Growing Kiwis from Cuttings: A Comprehensive Guide

Kiwis are a delicious fruit that originated in China and are now grown all over the world, including in many home gardens. While kiwis can be grown from seeds, it's often easier and more reliable to grow them from cuttings. In this article, we'll explain everything you need to know about growing kiwis from cuttings.

Why Grow Kiwis from Cuttings?

There are several reasons why growing kiwis from cuttings is a great idea:

• Consistency: Growing kiwis from cuttings ensures that your new plants will have the same genetic traits as the parent plant, which means they'll be more consistent in terms of size, shape, and flavor.
• Faster growth: When you grow kiwis from seeds, it can take several years before the plants start producing fruit. With cuttings, however, you can potentially get fruit within two or three years.
• Easier propagation: Kiwi vines can be difficult to propagate by other methods, but with cuttings, you can quickly and easily create new plants.

When to Take Kiwi Cuttings

The best time to take kiwi cuttings is in late winter or early spring, before the new growth starts to emerge. This is usually around February or March in most regions. Here's what you'll need:

A kiwi cutting ready to be planted.

You'll also need a healthy kiwi plant to take cuttings from. Look for a plant that's at least three years old and has plenty of strong, healthy growth.

How to Take Kiwi Cuttings

Here's how to take kiwi cuttings:

1. Choose a stem that's about pencil-thick and has several buds on it.
2. Cut the stem into pieces that are about six inches long.
3. Remove any leaves from the bottom half of each cutting.
4. Dip the bottom end of each cutting into rooting hormone powder.
5. Plant the cuttings in a container filled with potting mix.
6. Water the cuttings well and cover the container with plastic wrap to create a mini greenhouse.
7. Place the container in a bright spot, but not in direct sunlight.
8. Mist the cuttings regularly to keep the air around them humid.
9. After a few weeks, you should see new growth emerging from the tips of the cuttings.

How to Transplant Kiwi Cuttings

Once your kiwi cuttings have rooted and started to grow, it's time to transplant them into their permanent location. Here's how:

1. Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
2. Dig a hole that's big enough to accommodate the root ball of the cutting.
3. Fill the hole with water and let it soak in.
4. Remove the cutting from its container and gently loosen the roots.
5. Place the cutting in the hole and backfill with soil.
6. Water the cutting well and add some mulch around the base to help retain moisture.

Caring for Kiwi Plants

Once your kiwi plants are established, they require relatively little care. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Watering: Kiwi plants require regular watering, especially during dry periods. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
• Fertilizing: Kiwi plants benefit from regular fertilization with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer.
• Pruning: Kiwi plants can become quite large and unruly if left unchecked. Prune them annually to remove dead or damaged wood and to control their size and shape.
• Pollination: Kiwi plants require cross-pollination between male and female plants in order to produce fruit. If you only have one plant, you'll need to purchase a male or female plant to ensure pollination.

Growing kiwis from cuttings is a fun and rewarding way to add this tasty fruit to your garden. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully propagate new kiwi plants and enjoy fresh, juicy fruit for years to come.

kiwi plants, fruit gardening, propagation, home gardening, gardening tips