I would blame wet feet also.
All kiwis and Arctic kiwis in particular need fast draining soil but plenty of moisture at the same time.
For those growing the artic k. type in the far north, is usually there enough frost free days from the fruit to ripen? I want to grow in northern Ontario very rare -40 lows, frost free last week of May till first week of September.
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I would think that would be enough time to ripen. I’m not sure if they can handle minus 40 Fahrenheit.
I think @VicJ has some in Fairbanks where it can get to -40 or even colder.
I haven’t noticed early frost to be an issue. They don’t bloom for me until the end of June. The fruits don’t ripen until the very end of the growing season. Last year the fruits were still hard and I didn’t pick any until around the first frost heading into winter.
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I think you will be fine
Our growing season in Fairbanks is just about the same. Temps in summer are high, occasionally up into the '90s (F). So far the kolomiktas have ripened successfully in the years they’ve borne. They typically get nipped back by winterkill, but not more than a few feet, and the vines are so vigorous that doesn’t significantly set them back. The oldest ones are 30+ and planted on the south side of the house (which gets partial shade), but others are climbing apple trees out in the field and have done fine. The biggest problem I had was finding a hardy male. The typical cultivar (“Arctic Beauty Male”) died repeatedly, but Pasha made pubert;y and is still going strong.
Thanks, that exactly what I was hoping to hear. Do you have any idea of what varieties of female plants were successful in Alaska?
The only cultivar I have that’s identified with certainty is Dr. Szymanowski (which is also allegedly hermaphroditic, but has only fruited for me when pollinated by Pasha). I think I also have “Arctic Red Beauty.” Szymanowski has nice elongated fruit.
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It took quite a few years for my kiwis to produce fruit, so have patience. Maybe farther south they bear sooner.
Has anybody have any experience with September Sun a.k.a. Sentyabraskaya? It seems to be one of the few kolomikta types available in Canada. Any tips from anyone having success in growing kiwis in a cold(er) regions appreciated.
This one is on my short list. How were the fruit in comparison to other kiwis you’ve tried?
Scott
They all taste pretty much the same to me, but Dr. Szymanowski’s fruit is largest and it seems more productive. I consider it the most successful of the ones I’ve grown so far.
Does it root easily?
OGW was the only source I knew for it, but they’ve been out of stock for a year +
Scott
It roots easily, like grapes. I have a bunch of varieties, so far the best for fruit size and productivity have been Krupnoplodnaya, Vitakola, Klara Zietkin.
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Yes, mine layer spontaneously, and I’ve transplanted clones thus obtained around my place.
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Has wind protection or lack thereof been any issue for anyone on the younger stock of kolomikta?
Wind can damage new shoots in late spring or early summer by tearing them off the branch
My September suns produce typical kolomikta kiwis. They all taste about the same. Give them a try, but have patience and protect from deer.
Putting up the trellis this week. My choices are the north side of the house with 2 hours sun each morning/evening otherwise deep shade. Or the middle of my field/lawn full sun until they get big enough to shade themselves. I don’t have any other mature trees or structures to tuck them in with. For Kolomikta what would you guys recommend?
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