Finding kiwifruit plants

Shortly after we purchased our kiwifruit plants about 12 years ago, they became (almost) unavailable to home growers and we haven’t seen them since. This was due to the spread of the PSA virus, see: https://kvh.org.nz/biosecurity/psa-v. All nurseries, both wholesale and retail, are now required to adhere to protocols to contain the spread. This has meant that for the most part, retail nurseries are unwilling or unable to stock kiwifruit vines.

In the south of the south especially, where fewer sales could be made, retailers and some wholesale nurseries have understandably decided to leave them alone. As the South Island is PSA free, additional restrictions apply: no plant material (cuttings, grafted plants, pollen etc.) can be brought here from the North Island.

To my knowledge, nurseries are authorised to distribute plants within a framework of two levels: a local area level (several within the NI, the whole of the SI), and national (SI nurseries can distribute to all areas, NI nurseries to all areas excluding the SI).

We have had consistent success with our vines, averaging 30-40 kg per season from our two Hayward females (common, fuzzy, green, large), and a few kg per season from our arguta kiwis (small, bite sized, smooth skin, expensive in small punnets at the supermarket).

We have received many queries about where to buy plants and if we can supply plants or cuttings (I can’t without the relevant authorisation). I have found only one SI nursery who can supply to home growers (remember that NI plants can’t be sent here). I’ll put their contact at the end of this post.

If you are interested in growing kiwifruit, here’s a checklist of growing requirements (note that this is for the regular fuzzy green species, the only one available):

– Very good shelter from wind, especially from the south.

– Full sun, especially all the way through autumn

– A generous space – our 2 female vines are grown on a north facing wall in a wide band between the heights of 2 and 3 m, and 15 m long,

– Mild frost area: coastal Otago/city microclimates are much better than inland. Although the plants are hardy to -10/12, the new growth (early/mid spring) and flowers (on the new growth, late spring) are vulnerable.

– A very sturdy trellis system (google how it’s done commercially) far beyond what works for peas, beans and even grapes. More ideal in our marginal climate is to grow directly on a building – we have bolted into a north facing concrete block wall and use high tensile wires.

– Fertile, well drained soil (basically what all productive food plants need!)

– An attentive gardener: kiwis need regular pruning (winter and summer) and tying up. The vines are extremely vigorous and will swallow your garden left unchecked. They will be more fruitful, per leaf area, with regular maintenance.

If you purchase plants and wish to learn more about their cultivation, please register your interest with me. If enough people are keen, I will host a kiwifruit workshop. I look forward to seeing more around the region! They are definitely not for all sites but the city especially holds plenty of potential.

You will need to purchase both a Hayward female and a Chieftan male polleniser (these are the only options). I don’t recommend purchasing more than one female until/unless you have some experience growing them, and until/unless you know your site is capable.

The nursery is obliged to pass on your details and address to Kiwifruit Vine Health for PSA traceability. Familiarise yourself with signs of PSA. However, as the SI is currently PSA free and there are hardly any plants down here, it’s more likely you’d be notified first if there was an outbreak.

I have just purchased a male and a female for a family member’s garden. I think they are arriving as smaller grade, bare-rooted plants. This is fine and minimises freight costs. It might also be the only option. The cost was $207…$60 each for female Hayward and male Chieftan, $60 packing and courier, plus GST. This is very reasonable for grafted plants. One or two good seasons will cover that cost, given the cost of kiwifruit, organic or otherwise. If you want the plants this winter, order ASAP. If you want them another year, order now or well in advance of winter.

If anyone wants to flick me $1000 for the right to grow a single PVR protected G3 gold kiwi plant, I’d be very grateful!

If you are already growing kiwi in the south, I would love to hear from you.

Peach Island Nursery

Judith Haycock @ aljahaycock@gmail.com