Originally from Asia, the kiwi is actually one of the easiest “exotic” fruits you can grow right in your own backyard. These vigorous vines are super adaptable—as long as you give them a sturdy trellis to climb on, they’ll take off! If you’re looking to add some fuzzy homegrown fruit to your garden, here’s the scoop on finding the perfect spot for your kiwi plants to thrive.
Sunny and Sheltered: Picking the Right Spot
In their native home in China, kiwis are often found growing in forested areas near the Yangtze River. Tucked between the trees, these climbing vines are naturally shielded from harsh winds. That’s the secret to success here, too: you’ll want to pick a spot in your garden that’s well-protected from strong gusts.
When it comes to light, kiwis love a spot that’s sunny to partially shaded. Just a heads-up, though: try to avoid spots where they’ll get absolutely baked by the intense afternoon sun in the middle of July. Timing is also key for planting. You’ll want to get your kiwis in the ground during the spring or fall. Avoid planting in the heat of summer if you can; otherwise, you’ll find yourself watering those young plants up to three times a day just to keep them happy!
The Dirt on Soil: What Kiwis Crave
These exotic beauties prefer soil that is rich in organic matter (humus), full of minerals, and nice and loose so the roots can breathe. They like to stay consistently moist, so don’t let the soil bone-dry. Kiwis are also a bit picky about pH—they love acidic soil, ideally between 4.5 and 5.5. If your soil is very dry or high in lime (alkaline), your kiwi might struggle to really take off.
Pro tip: If you want your kiwi to reach its full potential, give it a good layer of mulch. This helps lock in moisture and keeps those vital minerals in the soil right where the roots can grab them. With the right conditions, these vines can grow anywhere from 15 to nearly 50 feet long!
Support Systems: Trellises and Arbors
Since kiwis are natural climbers, they use “twining” to get around—meaning the stems literally wrap themselves around whatever they can touch. Because a healthy vine can easily reach 10 feet or more, you’re going to need a solid support system to keep it off the ground.
You’ve got plenty of stylish options here: a sturdy garden trellis, a wall-mounted espalier, or a beautiful pergola. If you’re more of a DIYer, you can build a simple wire support by driving posts into the ground about 15 feet apart. Run heavy-duty galvanized wire between the posts at heights of roughly 30, 50, and 70 inches. This gives your kiwi plenty of “rungs” to wind its way up and soak in the sun!
