field and can withstand temperatures down to -30 degrees. Kiwi can be successfully grown even in the suburbs.

The best time to plant kiwi seedlings outdoors is spring and summer. If the planting will be carried out in the summer, then actinidia needs to be shaded. After planting, the plants are watered abundantly throughout the season.

Seedlings that have not yet reached the age of three years can be planted in the fall. As a rule, in the Moscow region it is September. It is important that the vine has time to settle down in a new place before frost. Kiwi is planted in open ground in such a way that there is one male for every 10 female specimens.

The culture is very fond of acidic soil. Clay soil is completely unsuitable for growing actinidia. Ideally, if the vine is planted on a hill where there is no stagnation groundwater... The place in the lowland is not suitable for planting actinidia.

It is necessary to follow the agrotechnology of planting kiwi in open ground. First, they dig the landing holes on the bayonet of the shovel at a distance of 30 cm in the row. Drainage needs to be done at the bottom. Vermiculite or crushed red brick, crushed stone can be used as drainage. The seedling is lowered into a hole and sprinkled with earth, tamped and watered. It is imperative to mulch the plantings, which will delay the evaporation of moisture.

For good growth and rapid development, kiwi should be carefully looked after - water it on time, weed weeds and loosen the soil around the roots.

To grow such a vigorous liana like kiwi, you need a support. You can plant plants next to a wall or fence. Do not plant on a metal support, as the plant will freeze in winter. The main thing is that the support can withstand the weight of the vine.

Kiwi or Chinese actinidia is a tree-like tropical liana; its habitat is located in the subtropics of Italy, Abkhazia, New Zealand, Chile and the Black Sea coast. This wild fruit first appeared in New Zealand in the early twentieth century. Later, a large-fruited variety of actinidia was bred. But few people know how kiwi grows in nature and at home. Therefore, this information will be useful for those who want to grow this plant at home.

By the appearance of kiwi its appearance resembles a tree that requires support. In the wild, kiwi fruits, collected in bunches, ripen at the top of the shoots. Throughout the season, the tropical liana changes the color of the leaves from green to white, pink and crimson. This plant is popularly called the Chinese gooseberry. The ripe fruit is covered with a thin skin and has an amazing taste. Inside the fruit is a green, sweetish-sour pulp with numerous small black seeds. Most gourmets associate the taste of this fruit with strawberries, gooseberries, melons, apples or bananas. The average weight of one fruit is 80 grams. Kiwi fruits are rich in vitamin C, which is higher in fruits than in currants and lemons, and the content of a vital trace element, potassium, is twice as high as in the same bananas.

Growing kiwi at home is a completely real, fun and cost-effective process. In order to get the seeds, you need to purchase the ripe fruit at any grocery store. Currently, there are several varieties of this plant, and each of them can be grown quite successfully at home.

Given the natural growing conditions, kiwi is a sun-loving plant. He needs a certain place of detention on the windowsill on the south side, where there is no cold and drafts.

The technology for growing kiwi at home consists of several stages:

• Presowing preparation and germination of seeds.
• Seedling picking.
• Plant care.

Seeds extracted from a ripe fruit must be washed well to remove pulp residues. Keep in mind that kiwi seeds are very small, they are washed through a sieve or cheesecloth. The cleaned planting material is lowered into a glass of water at room temperature and placed in a warm place, on the south side.

After 8-10 days, the seeds must open. If this does not happen, it is necessary to replace the water in order to prevent decay of the planting material. The opened seeds need to be provided with greenhouse conditions with systematic ventilation.

A cloth soaked in water is laid out on a saucer, hatching seeds are spread evenly on top of it. In order to create greenhouse conditions, planting material is covered with a transparent jar or glass and placed in a warm, well-lit place.

Greenhouse conditions will provide fast germination of seeds - literally in 3-4 days. Sprouted seedlings will have microscopic roots, and this means only one thing, that the time has come for their planting in the soil.

Nutrient mixture of peat land, sand and black soil is optimal for growing this plant at home. A small drainage layer of expanded clay is laid at the bottom of the landing containers, a slightly moistened soil mixture is poured on top of it. In order to facilitate further picking, the seedlings are planted separately.

Sprouted sprouts are spread on the surface of the nutrient substrate and sprinkled with a thin layer of earth - from 2x to 3 mm. Plantings are placed in a warm place and irrigated from the spray bottle with warm water daily. Spraying with water can be replaced by constructing a mini greenhouse made of transparent material. Collecting condensate under the film will create the necessary moisture for the seedlings.

After the shoots appear, the shelter is removed. As soon as the seedlings grow up and release one pair of leaves, they dive into other planting containers a little bigger size. By this time, the plant reaches 10-12 cm in height. In this case, the same soil mixture is used as for sowing seeds, with only less peat. Unpromising and unnecessary sprouts must be discarded immediately, selecting only the strongest and healthiest. Timely picking is extremely important, since the further development and fruiting of the tropical vine will depend on it.

In order to ensure full and active growth of plants at home, they need special care. For kiwi, it is necessary to create conditions close to the natural growing environment:

• First of all, these are frequent and moderate watering. This fruit does not tolerate drought, as well as excess moisture. Therefore, in order to avoid such consequences, kiwi is irrigated from a spray bottle. IN winter period season, the exotic fruit stops growing, so its watering is reduced to a minimum - no more than three times a month. During the period of active growth, plants are moistened more often - 2-3 times a week. On hot summer days, kiwi needs frequent irrigation of the aboveground part.
• This fruit, like other exotic plants, grows actively in good and long daylight conditions. In addition, he needs warmth. Therefore, plants are placed on the windowsills from the southwest or south side. If this is not possible, you can replace natural lighting with artificial lighting lamps.
• In order for the plants to fully develop, they must be periodically thinned out. At an early stage, young sprouts simply cannot be pulled out. It will be more difficult to extract grown plants from the soil, since kiwi very quickly and actively builds up the root system. Weaker plants that thicken the plantings are cut.
• Healthy fruiting plants can be obtained provided good nutrition. Kiwis are fed with compost or vermicompost once a year.

A shallow trench is torn around the plant and fertilizer is placed in it. During watering, the fertilizing will seep deep into the soil, feeding the entire root system of the plants.

Kiwi rarely gets sick and is affected by pests, even at home. However, periodic examinations for the appearance of disease and harmful insects will not be redundant.

With good and faithful care, this plant, grown from seeds, blooms already in the third or fourth year of life and begins to bear fruit at home.