Jenny Kiwi Vine - Generous - ORG

Actinidia deliciosa ‘Jenny’ makes growing classic fuzzy kiwifruit at home much easier. Unlike most traditional kiwifruit cultivars, ‘Jenny’ is self-fertile, so you do not need separate male and female vines to produce fruit. The fruits have the familiar fuzzy brown skin and juicy green flesh of traditional kiwifruit. They are generally somewhat smaller than commercial supermarket kiwis, with a sweet, refreshing and aromatic flavor. Creamy-white flowers appear in late spring to early summer among the vine's large heart-shaped green leaves. The fruits then develop over summer and ripen during fall.

Does Jenny kiwi really need only one plant?

Yes. ‘Jenny’ is a self-fertile cultivar, so a single vine is capable of setting fruit. That makes it particularly useful for home gardens where there is room for only one kiwi vine. Another compatible kiwi nearby may sometimes improve pollination and fruit set, but a second vine is not required.

Where should you plant Jenny kiwi?

Choose a warm, sunny, sheltered location. A south- or west-facing wall, sturdy trellis, arbor or pergola is ideal. ‘Jenny’ is a vigorous twining vine that can eventually reach roughly 15 to 20 feet or more, so it needs strong permanent support. Grow it in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil and keep the root zone consistently moist during active growth. Young shoots are especially vulnerable to late frost, so a protected site is valuable. Your organically grown ‘Jenny’ kiwi is supplied in our Generous container (P15).

When can you harvest Jenny kiwi?

The fruit ripens in fall. Timing depends strongly on climate, summer heat and location. Leave the fruit on the vine as long as conditions allow, but harvest before damaging hard freezes. Firm fruit can continue ripening indoors after picking. Young kiwi vines usually need a few growing seasons before they begin producing a worthwhile crop, so a little patience is rewarded.

How do you prune Jenny kiwi?

Kiwi vines are vigorous and benefit from both summer and dormant-season pruning. First establish a strong framework by training one or more main stems onto a sturdy support and developing horizontal arms. During summer, shorten vigorous side shoots to control growth and let more light reach developing fruit. Fruiting shoots can be cut back several leaves beyond the last fruit. During the dormant season, before active spring growth begins, remove weak, crowded and poorly positioned growth. On established vines, gradually replace some older fruiting laterals with younger shoots. Avoid simply shearing the entire vine. A well-trained open framework gives you much better control and encourages productive young growth.