Responding to Richard Moyer from East Tennessee, zone 6 is too warm a climate for Actinidia kolomitka; it needs colder winters.
Re late Spring frosts during blossom time, I believe I mentioned before that to delay bloom by two to three weeks, spray with a dormant oil upon seeing the first green of bursting buds.
Re Nanking flowers freezing, I never spray my Nankings or my A. kolomitka and I get a crop every year here in Northern Minnesota.
Jim Fruth
Pequot Lakes, MN
We are predicted to hit 15-20 F tonight; daffodils are in full bloom as are Nanking Cherries and Cornus mas. The C. mas typically fruits despite this, but the Nankings lose all fruit for the year.
If any of you have cultivars or tricks (microclimates, etc) that escape spring freezes which normally eliminate that crop, would be glad to hear of them. Spring freezes are our biggest fruit challenge.
As for kiwi, we planted kolomitkas and argutas about 10 years ago, the kolomitkas in more shade here in Zone 6. The buds or blooms freeze routinely on the former, but the Argutas give a crop most years, and 'Anna' is reliable for reblooming and cropping after freezes which wipe out our other argutas. We've yet to produce a single kolomitka fruit, I think due to fluctuating spring temps.
As Doc noted for figs, once the argutas are established, can handle cold pretty
well.
Anyone ever had a bumper crop of kolomitkas? What's the yield potential under ideal circumstances? Many years, our major problem with our single Anna vine is what to do with all the fruit. Any voices of experience on kolomitka production?