North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Caren Kirk <quirky@videotron.ca>]

I just wanted to second Lee's comment about Actinidia kolomikta. I am up in Can Ag Zone 4b, and started off a few years ago with a male and a female (I think September Sun). First female was a dud, and died in the first winter. I replaced it last year, and this summer had a few fruits. They were absolutely delicious. They are quite small but fantastic intense sweet kiwi taste and no hassle of peeling. My kids thought they were great! The male's leaves are very beautiful too, variegated pink and white when mature, depending on the exposition (mine are in part shade).

Overall, I am very pleased. Delicious, easy to eat fruit on early-bearing, cold hardy, decorative, no fuss vines. I am officially a fan. Next year I'll have to clear more space and get some more females (I think you can have 7 or 8 per male).

Good Luck with Arguta. I am sure the fruit are much bigger, but I don't even stand a chance of growing it here!

Caren Kirk
St. Jerome, QC

On 9/24/2010 5:51 AM, Lee Reich wrote:

116CBE5A-B04D-46DB-8678-2BF614998CC5@hvc.rr.com" type="cite">Once Actinidia establishes itself, it seems to increase in cold hardiness and resistance to late spring frosts, perhaps by creating its own microclimate. I also protect mine by wrapping them in their early years.

Usually, it does take about 8 years before A. arguta flower, but I do have one 'Anna' plant that started bearing after 3 years. 

Actinidia kolomikta, which also bears delicious fruit, typically starts bearing only a year or two after planting. It's also much less vigorous (which is good) and ripens about a month earlier than A. arguta. Unfortunately it begins growth earlier in spring so is somewhat more subject to late spring frosts. The males have beautiful, variegated, silvery pink leaf color. Issai may be a hybrid of the two species. Despite claims, I found it to be little or not at all self-pollinating.

And now for a commercial message: All this information, and much more, can be found in the Actinidia chapter of my book Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden. The book is available for sale (from me, through my website, among other sources) but is also available at the NAFEX and many other libraries. 

Lee Reich, PhD

http://www.leereich.com/

http://leereich.com/blog.html.

Books by Lee Reich:

A Northeast Gardener's Year

The Pruning Book

Weedless Gardening

Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden

Landscaping with Fruit

On Sep 24, 2010, at 1:08 AM, John S wrote:

~mIEKAL,

It needs significant protection the first few years, especially from the sun and wind.  If you can find a special place, it might work for you.  It seems to languish a few years, establishing roots and base stems, before it finally takes off.



--- On Thu, 9/23/10, mIEKAL aND <qazingulaza@gmail.com> wrote:

From: mIEKAL aND <qazingulaza@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] tastes like pineapple
To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010, 8:37 PM

Pat, it's all about getting a male/female match...  the first 3 males I had didn't work so that chewed up 12-15 years of waiting..  the meader male flowered in 3 years (not a lot) but I think by next year it'll really start putting out.

~mIEKAL

Issai hasn't made it in Zone 4b for me...  I'd love to make that one work.

On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 7:00 PM, John S <swim_at_svc@yahoo.com> wrote:

I dug out my biggest one I have this spring.  Had it for 10 years and it only occasionally flowered.  The male I have of the same age has never flowered.

However, I have the variety Issai that flowers and produces fruit every year.  It is self fertile, but some years drops all the fruit before it matures.  It is far less vigorous than the other ones I have.

--- On Thu, 9/23/10, Pat Armstrong <rancher@carolina.rr.com> wrote:

From: Pat Armstrong <rancher@carolina.rr.com>

Subject: Re: [NAFEX] tastes like pineapple

To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>

Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010, 2:47 PM

I hope I don't have to wait that long.....I planted my male and female this past fall.

P
Z-7b US

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