The California Kiwifruit Story
WINTER
During the dormant season (November to February) kiwifruit vines have a chilling requirement of around 600 to 850 hours of temperatures below 45°F. Vines are pruned during the dormant period to eliminate old fruiting wood thereby helping to maintain production of strong annual cane growth and regulating next season’s crop yield and fruit size.
SPRING/SUMMER
Budbreak in California generally occurs in mid to late March, depending on the growing location and weather conditions. As the new, green shoots begin to elongate parts of the flower form rapidly and by the time shoots have grown 4 to 6 inches long, all parts of the flower have been formed. The flower parts continue to expand until bloom, which usually starts in early to mid May.
Bloom is an important time for kiwifruit. Good pollination is essential to fruit set and size. Individual plants bear either male or female flowers, with only the female flowers developing into fruit. Both types of plants are planted in a vineyard at a ratio of about 8 females to 1 male. Growers bring honey bees into their fields during bloom so that the bees can move the pollen from the
male to female vines.
Following successful pollination, fruit grows rapidly and steadily for the first 60 days and then growth continues at a much slower rate up until harvest. During this time the grower manages the irrigation, nutritional and other cultural needs of the plants. In California, where growing season temperatures are typically warm, 90° to 105°F, and summer rainfall is nonexistent, supplemental irrigation is needed to achieve optimum kiwifruit growth and production. Peak water use on a hot summer day is about 10,000 gallons per acre per day!
WINTER
During the dormant season (November to February) kiwifruit vines have a chilling requirement of around 600 to 850 hours of temperatures below 45°F. Vines are pruned during the dormant period to eliminate old fruiting wood thereby helping to maintain production of strong annual cane growth and regulating next season’s crop yield and fruit size.
SPRING/SUMMER
Budbreak in California generally occurs in mid to late March, depending on the growing location and weather conditions. As the new, green shoots begin to elongate parts of the flower form rapidly and by the time shoots have grown 4 to 6 inches long, all parts of the flower have been formed. The flower parts continue to expand until bloom, which usually starts in early to mid May.
Bloom is an important time for kiwifruit. Good pollination is essential to fruit set and size. Individual plants bear either male or female flowers, with only the female flowers developing into fruit. Both types of plants are planted in a vineyard at a ratio of about 8 females to 1 male. Growers bring honey bees into their fields during bloom so that the bees can move the pollen from the
male to female vines.
Following successful pollination, fruit grows rapidly and steadily for the first 60 days and then growth continues at a much slower rate up until harvest. During this time the grower manages the irrigation, nutritional and other cultural needs of the plants. In California, where growing season temperatures are typically warm, 90° to 105°F, and summer rainfall is nonexistent, supplemental irrigation is needed to achieve optimum kiwifruit growth and production. Peak water use on a hot summer day is about 10,000 gallons per acre per day!
