Crops › Kiwi (Hardy)
How to grow Kiwi (Hardy)
in the UK
Sow March to April, plant out May to September, harvest October to November. About 240 days from seed to plate.
Now, I know what you're thinking, kiwis up here in the North East? Aye, it's a bit of a challenge, these aren't easy, to be honest. But a hardy kiwi vine on your plot, trained up a sturdy support, it's a real talking point and a proper rewarding crop when you get it right.
Sowing
Kiwi seeds can be a bit slow to get going, mind. You'll want to sow them indoors, sometime in March or April, in a decent seed compost. Just a few millimetres deep, no more than 5mm really, and keep them warm, around 18-20°C is grand. A propagator or a warm windowsill is just the job. They can take their time to pop up, so don't be disheartened if you don't see anything for a few weeks, sometimes even longer, you know what I mean. Once they're up, give them plenty of light to stop them getting leggy.
Growing on
When your seedlings are big enough to handle, with a couple of true leaves, prick them out into individual pots. Grow them on in a sheltered spot, making sure they don't get too cold. We need to harden them off properly before they go outside, usually late May up here in the North, once all danger of a late frost has passed. They need a cracking sunny, sheltered spot on the plot and strong support – a pergola or wires against a wall is ideal – they're proper climbers these. Give them a good bit of space too, at least a couple of metres between plants if you're putting in more than one.
Looking after it
These plants are hungry and thirsty, so keep them well-watered, especially in dry spells, and give them a good feed of general-purpose fertiliser in spring. A nice mulch around the base will help keep the moisture in and weeds down. You'll need to prune them in winter when they're dormant, cutting back old wood, and then again in summer to keep that vigour in check and encourage fruiting. Borage and nasturtiums nearby can help too.
What goes wrong
The main things to watch out for with hardy kiwis, especially up North, are wind scorch and those pesky late frosts. Wind can really batter the leaves, so shelter is key, like I say. A sudden late frost can zap new growth and flowers, so sometimes a bit of fleece protection early on might be needed if it's looking nippy. Slugs can have a go at young plants too, so keep an eye out for them.
Harvest
You'll be looking to harvest your kiwis in October and November, before any hard frosts really set in. They might still feel a bit firm on the vine, that's alright. Just pick them carefully and bring them indoors. Pop them in a bowl with an apple or a banana, and they'll ripen up nicely in a few days. They're cracking eaten fresh, absolutely chuffed when you get a good crop, mind.
If you're going for a male and female pair, make sure you plant them close enough for the bees to do their job, otherwise you'll be waiting for fruit that never comes. I've seen that happen on the plot, it's a shame.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Jenny (self-fertile) Jenny is a self-fertile hardy kiwi, meaning you only need one plant to get fruit. It's a grand choice for those with less space or if you're just starting out with kiwis on the plot. | No club votes yet |
| Issai (hardy kiwi) Issai is another cracking self-fertile hardy kiwi, known for producing smaller, sweeter fruit. Perfect if you want to try kiwis without the fuss of separate male and female plants. | No club votes yet |
| Ken's Red Ken's Red is a distinct variety that needs a male pollinator to set its lovely red-fleshed fruit. If you're after something a bit different and have space for two plants, this one's a winner. | No club votes yet |
| Tomuri (male) Tomuri is a male pollinator, essential if you're growing female kiwi varieties that aren't self-fertile. Plant it near your female plants to ensure a good crop of fruit. | No club votes yet |
| Vincent (female) Vincent is a vigorous female kiwi that needs a male pollinator, like Tomuri, to produce its fruit. It's a reliable choice for larger, classic kiwi fruit if you have the space for a pair. | No club votes yet |
| Hayward Hayward is one of the most popular commercial kiwi varieties, needing a male pollinator to produce its large, fuzzy fruit. If you're aiming for proper, shop-bought sized kiwis, this is a top contender. | No club votes yet |
| Solo Solo is a female variety that needs a male pollinator, known for producing good yields of medium-sized fruit. It's a solid choice for those who are ready for the commitment of a male and female pair. | No club votes yet |
| Atlas Atlas is a male pollinator, a good companion for many female kiwi varieties that need a partner. It's a vigorous grower that will help ensure your female plants are productive. | No club votes yet |
| Bruno Bruno is a female kiwi that needs a male pollinator, valued for its early-ripening, medium-sized fruit. If you want to get your harvest a bit sooner, this one might be worth a look. | No club votes yet |
| Elmwood Elmwood is a male pollinator, a sturdy choice to pair with your female kiwi plants that need a partner. It's a reliable chap to have on the plot to ensure your efforts are rewarded with fruit. | No club votes yet |
| Monty Monty is a female kiwi that needs a male pollinator, producing good yields of traditional green-fleshed fruit. A dependable choice for a classic kiwi experience once you've sorted a male plant. | No club votes yet |
| Matua Matua is a male pollinator, often paired with several female varieties to ensure good fruit set. It's a robust plant, vital for getting those non-self-fertile female kiwis to produce. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Kiwi (Hardy) seeds
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Cook the harvest
A classic French-style patisserie tart with a crisp, buttery sweet pastry shell, a silky vanilla crème pâtissière filling, and a topping of jewel-bright kiwiberries arranged in neat, overlapping circles. The kiwiberries are sliced to reveal their emerald green interior and brushed with a warm jelly glaze that makes the finished tart look extraordinary. A proper celebration pudding.
70 min · challengingA vibrant tart with a crisp, buttery pastry case filled with a silky lime curd and topped generously with fresh hardy kiwi berries. The lime curd's sharp citrus intensity is a perfect complement to the sweet-tart berries, and together they make a tart that is both visually beautiful and deliciously balanced. An autumn showstopper.
60 min · challengingA silky, luscious cream posset sharpened with lime juice and topped with a vibrant kiwiberry compote — one of the simplest and most reliably impressive desserts you can make. The cream sets by the acid reaction alone, needing no gelatine, and the kiwiberry compote adds the tropical, emerald-green flavour that makes this far more interesting than the classic lemon version.
20 min · easyA spectacular, billowing pavlova with a marshmallow-soft centre and a crisp, ivory-white shell, loaded with lightly sweetened whipped cream and scattered generously with sweet-tart hardy kiwi berries. The tropical, fragrant berries are the perfect foil to the rich cream and meringue, and the combination is simply one of the best uses for this extraordinary little fruit.
110 min · mediumWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: borage, nasturtium
Questions people ask
When do you sow Kiwi (Hardy) in the UK?
Sow Kiwi (Hardy) from March to April. Plant out May to September, after the last frost.
How long does Kiwi (Hardy) take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 240 days, with the harvest October to November.
Which Kiwi (Hardy) varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Jenny (self-fertile), Issai (hardy kiwi), Ken's Red, Tomuri (male) and more.
Track your Kiwi (Hardy) from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.