Growing Kiwis in the UK

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Does anyone know if you can grow kiwis in the south of the UK. And if so, would they grow in a big pot? I have a south facing fence it could grow up but the area is compacted and terrible soil.

You can with the right variety - some are hardy down to about -20. Don't know about in a pot though. And I think you usually need more than 1 for pollinating.

My Mum grew one, outdoors in her garden, from a seed from a kiwi bought in a supermarket! It was huge vine like plant and even produced fruit. The RHS said it shouldn't have been possible as you need 2 plants (one male, one female) to produce fruit! Oops. They also said they do best in the UK when grown in 'glasshouses'. You'd need a big pot in my experience plus something very sturdy for it to climb.

Gardens: grow your own mini kiwis | Gardening advice | The Guardian James Wong suggested in the ground and this is the best variety. Can you not dig up a big hole and put in good compost/grit/mulch etc. to make it more habitable for the kiwi?

You can buy a “proper” kiwi for growing in the UK, Eg

Actinidia deliciosa

I once spent a lunch break tracing a kiwi back to its base to find out the variety. It was that big.

Go for a kiwi berry and make sure to get a male to pollenate it as well as a female to fruit. Much smaller and easier to manage.

I once read a book about the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and there was mention of a large kiwi fruit plant, so they definitely grow in Cornwall.

I am in Yorkshire and we had a huge crop from ours last year. It's on a south facing wall and produces small kiwis which you eat the whole thing like a berry. Delicious.

Definitely. Ours, in an undisclosed location in the south, are rampant and fruit abundantly. You do need two though, a male and a female.

My dad grows them in Cumbria so yes, they’ll be ok in the south

Would anyone be able to recommend any varieties that are self-fertile and fruit quickly?

We only have space for one vine I think so would like it not to take too long and be able to produce kiwis alone.

Oh my, I hadn't thought about kiwis. Love this idea.

I'm currently growing an avocado and a pineapple, in a South facing garden, growing well but too young for fruit. (Avo 10 years, pineapple 3)

I’ve planted two in a spot that should be, on paper at least, perfect. They are really struggling and I’m giving them one more year then I’m taking them out.
Mine came from from Pomona Fruits.

Kiwis grow like triffids and fruit when they feel like.

I have an issai in Yorkshire and we get lots of fruit from it. It has been in about 3 years now.

Issai is a kiwi berry not a kiwi fruit, just to be clear. So small grape sized fruits?

Yep. Kiwi berry.

Too much wine made me open this to find out how we grow New Zealanders

@BluebellsareBlue The people or the flightless birds?😂

Lol both

Same. Minus the wine.

There is one growing against a south facing wall on a bit of waste ground in Southampton that regularly has HUNDREDS of fruit.
It is utterly neglected.

Talkinpeace - it sounds ripe for the picking - and possibly even uprooting and taking home!

I still don't know which variety to pick. OK, I'll have to just wing it I guess! I hate wasting time on things that don't grow though :(

Kiwi Jenny is self fertile. Mine is in a polytunnel and is rampant. It has flower buds for the fist time this year. We also have a kiwi berry which reliably fruits. We live in the Western Isles, so far less favourable conditions than the south of England.

@HarridanHarvestingHeldaBeans any chance of seeing the poly tunnel? I’ve always wondered how that works in a garden? And maybe the kiwi too? Some pictures? It sounds really good! I don’t know if I have enough room for it in my garden, nor how you use poly tunnels but I’d love to know more.