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other). When planting several actinidias
together, it is enough to plant one male
for every five to eight female plants.

During the first three to four years

after planting, mulch (shredded bark or
sawdust) around the base of the plant,
10–20cm (4–8in) away from the trunk
to prevent rotting. Actinidias are shallow-
rooted plants, so avoid loosening soil.
They start their growing season quite
early in spring so, to minimise possible
frost damage to the emerging buds,
you should avoid early watering and
feeding in order not to speed up the
process. Actinidias need plenty of water
during the growing season so it is best
not to plant in dry soils, unless ongoing
irrigation is possible.

Ornamental value
Both

Actinidia arguta

and

A. purpurea

are

mainly cultivated for their fruit, but their
ornamental value (especially flowers
and fruit) is also recognised. They are
ideal for covering fences, pergolas and
arbours, thanks to their vigorous,
twining habit. Growing

A. arguta

and its

cultivars in home gardens and allotments,
and even in commercial plantations, is
becoming more popular in New
zealand, Japan, the USA and Germany.

Actinidia kolomikta

is already often

recommended as an ornamental climber,
with attractive green, white and pink

foliage suitable for training against a
range of vertical structures. Male plants
are most attractive, but females bear
tasty and wholesome fruit. They could
be well accommodated in many more
gardens.

Most clones of

A. kolomikta

already in gardens have been selected
for foliage rather than fruit.

Small-fruited actinidias really deserve

more widespread planting, as there are
few other plants that bear delicious fruit
with such good ornamental value.

Szczepan Marczy´nski

is a nurseryman,

former researcher and lecturer

email: clematis@clematis.com.pl

yield fruit. The fruit ripens in August
and falls immediately. The fruit are
smooth-skinned, tasty (sweeter and
more aromatic than kiwi fruit) and
wholesome. They can be eaten raw,
added to cakes, jellies and salads,
enriching summer and autumn meals,
dried as grapes (they will resemble
raisins), frozen and marinated.

When grown outside, ensure that

cultivars are planted at the same level as
they were growing in a pot, into a hole
dressed with compost or well-rotted
manure. Commercial growers space the
plants at 5

5m (16

16ft) intervals.

If choosing a dioecious selection,

plant the male and females not too far
apart (within 3–15m/10–50ft of each

Similar in appearance
and requirements to
A. arguta, but skin
and flesh is red.

‘Purpurna Sadowa’
(female): a prolific
grower, it is highly
ornamental (outer
skin is purple-red
in full sun and
red-green in shade).
Berries have a
delicate, sharp
flavour and ripen
from late September
to mid-October.

This is a fairly vigorous, frost-
hardy climber (to 4m/12ft).
From the second year, in May,
some leaves turn white then,
later, pink (this is strongest on
male plants in full sun). White,
slightly lemon-scented flowers
cover the plants in May. Cats
often damage shoots or leaves
of this plant, so be prepared to
protect the base while young.

‘Adam’: ornamental variegated
foliage and many male flowers;
a good pollinator for all fruiting
cultivars of A. kolomikta.

‘Dr Szymanowski’, with hand-
some white, pink and green
foliage, and

‘Sientiabrskeja’,

a prolific cropper, are also
good selections, but are yet to
become available in the UK.
The following cultivars,
which are available here, have
been recommended by Martin
Crawford of Agroforestry
Research Trust:

‘Red Beauty’ (female): fruits
Aug–Sept, but needs pollin-
ating with a male cultivar (see
‘Adam’ above) of the species.

‘Tomoko’ (female): has pink
and white leaves if exposed to
direct sunlight for at least part
of the day. Lightly scented
white flowers are followed by
top-shaped, edible fruit.

Visit www.rhs.org.uk/plants/

rhs-publications/journals/

the-garden/2009-issues/november

for additional cultivation information on

pollination requirements, commercial

plantations and pruning

Suppliers of some of these cultivars

include: Agroforestry Research

Trust, Devon 01803 840776; Crûg Farm

Plants, gwynedd 01248 670232; Goscote

Nurseries, leicestershire 01509 812121

actinidia

purpurea

actinidia kolomikta

‘female ActinidiA kolomiktA
bear tasty and wholesome
fruit. they are ideal for home
gardens and allotments’

Actinidia kolomikta ‘Adam’

Actinidia kolomikta

‘Dr Szymanowski’

Actinidia kolomikta

‘Sientiabrskeja’

November 2009

741

Actinidias grow best in warm, sunny

or slightly shaded, wind-sheltered
locations. Grow plants along wires
stretched between posts against a wall
or fence. They tolerate most soil types,
although they prefer fertile, but light,
well-drained soil that is moist, but not
waterlogged, and somewhat acid (pH
5–6.5). In alkaline soil, they suffer
from chlorosis but still grow. From the
second year after planting they require
balanced feeding. All actinidias can be
used as ornamentals, providing you
have the space: leave the plant to grow
in an unrestrained manner, occasionally
trimming as required.

However, for the best crop, you should

train plants properly, along a T-shaped

trellis (see information on RHS Online);
after three to four years, cut back annually
to eight to 12 shoots and thin out weaker
stems. Berries are borne on two- to
three-year-old stems; flower buds are
generally set on the seventh or eighth
leaf of last year’s wood.

Pick of the crops
Most cultivars (see panels below) start
bearing fruit in the third or fourth year
after planting, with the exception of

A. arguta

‘Issai’ that sets fruit after one

year. The berries of this species and

A. purpurea

ripen in September–October

and need around 150 frost-free days,
while

A. kolomikta

requires around 130

days without ground frosts in order to

Distinctive features
Native to countries of the Far east (from
Manchuria to Java), most actinidia are
dioecious, meaning that male and
female flowers are borne on separate
plants. But there are also monoecious
or polygamous (both bisexual and uni-
sexual flowers on one plant) species
available. In the UK, however, the only
self-fertile cultivar available is

A. arguta

‘Issai’. Identifying the necessary
compatible cultivars can be confusing,
but commercial growers have the space
for growing the necessary combinations.
For a domestic garden, the ornamental
value of these plants can often be just as
rewarding as any potential fruit.

Actinidias come into flower in May

and June (

A. kolomikta

about two weeks

earlier than the other two species).
They bear small (2–5 cm/¾–2in
across), white flowers that are generally
dioecious;

A. kolomikta

flowers are

lemon-scented. Male flowers, borne in
racemes of a dozen or so, have well-
developed anthers and their pollen
remains fertile for three to four days.
Female flowers are borne individually
or in clusters of two or three, and have
a large pistil surrounded by barren
stamens. For good pollination, ensure
compatible male and female plants
grow nearby (see panels, below, for
more on cultivars).

There is a good choice of
cultivars of this vigorous
climber (grows to 8m/26ft) :

‘Geneva 2’ (female): earliest-
ripening cultivar of the
species. Medium-sized, sweet
rounded berries ripen in
September–October. In full
sun they develop a reddish
brown bloom.

‘Issai’ (self pollinating): a
compact cultivar (to 4m/
12ft), it comes into bloom
later than the rest of the
A. arguta cultivars. Tasty,
medium-sized green berries
ripen in mid-October. Prone
to spider mite.

‘Weiki’ (male and female
clones): the most ornamental
cultivar of the species, it has
two clones, a female and
male. Male plants are good
pollinators for cultivars of
A. arguta and A. purpurea.
Female plants are prolific and
bear tasty medium-sized
green berries that develop a
red-brown bloom in direct
sunlight. They ripen in late
September or early October.

‘Ken’s Red’ (female): large,
durable and tasty berries
ripen from late September to
mid-October. When in full
sun, both the skin and the

flesh are deep red. In shade,
the berries stay green. Ripe
berries do not soften
excessively, which makes
them suitable for transport.

‘Jumbo’ (female): an Italian
cultivar bearing exceptionally
large, oblong, slightly
elongated fruit. Tasty, sweet
and long-lasting berries
ripen from late September
to mid-October and are
produced quite prolifically.

Background image:

A. arguta ‘Ken’s Red’

actinidia arguta

Actinidia arguta ‘Weiki’

Actinidia arguta ‘Jumbo’

Actinidia arguta ‘Weiki’ (male)

Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’

740

November 2009