Actinidia arguta 'KEN'S RED'

Ken’s Red is a female variety of the so-called mini-kiwi (kiwiberry). It is a vine that is less vigorous that the species. Apart from tasty fruit it is a nice plant, too, with deep green leaves and scented flowers in June.

Its fruit has smooth skin, and both skin and flesh have various shades of deep red or burgundy purple. Compared to normal kiwi fruit the taste is the same but sweeter, and the shape is kiwi-like, too, just smaller – like a large gooseberry i.e. 2-4 cm long. They are the sweetest when picked after they have softened a little which is end September/early October. You can also pick up harder fruit, put in a plastic bag along with other fruit producing ethylene (e.g. apples) and keep them at room temperature. They will ripen up in a few days. Thanks to its smaller size they get much sweeter than its larger-fruited relative imported from southern counties. Semi-mature fruit can be stored in the fridge for 4-6 weeks in temperature 2-4°C. Ken’s Red is not self-fertile and needs a male pollinator for producing fruit. Issai variety is suitable. Professional gardeners do not recommend mixing plants reproduced by cuttings and by grafting – they have different flowering time.

Pruning is best done in late winter or late summer to prevent from bleeding sap. Remove branches that are older than 3-4 year to rejuvenate the plant. Kiwi needs a sunny and warm site with semi-fertile, acidic, fresh soil. Do not over-fertilize: such plants flower very reluctantly. Hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 31-01-2012.