Issai Mini Kiwi Fruit

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

1 Foot

Mature Spread

1 Foot

Growing Zones

5 to 8

The Issai Mini-Kiwi Fruit is a robust, self-pollinating, easy-to-grow vine that can easily climb any frame, trellis, or lattice. They climb by twining and twisting their vining branches of broad-leafed, flamboyant, green foliage that produces clusters of fragrant spring flowers in vivid shades of green. In mid to late summer, these blooms transform into sweet, edible, 1 inch mini-kiwi fruit that are a fusion of kiwis, grapes, and an extra-sweet fruity flavor. An added bonus is that they are packed with nutrition and have 8 times the vitamin C of oranges. One plant can produce up to 100 pounds of fruit per annum. Kiwi berries are delicious, fresh or frozen. They last up to a week when refrigerated, and make an excellent addition to cheese boards, smoothies, fruit salads, and cocktails.

Issai Mini Kiwi Fruit Care

Issai Mini-Kiwi Fruit is heat and humidity tolerant, and can thrive in a variety of climates and conditions. The vine grows rapidly and requires a very sturdy support system. You should have your support structure in place before planting. Thin the stems in the late dormant season. The remaining stems should fit the support. This variety requires less pruning because of its limited growth habit, but in late fall or winter, prune out any branches that produced fruit, so long as they have over one year of growth.

Growing Issai Mini Kiwi Plants

This variety thrives almost anywhere, except in extremely wet soil. It prefers fertile, well-drained, acidic soil and will suffer from nutrient deficiencies in soils that are too alkaline. Once you have planted your Issai Mini-Kiwis, you should place a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch at the base of the plant. It is generally pest and disease free, but you should watch your plants for signs of honey fungus and phytophthora.

Your Issai Mini-Kiwi Fruit should be planted 8 to 10 feet apart to give them plenty of room for growth. They should be planted in areas where they can receive full to partial sun. When the vine reaches maturity, it will be approximately 12 to 15 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide. They will bear fruit after 3 or 4 seasons and live for up to 40 years.

Your Issai Mini-Kiwi Fruit is perfect for arbors and pergolas. It can also grow on walls and fences, as well as borders with adequate support. It can be propagated in a variety of ways by softwood cuttings, grafting or layering. You can grow your mini-kiwi vines in large containers or grow bags, so long as they can hold up to 50 pounds of weight.

Watering Issai Mini Kiwi Fruit

The Issai Mini-Kiwi Fruit uses average water. You should water your plant approximately 1 inch of water each week during the active growing season. If the weather is hot or dry, you should water more often.

Feeding Issai Mini Kiwi Plants

You can use citrus or avocado food to fertilize your Mini-Kiwi Fruit, or a high-nitrogen fertilizer. If using a granular fertilizer, avoid applying concentrated amounts, as it can burn the roots of your plant. Caution should be used when applying fertilizer.