Male flowers produce viable pollen for only the first 2 to 3 days after opening. However, female flowers are receptive to pollen for 7 to 9 days after opening, even when the petals have started falling. Pollination is extremely important in kiwifruit production. If you cut through these fruit, you'll find there are no seeds in these areas. Kiwifruit flowers are pollinated mainly by insects, although wind may play a minor role.
Honey bees are the main pollinator used in kiwifruit vineyards.
Kiwifruit flowers do not produce nectar and are relatively unattractive to bees. About three to four hives per acre are needed to adequately pollinate kiwifruit. Place these in the vineyard no sooner than 10 percent bloom of the female vines. In this case, no naturally produced pollen will be available To get a crop, the females will have to be pollinated artificially. Call your county Extension agent for more information on sources of pollen and methods of artificial pollination.