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["Kiwi Korners" <kiwikrnr@sunlink.net>]

Chris,

 

For commercial production on a T-bar system, female hardy kiwi vines should always be pruned to one trunk. 

 

When they are young, the original vine will normally wrap around the stake used for support.  This usually looks something like a piggy tail.  We unwrap this growth and fasten it to the bamboo with a max tapener.  We maintain this growth only to provide photosynthesis to the roots from its existing leaf structure.  Once the roots have established themselves, you will generally have several new shoots that will be a good diameter in size and easily shoot up to a five to six foot height.  You want to choose the largest of these shoots for the permanent single stalk of the vine.  When the shoot is at a height that you want your canopy, we suggest six and a half feet, cut it off at the top and it will automatically create a "Y"  for the left and right cordons.  At this point, all of the rest of the old material of the vine is cut off.  On occasion, we will use the original vine if it is unwrapped before becoming too "corkscrewed".

 

At fifteen foot spacing between plants, we allow our cordons to grow to six feet on either side of the main trunk.  These cordons will produce your annual fruiting laterals. To maintain a manageable structure, we suggest six laterals per each of the four quadrants.

 

If you allow two trunks, both will be smaller in diameter, and each will provide you with multi-cordons producing a management nightmare. The canopy should be light enough to allow airflow and light for fruit health, it is conducive to air flow pollination, and spray applications.  Yes, sprays, here in central PA we have found Western Flower Thrips attacking Annas around petal drop, and sooty smudge and flyspeck on Michigan, and Red Princess. As we are organically certified, we are making use of acceptable materials to try to combat theses problems.

 

We have tried female vines with two trunks and have ended up cutting each trunk down to one cordon each.  Our test trials show production rates are better, and faster on vines with only one trunk. 

 

Sometimes recessive or slow growing males, i.e.: 74-46's and 74-32's, are maintained on two trunks whereas the Cornell and Meader males are grown with one trunk. 

 

If we can be of any further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.

 

David Jackson & Holly Laubach

Kiwi Korners

www.kiwiberry.com