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Actinidia deliciosa 'Vincent' (Female) (Kiwi Fruit) - - A vigorous-growing, deciduous vine with large, rounded leaves that when first emerging are coated with reddish hairs but mature become dark green and hairless. These leaves are held on heavy stems that can spread to 30 feet wide. The creamy white flowers in spring age to buff and are followed by tasty egg shaped fuzzy-skinned fruit in fall.
Plant in full sun or partial shade with regular irrigation. Hardy to around 10-15° F and fruits best when winter temperatures drop for at least a few hours below 32° F.
Actinidia deliciosa is native to Southern China, where it is called Chinese Gooseberry but after the introduction around 1924, of the variety 'Hayward' by Hayward Wright in Avondale, New Zealand, this plant gained popularity being called Kiwifruit, named after New Zealand's National Bird, the Kiwi. The name for the genus name comes from the Greek word 'aktis' which means "ray" in reference to how growth of the plant radiates out like the spokes of a wheel and the specific epithet refers to its delicious fruit.
The cultivar 'Vincent' is a fruiting (female) variety that has a low chill requirement. It needs a male cultivar to pollinate the spring flowers and we grew the male cultivar 'Tomuri' for this purpose. One male plant can pollinate up to 8 female plants if centrally located. Plant 1 male to every 3-4 females if planting along a fence. Plant in full sun or partial shade with regular irrigation.
Our early customers might remember that we long had a fence running the entire depth of our nursery property planted with the 'Tomuri' and 'Hayward' variety and that each Christmas we made customer baskets filled with its delicious fruit. Our later crops were produced from tissue culture by Monrovia Nursery.
The information displayed on this page about Actinidia deliciosa 'Vincent' (Female) is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.
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