Kiwi's in Arizona?

Discussion in 'Fruit and Nut Trees' started by Unregistered, Feb 20, 2006.

  1. Am I crazy trying to grow Kiwi trees in the Phoenix, Arizona Valley. My oranges, lemons and grapefruit do well. What do you think? Thank you, AzSam
     
  2. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,511
    Likes Received:
    235
    Location:
    sw USA
    I don't think they will like the climate in Phoenix too much. It may be tough to get them through the heat of summer. Kiwis grow on strong woody vines (lianas), not trees.

    You know you need both male and female plants to get fruit, right?
     
  3. Yes, from what I have read I see that I need both male and female. I have a side of my house that only gets the morning sun and I can shade it for summer, but the air will still be 110 plus in the worst of summer. Maybe if I keep the direct sunlight off of the plants, do I have a chance. I really do want "a go for it" from the experts. It looks like it is going to cost me about $50.00 to try it. What do you think? Thanks, Sam
     
  4. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,424
    Likes Received:
    24
    Location:
    San Joaquin Valley, California
    Sam, why not join the forum? I can give you some
    ideas on what to do but I'd prefer you be a member.
    I am in the warmest part of the San Joaquin Valley
    and we grow Kiwi here..

    Jim
     
  5. Mr. Shep, I do have a username and password and it says that I am logged on, but I come up as unregistered? I can't figure what I am doing wrong? AzSam
     
  6. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    10,574
    Likes Received:
    615
    Location:
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    You don't seem to be logged in to the system, that's for sure. Does it say Welcome AzSam in the upper right corner of the uppermost box of the forums? Or is there a login box?
     
  7. Mr. Shep:

    I forgot to mention that I do get out to Ripon a few times a year. Actually I am an Arizona transplant, grew up in the Bay Area and Sacramento area. AzSam
     
  8. AzSam

    AzSam Member

    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ USA
    I think I finally got it. I have no idea why it wasn't working earlier. AzSam
     
  9. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,424
    Likes Received:
    24
    Location:
    San Joaquin Valley, California
    Sam, you made it. I know Ripon well enough, I've
    done a lot of work through the years in Stanislaus
    county.

    Even though I may know some of these answers
    already I still want to hear it from you. Tell me
    about your soil type. Do you have an idea what
    your soil and water pH is where you are?

    I have a side of my house that only gets the morning
    sun and I can shade it for summer.


    This will work as even though Kiwi like full sun they
    may not be all that happy with the kind of intense heat
    for that many hours in a day that Phoenix can get without
    some afternoon protection. It has already been established
    that for you to ensure yourself of having fruit that you will
    want one male to be a pollinizer for at least one female
    (you can have more than one female if you like). Where
    you do plan to buy these, from a retail nursery, from a
    grower nursery or a satellite grower nursery? It will
    make a difference as if you are serious about wanting
    fruit it is better to deal with nurseries that guarantee their
    plants. Sometime use the UBC BG drop down Search
    menu, just mouse click it and do a Kiwi keyword search.
    This will bring up other threads in these forums that have
    some information about Kiwi for you to read. Once we
    know your setting, soil type, water situation and source
    for Kiwi we can move on to the next step.

    Jim
     
  10. AzSam

    AzSam Member

    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ USA
    Mr. Shep, Thank you. I will try and get the soil type and ph numbers as soon as possible. I just took a couple minutes and surfed around looking at Nurseries that sell Kiwi's. They are not abundant like your "regular" fruits are. I eat at least 2 kiwi's each evening and sometimes have a couple in the afternoon. I read several articles about how good they are for you and it is nice enjoying them so much and then finding out how good they are for you. Will be getting back to you soon! Thanks, again, Sam
     
  11. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,424
    Likes Received:
    24
    Location:
    San Joaquin Valley, California
    You may want to look at the Kiwi sources listed in
    this link and contact some of them about availability.
    They can help you put together the right mates for
    fruit production and I can help a little in dealing with
    your site preparation for Kiwi and how to grow them
    in Phoenix. We even have some people here in the
    Central Valley that grow these under shade cloth to
    protect the vines from intense afternoon sun. You will
    want to look into or inquire about a possible trellis
    system or network to help sustain and provide support
    for the vines. You can ask the plant source about what
    they use for their vines when you inquire about their
    Kiwi.

    CRFG Member Nurseries and Fruit Sources

    Jim
     
  12. AzSam

    AzSam Member

    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ USA
    Well, I thought it might be easier to get the correct information on soil and water, but I am still working on it. Thanks, AzSam
     
  13. Karen86322

    Karen86322 Member

    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Camp Verde, Arizona, USA
    I am wondering if anyone has had success with Kiwi plants in Arizona. I am at 3600 feet elevation and have just purchase 5 Kiwi plants (1 male and 4 female). They are live plants sent in 2 1/2" pots and the advice was to put them in larger pots and get them growing before transplanting them to my garden area. Our temperatures do get hot here (usually 15 degrees cooler than Phoenix). I realize the plants will have difficulty living with the hot winds we get in the summer. I have thought of "sheltering" them under some sort of netting and trying to protect them from the wind also.

    If you have had success in Arizona growing Kiwi's, please let me know how you did it!

    Much thanks in advance,
    Karen
     

Share This Page