Kiwi Tree Guide: Tips for Planting Kiwi in Florida

Can you grow a kiwi tree in Florida? Yes, as long as you choose a variety suited to warm winters and give it a partner vine. Kiwi is one of the most rewarding tropical fruit trees for sale to try at home, but it plays by different rules than the mangoes and avocados most Florida gardeners know. This guide explains what a kiwi plant needs, where in Florida it does best, and how to plant, feed, prune and harvest it so your vine actually fruits.

One thing to know before you start: the plant people call a kiwi tree is really a vigorous woody vine. Once you plan for that, everything else in this guide falls into place.

Kiwi Tree Types and Varieties

Which kiwi variety should you grow? The kiwi plant you choose decides almost everything about your success, so start here. Kiwifruit belongs to the genus Actinidia, and three species are grown in home gardens.

Fuzzy kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa)

Fuzzy kiwi is the brown, egg-sized fruit with green flesh and black seeds that you buy at the grocery store. Fuzzy kiwi vines are the warm-climate choice. Most fuzzy kiwi cultivars are rated for USDA hardiness zones 7-9, which makes fuzzy kiwi for warmer zones the natural choice in North and Central Florida.

Many older fuzzy kiwi cultivars need several hundred hours of winter chill to bloom well, which is why they fail in the Deep South. That is why we carry the Vincent Fuzzy Kiwi Vine. Vincent is a low-chill female cultivar, commonly listed at about 200 chill hours, and it produces large, sweet-tart fruits with fuzzy brown skin and emerald-green flesh. Vincent needs a compatible male, and the Tomuri Fuzzy Kiwi Vine is its standard pollinator because the two bloom at the same time.

Hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta)

Hardy kiwi produces grape-sized, smooth-skinned fruit that you eat whole, skin and all. Hardy kiwi vines handle much colder winters than fuzzy kiwi and are usually rated for zones 4-8, so hardy kiwi for colder climates is the classic recommendation in the North. The fruit is about 1 to 1.5 inches long, very sweet, and loaded with vitamin C.

Our Prolific Kiwi Hardy Plant is a self-fertile variety that sets its smooth, bite-sized fruit without a separate male vine. The Issai hardy kiwi is another well-known self-fertile cultivar with a more compact habit. Self-fertile varieties are the simplest way to grow kiwi when you only have room for one plant.

Arctic kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta)

Arctic kiwi is the most cold-hardy kiwi of all, surviving winters down to about -40°F. Arctic kiwi vines are smaller, with striking pink, white and green variegated leaves on the male plants. Arctic kiwi is a choice for far northern gardens rather than Florida.

For a side-by-side look at flavor and care, read our guide to hardy kiwi vs fuzzy kiwi.

Kiwi Climate Suitability: Can Kiwi Grow in Florida?

Kiwi climate suitability comes down to how cold your winters get and how much winter chill they deliver. Kiwi is native to the cool mountain forests of southern China, so it expects a real winter followed by a long, warm growing season.

• Hardiness zones. Fuzzy kiwi grows in zones 7-9 and hardy kiwi in zones 4-8. Most of North Florida and the Panhandle sits in zones 8-9, which is within range for fuzzy kiwi.
• Chill hours. Chill hours are the hours spent between roughly 32°F and 45°F during winter. Without enough chill, a kiwi vine leafs out unevenly and drops its flower buds. A low-chill fuzzy kiwi like Vincent is the best fit for Florida winters.
• Average minimum winter temperatures. Dormant fuzzy kiwi vines tolerate about 10°F, so cold rarely kills the vine itself in Florida.

Where does kiwi grow best in Florida? Kiwi grows best in North Florida and the Panhandle, where winters are cool enough to satisfy a low-chill variety. University of Florida extension reports that plantings in Central Florida have been experimental and that the vines that have fruited well were in the Tallahassee area. In South Florida and the Keys, winters are usually too warm for reliable fruiting, so treat a kiwi vine there as an ornamental with a chance of fruit rather than a sure crop.

Frost protection for kiwi

The bigger cold risk in Florida is frost damage in spring, not winter cold. Kiwi vines break bud early, and a single late freeze after the last hard frost date can kill the new shoots and the flowers on them. Frost protection is simple: avoid frost pockets at the bottom of slopes, plant against a south- or west-facing wall that holds heat, and cover young growth with frost cloth or hessian on cold nights in late winter.

Kiwi Growth Habit: A Vine, Not a Tree

What does a kiwi plant look like? The kiwi growth habit is that of a sprawling climber. A kiwi vine forms thick, woody stems and can send out shoots 30 feet long in a single season, covered in large, often velvety leaves on fuzzy types. New shoots on fuzzy kiwi are covered in reddish hairs, and these furry shoots are one of the easiest ways to tell it from hardy kiwi.

Because kiwi plants are woody vines, they need sturdy trellises or arbors that can carry a heavy, fruit-laden canopy for decades. A mature kiwi vine can live and produce for 40 years or more. Kiwi vines also bloom with creamy-white fragrant flowers in spring, which makes them a handsome cover for a pergola even in years with a light crop.

Planting Kiwi: Site Selection and Soil

Where should you plant a kiwi vine? Planting kiwi in the right site matters more than any fertilizer you add later. Choose a sunny, sheltered location with at least 6-8 hours of direct sun, protection from strong winds, and well-drained soil.

Kiwi soil requirements

Kiwi vines like slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.8, rich in organic matter and never waterlogged. Florida's sandy soils drain well but hold few nutrients, so work several inches of compost into a wide planting area. Where drainage is poor, plant in raised beds or on a low mound so the crown stays dry after summer storms.

When and how to plant kiwi

In Florida the best time to plant kiwi is late winter to early spring, once the danger of frost has passed. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball, set the plant at the same depth it grew in the pot, backfill, and water deeply. Install your large sturdy supports before planting so you don't damage roots later.

• Space kiwi vines about 10 feet apart along a trellis.
• Plant male and female varieties with no more than about 35 feet between the male and the farthest female.
• Keep a planting ratio of one male to up to eight female vines.

Growing kiwi in containers

Kiwi can grow in large containers of at least 15-20 gallons with a sturdy trellis attached. Use a potting mix designed for fruiting vines or a mix of quality potting soil and compost. A container kiwi vine is a good option in South Florida because you can move it to the coolest, most sheltered part of the yard.

Kiwi Pollination Requirements

Do you need two kiwi plants to get fruit? Most kiwi plants are dioecious, which means male and female flowers grow on separate vines. Only female vines produce fruit, and they only set fruit when pollen from a compatible male of the same species reaches them.

Kiwi pollination requirements are simple once you know the pairing rules:

1. Pair a female and a male of the same species. A fuzzy kiwi female needs a fuzzy kiwi male; a hardy kiwi male will not pollinate a fuzzy kiwi.
2. Choose compatible male and female vines that bloom at the same time. The Tomuri male kiwi vine is matched to the Vincent female kiwi vine for exactly this reason.
3. Plant one male for every six to eight females. Kiwi vines are sold as cuttings or grafted plants, so their sex is known when you buy them.
4. Rely on bees and other insects to move the pollen. Avoid spraying insecticides while the vines are in bloom.

Self-fertile plants are the exception. A self-fertile hardy kiwi such as Prolific or Issai produces fruit as a single vine, although many growers find that a nearby male still improves fruit set and development and leads to larger fruit.

Watering and Feeding Kiwi Vines

How much water does a kiwi vine need? Kiwi plants are not drought tolerant and need steady moisture through the growing season. Give a young kiwi vine about an inch of water a week, and more during prolonged dry spells and Florida's hot spring, when moisture loss from the large leaves is high. Water deeply rather than often so the soil stays moist but never soggy.

Mulching is the easiest way to protect the shallow kiwi roots. Spread 3-4 inches of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk. Watch leaf colour as your guide: drooping leaves or browning edges mean the vine needs more water, while yellowing leaves on wet soil point to root problems.

Kiwi fertilizer schedule

Kiwi vines are heavy feeders of nitrogen but sensitive to salt, so feed little and often. Feed in early spring as growth begins and again in early summer with an organic nitrogen fertilizer or a balanced citrus and fruit tree fertilizer, splitting the yearly amount into small doses. Top-dress with compost or well-rotted manure each spring to build organic matter and soil nutrients, and a liquid kelp feed during the growing season supplies trace elements. Stop feeding by late summer so the vine can harden off, and never fertilize a newly planted kiwi heavily, because salt burn shows up as scorched leaf edges.

Pruning and Training Kiwi Vines

Why is pruning important for kiwi? Pruning and training kiwi vines is the job most growers find hardest, and it is also the one that decides how much fruit you get. Kiwi fruit forms on new shoots that grow from last year's growth, so the goal is a permanent framework that produces a fresh supply of fruiting shoots every year.

Initial training on a trellis

During the first year, choose one strong shoot and tie it straight up a post to the top of the trellis. When it reaches the horizontal wire, pinch out the tip so it branches. Train two arms, or cordons, along the wire in opposite directions. These cordons form the main permanent framework, and lateral shoots that grow from them will carry fruit. On a wall, the same approach becomes initial espalier training, with arms spaced along wires to build a main permanent framework of tiers.

Winter pruning

Winter pruning happens while the vine is dormant. Remove dead wood and tangled or crossing stems, then cut back the lateral shoots that fruited last season, since they will not fruit again. Keep healthy one-year-old canes and shorten them to about 8 buds. Those buds become this year's fruiting shoots.

Summer pruning

Summer pruning keeps a vigorous vine under control. Cut long, arching shoots back to a few leaves beyond the last fruit, and remove shoots that tangle or shade the fruit. On a mature espalier, the same cuts keep each tier tidy and let sunlight reach the fruiting shoots.

Harvesting Kiwi Fruit

When can you harvest kiwi? Most kiwi vines start bearing between three and six years after planting, with full crops after about eight years. Harvesting kiwi depends on the type.

• Fuzzy kiwi. Fuzzy kiwi ripens in late fall and is picked firm, before the first hard frost. Pick the fruit when the seeds have turned black, then let the unripe fruit soften at room temperature for a few days, or speed it up by placing it in a fruit bowl next to apples or bananas.
• Hardy kiwi. Hardy kiwi ripens from late summer into early fall and can soften on the vine. Pick when the first fruits turn soft and sweet, and eat them whole.

How should you store kiwi fruit? Firm fuzzy kiwis keep for weeks to a few months in cool storage or the fridge, while ripe hardy kiwis last only a week or two. Store fruit in a single layer so it doesn't bruise. Fuzzy kiwi needs long hot summers to ripen fully, which Florida supplies with ease.

Kiwi Problems and Diseases

What problems affect kiwi vines? Most kiwi problems and diseases come from soil and water, not from pests. Knowing the signs helps you act early.

• Phytophthora root rot. Phytophthora root rot is the most serious kiwi disease in wet soils. It causes root and stem base decay, wilting and, in bad cases, complete loss of leaves. Good drainage is the only real prevention.
• Armillaria. Armillaria, also called honey fungus, attacks roots and leaves white fungal sheets under the bark at the base of the vine. Avoid planting where old tree stumps have been removed.
• Root-knot nematodes. Root-knot nematodes are one of the biggest kiwi pests in Florida and are very common in sandy soil. They cause knotted roots and weak growth. Adding plenty of organic matter helps, and container growing avoids them.
• Drought and drying winds. Drought and drying winds cause brown leaf edges and leaf scorch, especially in spring.
• Frost. Frost on new spring growth kills shoots and flowers and can wipe out the crop for that year.
• Nutrient deficiencies. Nutrient deficiencies such as yellow leaves with green veins usually point to soil that is too alkaline. Kiwi struggles in chalky soil or limestone soil, so check pH and add sulfur or acidic organic matter if needed.

Scale insects, leafrollers and Japanese beetles sometimes feed on kiwi but rarely cause serious damage on a healthy vine. One surprise for new growers: cats are drawn to the young stems of hardy and arctic kiwi, so protect new plants with a wire cage.

Propagating Kiwi Vines

How do you propagate kiwi? Kiwi propagation is done from cuttings or layering, not seeds, because seedlings are a coin toss between male and female and are not true to type. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, dip them in rooting hormone, and keep them in a humid spot until they root. Another easy method is rooting low-growing shoots from an existing vine: bend a flexible shoot to the ground in spring, pin it under a little soil, and cut it free once it has rooted. Buying a grafted or cutting-grown vine is the quickest route, since you know the sex and the variety from day one.

Kiwi Tree FAQ

Is a kiwi a tree or a vine?

A kiwi is a woody vine. People call it a kiwi tree, but it climbs and needs a trellis, arbor or fence for support.

How long does it take a kiwi tree to produce fruit?

Most kiwi vines produce fruit three to six years after planting. Some self-fertile hardy kiwis such as Issai can start sooner.

Can kiwi grow in South Florida?

Kiwi vines grow in South Florida but rarely fruit well, because winters there are too warm. North Florida and the Panhandle offer the best chance of a crop.

Do I need a male and a female kiwi plant?

Yes, for most kiwi varieties. Self-fertile varieties such as Prolific and Issai are the exception and can fruit as a single plant.

How big does a kiwi vine get?

A kiwi vine can grow 15-30 feet or more in each direction if left unpruned. Regular pruning keeps it within a trellis or pergola.

What is the best kiwi variety for Florida?

A low-chill fuzzy kiwi such as Vincent, paired with a Tomuri male, is the best kiwi variety for Florida. A self-fertile hardy kiwi is a good second choice for small spaces.

Grow Your Own Kiwi with Everglades Farm

Ready to grow kiwi? Browse our kiwi plants for sale, including the Vincent and Tomuri pair for warm climates and self-fertile hardy kiwi for small gardens. For a step-by-step look at one variety, see our guide on how to grow a Prolific kiwi plant. Everglades Farm is a family-run nursery in Homestead, Florida, with more than 50 years of combined experience growing tropical fruit trees, and we also grow blueberry plants in Florida, the tamarind tree and many more fruiting plants for your garden.