How to prune a kiwi plant

Summary

Learn how to properly prune your kiwi (Actinidia) for a better harvest. Start by cleaning up the shrub, removing dead wood and branches that overlap. Focus on maintaining vigorous scaffold branches and thinning out secondary branches that are 4 to 5 years old, cutting them back to about 6 inches. The goal is to promote future fruit-bearing growth. Finally, prune the previous year's growth on secondary branches to two or three eyes to encourage fruiting in the upcoming year.

Takeaways

• 😀 Prune the kiwi shrub to clean it up and thin it out.
• 😀 Keep only the most vigorous branches for optimal growth.
• 😀 Perform fruit-inducing pruning to ensure a better harvest.
• 😀 Remove dead wood and branches that are tangled or crossing.
• 😀 Maintain the scaffold branches, which form the main structure of the plant.
• 😀 Thin out secondary branches that are around 4 to 5 years old.
• 😀 Cut secondary branches back to about 6 inches to promote new growth.
• 😀 Focus on favoring branches that will bear fruit in the following years.
• 😀 Prune the previous year's growth on secondary branches to 2 or 3 buds.
• 😀 These two or three buds will produce fruit during the current year.

Q & A

What is the first step in pruning a kiwi or Actinidia?

The first step in pruning a kiwi is to clean up the shrub and thin it out by removing unnecessary or weak growth. Keep only the most vigorous branches.

What is the purpose of fruit-inducing pruning for kiwi plants?

Fruit-inducing pruning is done to promote a better harvest by encouraging the growth of fruit-bearing branches for the following season.

Which branches should be removed when pruning a kiwi plant?

Dead wood and branches that wrap around each other should be removed to improve air circulation and light penetration.

What are scaffold branches, and why are they important for kiwi plants?

Scaffold branches are the primary, main branches that provide the structure for the plant. They are important because they support the growth of fruit-bearing secondary branches.

How often should secondary branches of kiwi plants be pruned?

Secondary branches, which are about 4 to 5 years old, should be pruned roughly every 24 inches to maintain the plant's health and structure.

To what length should secondary branches be cut back?

Secondary branches should be cut back to about 6 inches to promote better fruit production and growth in the coming years.

What is the main goal when pruning kiwi plants?

The main goal of pruning is to favor branches that will bear fruit in the coming years and to ensure the plant’s structure is conducive to healthy growth and a good harvest.

How do you prune the previous year's growth on secondary branches?

The previous year's growth on secondary branches should be pruned back to just two or three buds (eyes), as these will bear fruit during the year.

Why is it important to thin out a kiwi plant during pruning?

Thinning out the plant is important to improve airflow, light exposure, and overall plant health, which can result in better fruit production.

What should be done to the kiwi plant after removing dead wood?

After removing dead wood, the plant should be shaped and thinned further to allow for new, vigorous growth that will produce fruit in subsequent years.