Kiwifruit…in Dunedin!?
About five or six years ago I planted what was sold to me as a male and a female (Hayward) kiwi potted together. Over the years I have trained them overhead roughly 10 m along a north facing wall painted white.
The previous three seasons both vines flowered well but no fruit ever set. During each flowering period the weather was fine and many bees were seen foraging in the blossom. I learned that kiwifruit are often incompletely pollinated by bees (wind is also a vector). In 2016Â one fruit happened…
Summer 2018
Orchard (& salad garden) daze
Spring 2017
Upcoming market gardening workshop
OO Workshops
Pruning + training with Jason Ross
Upcoming workshop….
Summer / Autumn 2017

Actinidia arguta. Hardy Kiwi fruits. This is the first season they have produced and we are looking forward to big crops in the years to come as the vines are growing vigorously. Due to the PSA virus (?) these plants are unavailable anywhere as far as I can tell (please be in touch if you find a source). So delicious! Sweet and gummy and for those that don’t like fuzzy kiwi skins there is none of that. They give slightly to pressure when ripe. Grown on north and west facing walls.

Another way to tie down young branches. The branch being tied down is above and a mirror of this sturdy lower one. The rubber bands allow some flex and don’t hurt the wood like string. Hemp twine is really strong, cheap and you should be able to use it again after one season has set the branch at a good angle (as close to 90 degrees as possible).