How to Grow Kiwifruit

A cool-season fruit for the home garden across the warmer US.

Kiwifruit is a rewarding cool-season crop for backyard growers.

When to plant

Kiwifruit is a cool-season crop. In the South and Southwest, plant in fall through winter when the heat eases. See your region on the kiwifruit page for exact timing.

Varieties

Hardy Kiwi (Issai), Self-fertile, smaller fruit (nurseries)

How to grow it

Sun & soil: full sun, rich well-drained soil with even moisture.
Spacing: about 400 cm (157 in) between plants.
Sowing: sow about 20 cm deep.
Water: roughly 15 L per plant every 3 days in hot weather.

Pests & problems

Watch for Scale, Passion vine hopper, Birds and Leaf roller. In humid regions, Bacterial canker (Psa), Botrytis and Root rot can appear, so space for airflow and water at the roots in the morning.

Harvest

Kiwifruit is usually ready to harvest within roughly 24 months once established. Pick regularly to keep plants productive.

When to plant in your region

Pick your region to see exactly when to plant kiwifruit where you garden.

See what to plant this month

Pick your region for a month-by-month calendar tuned to your climate.

Find your region →