Trellising kiwis is an essential horticultural technique to optimise fruit production and make harvest easier. This method not only structures plant growth, but also improves exposure of leaves to light, which is crucial for photosynthesis. By following these steps, you can get the most from your young kiwi plants, ensuring an abundant, high-quality harvest.

About Kiwis

Kiwis, or Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia sinensis, and kiwaïs (Actinidia arguta) are vigorous climbing plants native to China. They produce fruits rich in vitamin C and fibre. Best-known varieties include kiwi ‘Hayward’ (female variety) for green fruit and ‘Solissimo’ (self-fertile) for yellow or red kiwis. Kiwi requires a mild climate and protection from strong winds and late frosts.

For almost everything about kiwis, read Actinidia, kiwifruit tree: planting, pruning, harvest.

trellising kiwis
Actinidia arguta

Why trellis kiwis?

Actinidia is a liana, that is a climbing plant. It therefore needs a support to grow. But “kiwifruit tree” is also a dioecious species (even if self-fertile varieties now exist), which means it has male and female plants. To succeed with kiwi cultivation, as well as with its cousin the kiwaï, it is therefore essential to combine several female plants with a male plant. Trellising then plays a crucial role, not only as support, but also to entwine the many plants together, facilitating pollination and increasing fruiting.

Finally, trellising allows channeling the Actinidia liana, which can grow up to around ten metres. Fixing it to a support of limited size (no more than 2 m) makes harvesting fruit easier.

trellis kiwi
Exuberant growth of kiwis can even form an arch (© Wikimedia Commons - Daderot)

Best time to trellis kiwis

Best time to start trellising kiwis is in spring, at start of new growing season, around April–May. This allows handling branches while still flexible and guiding them easily into desired shape. It is also possible to adjust trellising in autumn, after harvest, when plant is dormant.

Where to trellis kiwis?

Kiwis should be trellised in a sunny spot sheltered from prevailing winds. A south- or west-facing wall is ideal in northern hemisphere. Structure used for trellising must be solid, because plant shoots become lignified over time and fruits are heavy. Trellises, pergolas or even wires stretched between sturdy posts are effective options.

Support can be a purpose-built structure or a wall.

Support

Choose sturdy wooden posts 10 cm in diameter and at least 3 metres high, or metal posts 5–7 cm in diameter at same height. Posts should be buried at least 1 metre, ideally anchored in a concrete block, and spaced 3 metres apart. Use galvanised steel wire 2.7 mm in diameter every 50 cm, fixed with a tensioner to reinforce structure. Kiwis will be trellised on these wires. Adding braces is recommended to support weight of plants.

Trellising kiwi on a wall or building

Install horizontal wires every 50 cm up to two metres high, fixed with metal rods sealed into wall. Add intermediate rods every 4–5 metres to reduce tension on wires, which must be thick to support weight of plants and fruit. Use spacers 40–50 cm long every 2 metres to hold wires away from wall, making trellising easier. It is also possible to trellis kiwis on wire mesh.

Actinidia deliciosa trellised on a wall
Actinidia deliciosa trellised on a wall

Equipment needed

Steps to trellis kiwis

  • Choose support : install a sturdy structure, such as metal trellis or horizontal wires spaced 50 cm apart, fixed to solid posts set at least 2 metres high. Not less, because Actinidia needs to climb, and not higher either, to allow harvesting fruit.
  • Planting : plant your kiwi close to support, about 5 cm away to avoid injuring the trunk.
  • Tie main stem : select strongest stem and tie it vertically to support using soft ties.
  • Form side branches : allow 4 to 6 side branches to develop from main stem, oriented horizontally along support wires.
  • Pruning and maintenance : prune side branches each winter to encourage fruit production. Keep approximately 3 to 5 buds per branch for following year.
  • Monitoring and adjustments : check ties regularly and replace them if necessary to avoid strangling branches as they thicken.

please note : trellising self-fertile kiwis is carried out in a very similar way to that of male and female plants. Generally, two young plants suffice for personal consumption, which also saves space.

trellis a kiwifruit tree Actinidia