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| fig : fruit of kiwi |
kiwi fruit is brown in color , egg sized and covered with fuzz . When sliced, it yields an emerald green or yellow flesh with rows of small , dark edible seeds and a light cream colored center . The flavour of kiwi fruit is similar to a blend of peaches, strawberries and melon with a soft and juicy texture . Kiwi fruit is native to china . The leading kiwi producers are New Zealand ,France, Japan ,Italy, chile and the U.S . kiwi fruits owe their name to a national bird , native of New Zealand , named the "kiwi" . Scientifically it is known as Actinidia deliciosa .
Kiwi is dioecious plant .Male plant have only male organ and having no ovary thus, bear no fruit . So it is required only for pollination while female plant possess both male [functionless] and female organ having large ovary so produce fruit .1 male plant per 8 female plants is needed for successful pollination and vines of both sexes must flower simultaneously to ensure pollination.The main kiwi fruit cultivated in Nepal :
Male varieties :Tomuri and Female varieties: Hayward,Allison,Bruno( round and oblong type var) ,Abbott,Soyou . Land gradient (slope) preferred is 10 – 14 degree.Site facing South or North-East is recommended. It grow successfully in between 1200 to 2400 masl in context of Nepal.There should be provision of adequate moisture year-round. The chilling period should be ranging from 400 to 800 hrs (7 degree celcious ) for flowering .Deep,moist,fertile,well drained preferably a friable, loamy soil is ideal for kiwi cultivation .Soil pH should be around 5.5 to 6.5( slightly acidic).-A plant-to-plant distance of 6 meter needs to be maintained for desired space and healthy growth. The row to distance should be 5 meters atleast to provide adequate aisle for care and management of the plants.Kiwifruit is a deciduous plant and climber in nature.• Kiwifruit plants are trained to a permanent framework, either using T-Bar or Y-Bar likeclotheslines with 4 to 5 parallel wires on the bar top. However, T-Bar is preferred to Y-Bar.• Side grafting is easier and more successful in kiwi propagation .The scion stick should be from branches older than 6 months. The scion stick used for grafting should have two nodes.It needs to be pruned both in summer and in winter to maintain a balance between plant growth and profitable fruit production .During winter pruning, shoots that are less than a pencil width in diameter should be cut back, as well as the wood that fruited the previous year to allow new growth for the following year harvest.-kiwi will began to produce good amount of fruit after 3-4 years of planting after having been planted.it is climacteric fruit , which can ripen once picked.Harvesting is done manually. Kiwi fruit reaches almost of full size in August. However, it is not matured enough for harvest until late October or early November (Sugar level 6 to 6.5 percent).• Fruits are harvested by snapping the stem at the abscission layer at the base of the fruit.
Nepal is a small country but it is geographically diverse . In the tropical region mango,banana,litchi farming is papular . In the mid hills orange is doing good . In the Himalayan region apple does well . But there are no high value fruits in the high hills between citrus and apple range [ i.e. between 1200 to 2400 masl ] . In this gap between citrus and apple production range, kiwi grows successfully . Because of existing fruits like plums,pears are minor fruits and are not able to increase the income level of people .
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| fig : kiwi farming |
Thus, farmers are enthusiastic about kiwi farming and the fruit is expensive ( i.e. Rs 600 to 1000 \ Kg) . It is rich in nutrition . Because of high value crop , nutritional value, industrial value,high yield potential / ha , easy farming and potential for better income , the government prioritized the kiwi fruit for promotion in Nepal .
Fun and Interesting facts about kiwi
Buy kiwi fruit green and put kiwis in a brown paper bag with an apple to accelerate ripening .
The young leaves of the plant can be used in times of famine as they are highly nutritious .
The kiwi fruit skin is completely edible and makes this nutrient dense fruit even more nutritious .
Recent studies shows that eating the skin triples the fibre intake compared to merely eating the flesh and by not peeling the skin ,you preserve much of the vitamin c content as well.
kiwi contain an enzyme that act as a natural meat tenderizer .
kiwi is the most nutrient dense ( nutrient dense = low in calories ,high in nutrients ) .
Male and Female flower :
Kiwi is dioecious plant . kiwi have male and female plants that have corresponding to male or female flowers . Male vines produce more flowers but female blossoms are generally twice as large and have a center pistil, the tall structure that receives the pollen . Male plant have only male organ and having no ovary thus, bear no fruit . So it is required only for pollination while female plant possess both male [functionless] and female organ having large ovary so produce fruit .
Only female plant bear fruit , but just 1 male plant per 8 female plants is needed for successful pollination and vines of both sexes must flower simultaneously to ensure pollination.
Varieties of kiwi fruit cultivated in Nepal:
The main kiwi fruit cultivated in Nepal :
Male varieties :Tomuri
Female varieties: Hayward,Allison,Bruno( round and oblong type var) ,Abbott,Soyou
site selection :
-Climatic zone preferred should be between1000 – 2500 meters from the mean sea-level or
Kiwifruit has a huge climatic range;
- Land gradient (slope) preferred is 10 – 14 degree.
-The site should not be a water-logged area.
-Adequate irrigation facility is essential.
- Site facing South or North-East is recommended.
-The soil PH – level recommended is 5.5 to 6.5
- It must be free from frost ,cold in winter and strong wind.
Climate:
It grow well in subtropical and temperate region .It must be protect from frost ,cold in winter and strong wind . To protect from wind, it is necessary to use a windbreak.To protect from frost there should be use of water sprinklers and wind machine . It grow successfully in between 1200 to 2400 masl in context of Nepal. It loves moist environment so there should be provision of adequate moisture year-round . Average annual rainfall required for kiwi cultivation is about 1500 mm.There should be provision of adequate moisture year-round. The chilling period should be ranging from 400 to 800 hrs (7 degree celcious ) for flowering .
soil:
Deep,moist,fertile,well drained preferably a friable, sandy loam soil is ideal for kiwi cultivation .Soil pH should be around 5.5 to 6.5( slightly acidic) .Heavy soil subject to water logging is completely unsuitable.• slope preferred is 10 – 14 degree • The site should not be a water-logged area; • Adequate irrigation facility is essential • Site facing South or North-East is recommended •
Fertilizer:
The following fertilizer dose required for kiwi
Age of plant Recommended dose
Compost N P K
2-5 year 30 kg 120 kg 60 kg 60 kg
Above 5 year 2 doko 800 gm 600 gm 800 gm
it should be applied during push-magh and asar-shrawan .
Planting season:
It is deciduous plant so push - magh is best time for planting .
Planting distance:
-A plant-to-plant distance of 6 meter needs to be maintained for desired space and healthy growth;
- The row to distance should be 5 meters atleast to provide adequate aisle for care and management of the plants.
Training:
Kiwifruit is a deciduous plant and climber in nature. The ratio between male and female
plants is normally maintained at 1 : 8;
• Kiwifruit plants are trained to a permanent framework, either using T-Bar or Y-Bar like
clotheslines with 4 to 5 parallel wires on the bar top. However, T-Bar is preferred to Y-Bar.
• For easy harvest, the wires of the trellises should be at least 6 feet above the ground;
• Cross-arms on the T-Bar and double wiresystems should be 5 – 6 feet long.
-keep single stem right up to the trellis and when two branched appear, train them to
opposite direction along the wire
propagation:
-The scion stick (male or female dependingon the propagation desired) is taken from
the father or the mother plant. The scion stick should be from branches older than 6 months;
• The scion stick used for grafting should have two nodes;
• Side grafting is easier and more successful in kiwi propagation .
Pruning:
It needs to be pruned both in summer and in winter to maintain a balance between plant growth and profitable fruit production .During winter pruning, shoots that are less than a pencil width in diameter should be cut back, as well as the wood that fruited the previous year to allow new growth for the following year harvest.
Harvesting:
-kiwi will began to produce good amount of fruit after 3-4 years of planting after having been planted.it is climacteric fruit , which can ripen once picked.
-Harvesting is done manually. Kiwi fruit reaches almost of full size in August. However, it is not matured enough for harvest until late October or early November (Sugar level 6 to 6.5 percent)
• When the fruit is ready for consumption, it should contain 12 – 15 percent sugar.
• Fruits are harvested by snapping the stem at the abscission layer at the base of the fruit.
