Overview

Experience the joy of growing your own fruit with the remarkable Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant. This particular offering includes 5 starter plants of the Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’ variety, a highly sought-after, self-pollinating deciduous climbing vine. Known for its attractive foliage and abundant harvest of grape-sized, smooth-skinned green fruits, the Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant is an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Unlike many other kiwi varieties, the ‘Issai’ is self-fertile, meaning you only need one plant to produce a bountiful crop. These plants are shipped as bare roots, ready for planting and establishing in your garden, transforming your outdoor space into a productive and beautiful edible landscape.

The ‘Issai’ variety is celebrated for its compact growth habit, typically reaching 12-20 feet in height and 3-5 feet in width, making it more manageable than other kiwi species. Its vigorous growth combined with relatively low maintenance requirements, including less pruning, makes it an ideal fruiting vine for various garden settings. Whether you’re looking to add a unique edible plant to your backyard or seeking a productive and ornamental climbing plant, the Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant offers both aesthetic appeal and delicious rewards.

Key Benefits

The Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant provides a multitude of benefits, making it a fantastic addition to any garden. From its ease of care to its delightful fruit, this vine is sure to impress.

• Self-Pollinating Convenience: One of the most significant advantages of this variety is its self-pollinating nature. You don’t need multiple male and female plants to get fruit, simplifying the growing process and ensuring a harvest from a single self-pollinating kiwi vine.
• Delicious, Smooth-Skinned Fruit: Enjoy sweet, grape-sized green fruits that require no peeling! The smooth skin makes them perfect for snacking directly off the vine, adding a unique, flavorful treat to your garden.
• Compact & Manageable Growth: Unlike larger, more vigorous kiwi types, the ‘Issai’ is a compact variety, reaching a more manageable size of 12-20 feet. This makes it suitable for smaller gardens or areas where space is a consideration, requiring less intensive pruning.
• Attractive Foliage: Beyond its fruit, the Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant offers appealing deciduous foliage, providing a lush green backdrop throughout the growing season before its leaves turn to fall colors.
• Hardy & Resilient: This kiwi vine is remarkably hardy, thriving in USDA Grow Zones 3 through 8. It tolerates urban conditions and is relatively low-maintenance, making it a robust choice for a variety of climates.
• Versatile Growing: Easily grown on a trellis, arbor, or other support structure, this fruiting vine can be integrated into various garden designs, providing both vertical interest and edible produce.
• Fast-Growing: Experience rapid growth with this vine, allowing you to establish a productive and attractive plant in a relatively short amount of time. The Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant quickly establishes itself and begins to produce fruit.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant is straightforward, especially given its hardy nature. To ensure optimal growth and a bountiful harvest, understanding its specific needs is crucial. This Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’ thrives in full sun to partial shade, meaning it prefers at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for best fruit production, though it can tolerate some afternoon shade in hotter climates. Adequate sunlight is key for ripening the fruit and promoting vigorous vine growth. Ensure it has a sturdy support structure like a trellis, arbor, or fence, as it is a climbing vine that will need something to cling to as it grows.

Well-draining soil is paramount for the health of your Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant. While it tolerates various soil types, a loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0) is ideal. Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils, which can lead to root rot. When watering, provide consistent moisture, especially during dry spells and when the plant is establishing. However, allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer or a granular fertilizer formulated for fruiting plants. Pruning is generally less intensive than other kiwi varieties, but some light pruning in late winter or early spring can help maintain shape and encourage fruit production. Remove any dead, damaged, or overcrowded branches.

This hardy kiwi is generally recommended for USDA Grow Zones 3 through 8, indicating its excellent cold tolerance. Protect young plants from severe frost in their first year. While relatively resistant to pests and diseases, monitor for common garden issues and address them promptly. Proper air circulation is also important to prevent fungal problems. With these basic care guidelines, your Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant will flourish, providing you with years of delicious fruit and attractive garden interest. Regular observation of your hardy kiwi care routine will ensure a healthy and productive vine.

Size & Details

This offering includes 5 individual Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant starter vines, shipped as bare roots. These young plants are compact and ready for immediate planting upon arrival. The ‘Issai’ variety is known for its moderate growth rate, quickly establishing itself and beginning to climb. When mature, this particular self-pollinating kiwi vine typically reaches a height of 12-20 feet and spreads 3-5 feet wide, making it a suitable choice for various garden sizes and support structures. These bare root plants are a cost-effective way to establish multiple kiwi vines, providing a head start on your edible garden.

Expect the vines to begin producing fruit within 2-3 years after planting, with yields increasing as the plant matures. The grape-sized fruits are typically ready for harvest in late summer to early fall, depending on your specific climate zone. The compact nature of this fruiting vine also means it requires less aggressive pruning compared to other kiwi species, simplifying maintenance. Each starter plant provides the genetic material for a robust and productive kiwi vine, ready to transform into a beautiful and fruitful addition to your landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant is a compact variety that typically grows to a height of 12-20 feet and spreads 3-5 feet wide, making it manageable for various garden sizes.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This hardy kiwi care plant is an outdoor fruiting vine, best suited for growing on trellises, arbors, or fences in garden settings. It thrives in outdoor conditions within its recommended hardiness zones.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: The Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant prefers full sun to partial shade, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal fruit production.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: These Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’ plants are shipped as bare roots, meaning they will arrive without soil or a pot, ready for planting directly into your garden.
• Q: Can I grow just one plant for fruit? A: Yes, the ‘Issai’ variety is a self-pollinating kiwi vine, meaning you only need one plant to produce fruit. You do not need a separate male and female plant.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this kiwi? A: The best time to plant bare root kiwi vines like the Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant is in early spring, after the last danger of hard frost has passed.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This hardy kiwi is well-suited for USDA Grow Zones 3 through 8, indicating excellent cold tolerance to survive winter in those regions.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the ‘Issai’ variety is considered relatively low-maintenance compared to other kiwi types, requiring less pruning and being quite resilient once established. It’s a great choice for beginner gardeners interested in a fruiting vine.
• Q: How long until it produces fruit? A: You can typically expect your Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant to start producing fruit within 2-3 years after planting, with yields increasing as the vine matures.
• Q: What kind of support does this vine need? A: As a climbing vine, the Issai Hardy Kiwi Plant requires a sturdy support structure such as a trellis, arbor, pergola, or strong fence to grow and thrive.