Fruit Hardy Kiwi (Issai)

[WisconsinGardener]

Anyone grown one of these? Everything I found says it is hardy to Zone 6. I found one last year that claimed it was hardy to Zone 5. Bought just the one pot. It seemed healthy - but I never got around to finding or making a place for it. So, it stayed in the pot on our shady deck, and I basically forgot about it. End of summer, it's still hanging in there, but I decided to just let it go. Money wasted, but oh, well.

I stick it - still in the pot - on top of another pot to get it off the picnic table. It is in no way protected.

I went just now to pitch it into the compost pile, and IT'S ALIVE!!!!! How is that even possible? It got to be 20 below zero here at Christmas time (-20 F), without snow protection. Guess I have to find a place for this, now.

 

[Martinhouse]

I could be wrong, but don't Kiwi require both male and female plants to produce fruit? Unless they are selling them grafted together now, if that's even possible.

 

[Martinhouse]

If that plant survived a Wisconsin winter in a pot above ground, hardy isn't a good enough word to describe it. It certainly deserves a chance to live!

 

[WisconsinGardener]

This particular one has male and female flowers on the same plant - kind of like pumpkins. That's the way it's supposed to work, at least. Yeah, I have to plant it somewhere.

 

[Genevieve]

could it be an Arctic Kiwi? I planted one that was supposed to have both a male and 2 females in the same pot. Been waiting 3 years now and no blossoms nor fruit.
I make sure it has a nice mulch before winter hits and its survived so far. Its next to one side of our fence so it has something to grow on

 

[mecoastie]

We have 3. 2 female and male. They are doing great. Took about 4 years to fruit but they produce a lot of fruit.

 

[WisconsinGardener]

could it be an Arctic Kiwi? I planted one that was supposed to have both a male and 2 females in the same pot. Been waiting 3 years now and no blossoms nor fruit.
I make sure it has a nice mulch before winter hits and its survived so far. Its next to one side of our fence so it has something to grow on

I was wondering if the tags got mixed up - but doesn't the Artic Kiwi have varigated leaves with some pink in them? Plus, I would have no idea if this was a male or female in that case. But even an Artic Kiwi (Zone 3), you'd think would have an issue with -20F in a small, unprotected pot that wasn't even close to the ground. It's a mystery, but I'll plant it and see what happens.