Mature green kiwifruit are hard and tart, with good green color inside. Fruit which ripen on the vine are good to eat, but will not store as long as fruit picked earlier. Harvest fruit during the cooler part of the day and plan to refrigerate the fruit soon after harvest. These berries will usually remain in good condition for three to six months if they are stored at 29 F in a plastic bag with a few small holes in it. Fertilizing Very little commercial fertilizer is needed during the first year of kiwifruit establishment.
Proper fertilization stimulates plant growth, increases fruit size, and boosts total production.
Too much nitrogen causes excess vegetative growth, poor yields, and increased winter injury. Pruning and Training Kiwifruit must have very strong, permanent trellises to hold up the vines. T-bar trellises are best for disease control and ease of handling, but plants on pergola trellises often have larger fruit, fewer sunburned fruits, and less wind damage. In either case, kiwifruit should be planted in rows, on center between the posts. Young plants should be trained up on small stakes until they reach the first wire.