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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: anemone on February 18, 2009, 20:06:21

Title: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: anemone on February 18, 2009, 20:06:21
I bought a kiwi plant from wilkinsons for £3. It doesn't say whether it's self fertile or not. Does anyone know what variety it might be?

I really should stop going into that store  :)


Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: valmarg on February 18, 2009, 22:00:47
I understood (years ago) that you needed a male and female plant for kiwi fruit, but things have moved on in the past 20+ years, so you may be OK.

I tend to avoid Wilko's plants because they are not what they say on the packet.

The colour of flowers, cum variety of fruits are extremely iffy, and would avoid like the plague. >:( >:( ???

valmarg
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: saddad on February 18, 2009, 22:19:50
I think "Hayward" is partly self-fertile and "Jenny" allegedly is self-fertile... or I may just have lost the plot again...  :-[
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: Baccy Man on February 18, 2009, 22:35:50
Jenny, Boskoop & Oriental Delight are the only self-fertile kiwis I know of. Jenny comes up very frequently aqmongst the cheap plants.
If it is described as a hardy kiwi rather tham a regular one then it's likely to be Issai which is allegedly self-fertile but produces a lot more fruit if you have multiple plants.
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: anemone on February 19, 2009, 16:26:59
Thank you. There's not any info on the packaging so don't know if hardy or not even. I guess will try to grow and see what happens, at least they are pretty plants.

Next time I'll be stronger when passing the fruit aisle!
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: mogs on April 10, 2009, 12:55:56
I too bought the Wilkinson's Kiwi Fruit and have contacted them to enquire about the variety.  They tell me the variety is Jenny (self fertile)  I have fedback that it would be good if Wilkinson's could indicate on the packaging the variety of their fruit bushes and trees and they say they will look at this for future packaging - their response time to my query was excellent!
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: lewic on April 11, 2009, 22:09:37
Everything seems to be called Boskoop in Wilkos  ;)  They don't look after their plants very well in the store, but if you can get in before theyve killed it then you might get a bargain!
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 11, 2009, 22:11:58
If they aren't dead or mislabelled, then I can only suggest mollycoddling under cover for a while till they recover. I've had some pretty bad experiences, and don't intend to repeat them.
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: RosieMcPosie on April 11, 2009, 22:12:36
Mum (Weed-Digga) bought a lovely looking white currant reduced in there a few days ago, it even had some baby currants on it! lots of green growth, it looks so healthy! can't work out why it was reduced, but we can't resist a bargain :)
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: angle shades on April 11, 2009, 22:33:13
lewic, you really made me laugh, I wanted to buy two figs and two olive plants from wilkos all the ones on display were REALLY dead :P
The assistant I found to help me said all the ones on display had to be sold before anymore could be ordered ;D ::) :P customer services sorted that out. ;D

I have had a wilkos kiwi for 3 years now and all I can say about it is, it has nice leaves!! / shades x
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: valmarg on April 12, 2009, 21:17:56
Quote from: anemone on February 19, 2009, 16:26:59
Next time I'll be stronger when passing the fruit aisle!

From the voice of experience - I wouldn't give you very good odds. ;D ;D

valmarg
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: cjb02 on April 13, 2009, 11:25:36
if the Kiwi is self fertile, then that is fine. If not. you need two Kiwi plants, a male and female to produce fruit. they can also take about 7 yrs to start fruiting too (well so I have read on the internet any way)

I have a kiwi plant in the garden just over 2 yrs old but I grew it from seed (taken out of a kiwi fruit from Asda's if I remember correctly)

I am just trying to raise some more so I may one day get fruit. It does indeed have lovely leaves and grows very quickly.
Title: Re: Kiwi's from wilkinsons
Post by: electric landlady on April 17, 2009, 16:16:59
I have just been given a Wilko's kiwi plant for my birthday and am wondering what to do with it, so this thread is very well-timed!  :D

It does look a bit peaky but is definitely alive at the moment - seems to have perked up since I put it in full sun on the windowsill.

Does anyone know if I am really likely to get any fruit off it after 7 years, if I put it in a pot in my (very sheltered, south facing) back yard? And do they like any special sort of compost etc? And also am I right in thinking that they are climbers - how big do they get??

Sorry about all the questions and for shamelessly highjacking your thread Anemone. I was just about to start one of my own, honest  ;)