Actinidia arguta ‘Weiki’ F
kiwi berry, hardy kiwi (bower actinidia, tara vine) 'Weiki' F
| Decoration form | edible fruits, leaves |
|---|---|
| Color of flowers | white |
| Plants height | 8 m |
| Flowering month | V, VI |
| Annual growth | 2-3 m |
| Aspect | sun, 3/4 sun, 1/2 sun |
| Frost hardiness | Zones 5 - 8 |
A rampant growing (up to 8-10 m tall) prolific female climber; needs a male form to pollinate. Blooms in June. In order to bear fruit a plant requires 150 days without frost. Berries ripen in October. If gathered unripe, they soften and mature when put in a bag together with fruits producing ethylene, e.g. apples, and kept at room temperature. It starts bearing fruit in its third or fourth year after planting. Berries are of about 3 cm length, green, with a reddish brown bloom. Attractive for its foliage – dark green, slightly lustrous leaves with red petioles. This variety sustains frosts up to -30oC. Pruning is best done in late autumn or winter (before the vegetation period), or in summer after the stems have partially grown thick and woody; otherwise the vine will bleed sap.