Thursday, January 16, 2014

Kiwi Fruit Farming Business | How to Grow Kiwifruit | Growing Kiwi Fruit to Earn Money

Growing Kiwi Fruit to Earn Money
Kiwifruit is a major horticultural export earner in New Zealand.
New Zealand is the second largest kiwifruit producing country, next to Italy, and holds approximately 30% of the market share. In the 2008-2009 season the value New Zealand kiwifruit exports was NZ$1.45 billion.


Kiwifruit is native to the Yangtze River valley on the coast of Eastern China. The New Zealand Kiwifruit industry began with Mary Isabel Fraser, a teacher and missionary, bringing kiwifruit seeds to New Zealand from China in 1904. A New Zealand horticulturalist, Hayward Wright, developed the well-known green kiwifruit in Avondale, New Zealand, around 1924. The well known green kiwifruit were later renamed “Hayward” as a tribute to Hayward Wright.(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)


Origins of the Industry

The first commercial planting of Chinese gooseberries occurred in 1937 by the orchardist Jim MacLoughlin. He found that the vines were low maintenance and fruited well. By 1940, MacLoughlin purchased more property for Chinese gooseberry production. MacLoughlin’s truck was commandeered for army use during the outbreak of war and as a result, he was forced to sell his property and enter into a shared cropping arrangement with another farmer. In 1955, MacLoughlin bought out his partner, purchasing his land back along with an additional 38 acres and planting it all to Chinese gooseberries. During the war around 550 cases of the fruit were marketed each season with the fruit proving popular with American servicemen in New Zealand. This provided the opportunity for the previously domestically-consumed fruit industry to expand by exporting to an international market.

Planting:


Actinidia plants are especially touchy about less than perfect site and soil conditions in their youth. For this reason, some growers coddle their plants in containers for one, even two, years. Growth can be phenomenal in carefully watered and fertilized containers, and the plants can be protected their first couple of winters in an unheated basement or a slightly heated garage.

When setting plants in the ground in soil that doesn't drain perfectly, plant each vine atop a raised mound of earth. Winter cold bites hard at plants of all species their first two or three years in the ground, especially in conjunction with intense sunlight. A wrapping of corn stalks, burlap, or similar materials will shade the developing trunks and abate the fierceness of the cold. Delay protecting the trunks until frost has penetrated the ground an inch; the plants must be exposed to some cold in order to properly acclimate to the cold months ahead. Where winters are brutal, either due to very low or fluctuating temperatures, this wrapping may be advisable even for mature plants. Remember, trunks of wild actinidias growing in their native Asian forests never are exposed to full sun.

How to Grow Kiwifruit

Growing Kiwi Fruit to Earn MoneyKiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is originally from China and is also known as Chinese gooseberry. It is both edible and ornamental and grows as a vine that is vigorous and strong. If you are keen on growing it at home, be sure to have supporting space. Here are some tips for growing it.










Step 1


Erect a strong support about 2 metres high. This will also need to have some good width, to support the spread of the vine and its weight with fruit.




Step 2

Purchase a male and a female plant. You will need both to be able to produce fruit. Cultivar 'Jenny' though to be self-fertile - requiring only one plant. 'Hardy kiwi' cultivars also self-fertile - yielding smaller, grape sized non fuzzy kiwifruits.




Step 3

Plant in full sun in rich soil that is well-drained. Kiwifruit do not like having dry feet, so be sure to keep well watered during the warmer months.



Step 4


Protect kiwifruit plants from strong winds and frost. Provide a sheltered area if this is a problem.



Step 5

Prune the male plant after it flowers in late spring. Prune the female plant in winter. The fruit arises from new growth; therefore, it is important to prune back any old wood that has already borne fruit.




Tips

  • Prune heavily to control the overall size of each plant.
  • Pruning is essential during the first two years, as for any other deciduous plant.



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  1. Growing Kiwi Fruit, Growing Kiwi Fruit to Earn Money, How to Grow Kiwifruit, Kiwi Fruit Farming, Kiwi Fruit Farming Business

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