Have you ever wondered where do Kiwis come from? Do Kiwis Grow on Trees or are they fruits of a plant? Read this article to find the answer!
Kiwi is a seasonal fruit, popular in salads and as a topping on fruit-cakes. It has a unique flavor that separates it from all the other fruits. The fruit is oval in shape and covered by a brown, slightly hairy, and textured skin. So, where does this interesting fruit comes from? Do Kiwis Grow on Trees? Let’s find out!
What is Kiwi Fruit?
Kiwi belongs to the Actinidia genus and is native to Northern China. In the early 20th century the cultivation of Kiwifruit spread from Northern China to New Zealand, which was where the fruit was first cultivated for commercial purposes. Now, New Zealand is one of the highest producers and distributors of the fruit.
The fruit is a great source of minerals, fiber, and vitamins. A medium-sized Kiwifruit has nearly 90 mg of Vitamin C. The fruit can also help in treating conditions like asthma, it boosts immunity, prevents sickness, indigestion, and has many such health benefits.
Kiwis can be consumed either with the skin or can be cut in half and can be eaten by scooping with a spoon (similar to how you eat mango). You can also cook it in butter to prepare a sour but sweet sauce and jam. Moreover, the fruit is used both as a garnish and as an ingredient while preparing mocktails, cocktails, and confectionery items.
Do Kiwis Grow on Trees?
The answer to the above question is No. Kiwis do not grow on trees. Kiwifruit or Chinese gooseberry is the berry of woody vines. Before digging deeper into this, let’s understand the basic difference between a tree and a vine.
A Plant pathologist describes a tree as a plant that typically is perennial, has a trunk, and branches on top. Whereas, a vine is a plant that typically grows with support on another structure, typically with specialized stems that anchor into another material or wraps around it.
Hardy kiwi, scientifically known as Actinidia arguta and Actinidia kolomikta is the cousin of the vine that produces the kiwifruit. It is a fast-growing vine and usually grown in cold climates.
How to Grow Kiwi?
Ideally, growing kiwi vines requires mild winters. You can choose to grow hardy kiwi plants in cooler seasons. Firstly, choose the right variety. Then, pick an area that receives partial sunlight as excessive exposure to sun and heat might harm the vine.
Kiwi plants do not self-pollinate and they need insects to do the pollination. Make sure you have a male and a female plant. However, you can have one male plant and up to eight female plants together, and the male should be able to pollinate all the female plants.
