Growing hardy kiwi
vine fruit
Pollination
Dioecious - you need one male vine for every six to eight female (fruiting) vines. 'Issai' is a partly self-fertile exception with smaller crops.
Growing it
Zones 4-8. A vigorous vine needing a strong arbor and yearly hard pruning. Fruit is grape-sized and smooth-skinned.
Where hardy kiwi grows best
Hardy in zones 4-8, and it needs enough winter cold - about 400-800 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Washington.
Will you get enough chill?
Hardy Kiwi needs roughly 400–800 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does hardy kiwi grow in?
Hardy Kiwi grows in USDA hardiness zones 4-8.
How many chill hours does hardy kiwi need?
Roughly 400-800 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does hardy kiwi need a pollinator?
Needs a pollination partner. Dioecious - you need one male vine for every six to eight female (fruiting) vines. 'Issai' is a partly self-fertile exception with smaller crops.
Which states can grow hardy kiwi?
Hardy Kiwi suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and 26 more, and parts of 12 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.