I recently purchased two kiwi plants. One male and one female. We planted them according to the directions provided with the plant. However, after about three weeks, the male plant is having a problem with leaves turning brown to black and just wilting. We live in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the US. What do we need to do to help this plant? We have a trellis for it to climb on, we have mulched around it and water it occassionally. They are planted in the direct sun as the package said they needed 6-8 hrs of sunlight.
Move the male plant. In some varieties of kiwi, the female plant is toxic to the male. Move the male about 10 or more feet away and it should recover.
I live in southern coastal Maine and we had a brief frost last night. The new growth is withering and I want to know if I should prune it off or will it recover on its own?
The new growth is probably too damaged to recover, but kiwis regrow lost growth amazingly fast. I would remove the damaged growth.
How do you tell which plant is male and which is female?
You can only tell them apart once they flower. The female flower will have a small ball inside the flower (which is the immature kiwi) while the male flower will not.
Can I grow hardy kiwi successfully in Zone 4? Is the 10' spacing rule hard and fast? What about growing jicama in Zone 4?
Hardy species will grow in your zone. Here is more info: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/kiwi/growing-hardy-kiwi-vine.htm
I would like to share my kiwi vine and would like to know the way to propogate it. Plus, how do I know the difference between the male and female plants?
This article will help you with propagation. Kiwi vines propagate well from softwood cuttings:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/rooting-plant-cuttings.htm
The only reliable way to tell the difference between male and females is to check their flowers. The female flowers will have an immature fruit in the center.
I have three kiwis that have been growing about ten years. They have been flowering for about 5 years. They bloom, then most of the blooms drop off, but there are a few that stay on, producing a small green berry (about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter), which then drops off. What could the problem be?
You may need to prune your vines to improve their fruit production. Also, you could have poor pollination—ensure that there is a healthy male variety nearby. Some good male varieties include Tomuri, Atlas and Matua.
I have two healthy kiwi plants growing side by side in the ground for about the last 5 years. Not sure what variety they are. When I purchased them the tag said one was a female and the other was a male. They have never produced flowers or fruit. Could I possibly have two males or two females? Would there be any differences in the two?
The only way to tell a female kiwi from a male kiwi vine is by the flowers, when they bloom. If you are not getting any flowers, it may not be in enough light. Kiwis need a sunny location, sturdy support, and pruning to produce good crops. When planted, the vines should be pruned back to 4 or 5 buds. And yes, they need at least one male plant to pollinate female varieties. Good female varieties to choose from include Abbott, Bruno, Hayward and Monty. Male varieties include Tomuri, Atlas and Matua. Examining the flowers of a kiwi are the only way to determine for sure if you have a male or female plant if unknown or incorrectly labeled. Since yours is not blooming, you may want to consider getting a male variety and plant it nearby.