Hardy Kiwi
Actinidia arguta
Hardy Kiwi is a smaller cousin of the familiar kiwi found in grocery stores.
The fruit grows about grapes size, does not have the fuzzy skin so you eat the entire fruit.
It tastes great and is much sweeter than the common kiwi fruit found in stores.
The fruit might not look as good after the first frost, but the taste is even sweeter. Photo taken October 24th, 2023 after the first light frost.
This is close to half of the harvest with no male pollinator.
Anna at the top left side of the bowl and the Meader at the bottom right side of the bowl.
This is close to half of the harvest with no male pollinator.
Anna at the top left side of the bowl and the Meader at the bottom right side of the bowl.
Harvesting kiwi after the first frost makes the sugars concentrate and the fruits taste sweeter.
Male, Female and Male/Female flowers are blooming on the self fertile vine of this variety June 9, 2023.
I labeled these "Meader" and "Anna"
I am still unsure if my "Meader Self Fertile" hardy kiwi is an Issai self fertile hardy kiwi.
I can find no information about a "Meader Self Fertile" hardy kiwi.
My Meader and Anna do not have a male pollinator.
Yet they both produce fruit!
I bought the Meader self fertile variety from a big box store in 2006. It had a label that said Self Fertile. Another sign said "Meader" Kiwi.
Many stores tend to mislabel plants, and many people claim that Meader is either Male or Female.
My vine is Self Fertile and pollinates Anna.
My Anna and Meader hardy kiwi can definitely produce fruit with out a male.
My MSU hardy Kiwi only produces a few kiwi, 10 - 30 kiwi a year without a male.
The Meader Self Fertile produces earlier than Anna or MSU and do not all ripen all at the same time which is nice for the home gardener.
Many stores tend to mislabel plants, and many people claim that Meader is either Male or Female.
My vine is Self Fertile and pollinates Anna.
My Anna and Meader hardy kiwi can definitely produce fruit with out a male.
My MSU hardy Kiwi only produces a few kiwi, 10 - 30 kiwi a year without a male.
The Meader Self Fertile produces earlier than Anna or MSU and do not all ripen all at the same time which is nice for the home gardener.
The MSU Kiwi are about twice as long as the other cold hardy kiwi.
MSU, Anna, and my Self Fertile kiwi all pictured here with my dog and many figs I grow.
MSU, Anna, and my Self Fertile kiwi all pictured here with my dog and many figs I grow.
Meader Self Fertile Kiwi
Hardy Kiwi Vines often take 4 -7 years to start producing fruit.
Meader or Issai Self Fertile Kiwi? Self Fertile Hardy Kiwi - I am unsure of the true name of this hardy kiwi. But it not only pollinates itself, it also pollinates my Anna hardy kiwi. It is earlier than Anna and does not ripen all the fruit at the same time which helps to extend the season.
Many people say there are only a few self fertile hardy kiwi vines on the market, "Issai" and the newer variety "Prolific" and a Japanese variety called "Kokuwa" that tastes like lemon. Perhaps it is a red stemmed Issai, I have read there is also a green stemmed Issai. What ever my self pollinating name is it is still quite a big vine and more robust than 'Anna'. When I research Meader Self Fertile Kiwi there is a Male and a Female. I originally had bought a male and several other varieties of Hardy kiwi, before I purchased the "Meader Self Fertile. My orginal male hardy kiwi died from over pruning. But my Self Fertile and Anna kiwi vine continue to produce well with out a male. My MSU variety only produces about 10 - 30 kiwi a year without a male. It is in more shade and may not be pollinated well by itself, the Anna or self fertile kiwi.
My Self Fertile Hardy Kiwi- ripens with greener skin, for a longer time period and earlier than 'Anna'. One side will get more red if they are in full sun. It tends to have prettier yellow leaves in the fall. Although late frost can harm the harvest of cold hardy kiwi. This early ripening variety "Meader Self Pollinating" ripens most every year in Michigan therefore it is my favorite.
'Anna' aka 'Anananzaya' - Female Hardy Kiwi - With a few male flowers. Most flowers have false male anthers. This is the one they sell at special high end fruit markets. It has a darker redish skin, ripens later, and ripens all the fruit at once. Great for processing and selling. Not very good for enjoying the fruit as you walk the garden. This variety gets hit by frost way too often before the fruits are ripe. The season often is not long enough in Michigan for Anna. I often have to pick it early and see if it will ripen indoors. It is the smallest and least aggressive of my three varieties. I have notice a couple of male flowers on this female Anna plant, but they are rare.
'MSU' - Female Hardy Kiwi - Michigan State University developed vine has fruit is almost twice as long as other hardy kiwi varieties. 'MSU' leaves, vines and fruit are bigger and it is a more aggressive grower. It ripens with green skin but is not pollinated as well by my Self Fertile 'Meader'. I only get a few dozen MSU Hardy Kiwi each year. It may be because it is growing in the shade, or because it is not polinated well from the self fertile kiwi.
Male Hardy Kiwi - My original Male Hardy Kiwi died from over prunning. I was trying to keep it small since it doesn't produce fruit. I have recently obtained a new Male Hardy Kiwi cutting in a trade, but it is still very young and has not flowered yet. I don't think I really need the maie, since I already get too many hardy kiwi. But I am looking foward to getting more MSU hardy kiwi pollinated.
Many people say there are only a few self fertile hardy kiwi vines on the market, "Issai" and the newer variety "Prolific" and a Japanese variety called "Kokuwa" that tastes like lemon. Perhaps it is a red stemmed Issai, I have read there is also a green stemmed Issai. What ever my self pollinating name is it is still quite a big vine and more robust than 'Anna'. When I research Meader Self Fertile Kiwi there is a Male and a Female. I originally had bought a male and several other varieties of Hardy kiwi, before I purchased the "Meader Self Fertile. My orginal male hardy kiwi died from over pruning. But my Self Fertile and Anna kiwi vine continue to produce well with out a male. My MSU variety only produces about 10 - 30 kiwi a year without a male. It is in more shade and may not be pollinated well by itself, the Anna or self fertile kiwi.
My Self Fertile Hardy Kiwi- ripens with greener skin, for a longer time period and earlier than 'Anna'. One side will get more red if they are in full sun. It tends to have prettier yellow leaves in the fall. Although late frost can harm the harvest of cold hardy kiwi. This early ripening variety "Meader Self Pollinating" ripens most every year in Michigan therefore it is my favorite.
'Anna' aka 'Anananzaya' - Female Hardy Kiwi - With a few male flowers. Most flowers have false male anthers. This is the one they sell at special high end fruit markets. It has a darker redish skin, ripens later, and ripens all the fruit at once. Great for processing and selling. Not very good for enjoying the fruit as you walk the garden. This variety gets hit by frost way too often before the fruits are ripe. The season often is not long enough in Michigan for Anna. I often have to pick it early and see if it will ripen indoors. It is the smallest and least aggressive of my three varieties. I have notice a couple of male flowers on this female Anna plant, but they are rare.
'MSU' - Female Hardy Kiwi - Michigan State University developed vine has fruit is almost twice as long as other hardy kiwi varieties. 'MSU' leaves, vines and fruit are bigger and it is a more aggressive grower. It ripens with green skin but is not pollinated as well by my Self Fertile 'Meader'. I only get a few dozen MSU Hardy Kiwi each year. It may be because it is growing in the shade, or because it is not polinated well from the self fertile kiwi.
Male Hardy Kiwi - My original Male Hardy Kiwi died from over prunning. I was trying to keep it small since it doesn't produce fruit. I have recently obtained a new Male Hardy Kiwi cutting in a trade, but it is still very young and has not flowered yet. I don't think I really need the maie, since I already get too many hardy kiwi. But I am looking foward to getting more MSU hardy kiwi pollinated.
My self fertile kiwi vines after a light frost.
These hardy kiwi ripen earlier making them ripen almost every year in Michigan and they produce over a longer time extending the season for a home grower.
Spring Frost
My kiwi vines normally get hit by a Spring frost almost every year here in Michigan. Most the time it burns the leaves and the leaves turn black and die. The vines will produce new leaves and normally send out blooms. I have experienced a year where all of my kiwi did not produce any fruit. I can't remember if if was from the Spring frost or the season was too short for any kiwi to ripen. I know often the Anna and the MSU varieties both struggle to ripen kiwi in time here in Michigan, Meader ripens its fruit almost every year.
My kiwi vines normally get hit by a Spring frost almost every year here in Michigan. Most the time it burns the leaves and the leaves turn black and die. The vines will produce new leaves and normally send out blooms. I have experienced a year where all of my kiwi did not produce any fruit. I can't remember if if was from the Spring frost or the season was too short for any kiwi to ripen. I know often the Anna and the MSU varieties both struggle to ripen kiwi in time here in Michigan, Meader ripens its fruit almost every year.
Spring frost hit this young hardy kiwi on April 26, 2024. Photo taken 5/2/24
A late hard frost hit my hardy kiwi May 18, 2023. We still had a bumper crop of hardy kiwi.
A late hard frost hit my hardy kiwi May 18, 2023. We still had a bumper crop of hardy kiwi.