How to grow Kiwifruit in Australia
Plant vines in full sun in deep, fertile, free-draining soil with a very strong support structure such as a pergola. Most types need a male and female plant to fruit, so plant both.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 15 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 400 cm
- Time to harvest: 730 days (about 2 years)
- Time to germinate: 1 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Half hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | June to August | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | June to August | Hayward will not crop here. Plant a very low chill female such as Sweetie with a matching male, Jun to Aug, in the cooler hinterland. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | June to August | Plant dormant vines Jun to Aug, a female and a male. Hayward needs more chill than the coast gets; choose lower chill Bruno, Dexter or Sweetie, or grow Hayward in the colder west. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | June to August | |
| Adelaide & SA | June to August | Plant bare root vines Jun to Aug, one male to several females. Best in the Adelaide Hills; on the plains give shelter from hot north winds and heavy summer water. |
| Perth & WA | June to August | Plant bare root vines Jun to Aug, one male to several females. Best in the Hills and the south west; on the plain the vines need wind shelter, afternoon shade and heavy summer water. |
| Tasmania | June to August | Plant Jun to Aug. Plenty of chill. Needs a male, a female and a serious trellis. |
| Canberra & ACT | June to August | |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Needs hundreds of chill hours and a cool dormant winter. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Needs winter chill and mild summers. Fails in Top End heat. |
Varieties
- Hayward
- Bruno
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick when fruit is full sized and the seeds inside turn black. Twist gently from the vine while still firm, then ripen indoors until they yield to a soft press.
Storage
Fridge for 2 to 4 weeks. Freeze sliced for months.