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kiwi or grape up a pergola
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Posted by mingwei1 z6MA (My Page) on Thu, May 25, 06 at 22:24
| Hello, we just had a pergola built, and this is my first time with vines besides climbing roses and clematis. Also first time with pergola. Any advice on kiwi (I'd like fruit, I think) or edible grape? It sounds like grapes attract bees, which is a downside for sure, also need spraying? definitely another downside. What about kiwis? do those have the same problem? Are they easy to train up the pergola posts with no trellis?
thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: kiwi or grape up a pergola
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| Kiwi can't support the weight of their own vines. You'll need to help them up the pergola. I would think 2nd year growth would get to the top. The vines, once on the pergola, will support the weight below it. You'll need a male and female for fruit. LOTS of vines with two! I have a 24 x 8 arbor on one side of my yard that is 70 percent covered (7 foot off of the ground) by 3 plants that are about 6 years old. The long hot and dry season here, coupled with my restrictions on the root system) have kept it from exploding with growth. I have to water daily from now until late September. Just a warning--they expire a lot of water. Don't plant somewhere that you'll need to keep dry all of the time. The fruit is yummy. The wife won't say anything but we both would say its not cost efficient at this point. We lost a third of our male last summer (very hot, very dry, and an extended Indian Summer clear into December). Our third year of fruit set resulted in about 3 cups of fruit surviving. This year's spring was so bizarre I have very little fruit set. Probably okay, since I need to get more vining growth for shade. Fun? You bet! Good fruit? Yes. Loads of work? Un-huh. |
RE: kiwi or grape up a pergola
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| I was thinking of this for my front to replace a very overgrown boxwood. I take it the catalogs claim of 100lbs of fruit a year was a little overstated? If you check back on this link let me know if your production ever improved. |
RE: kiwi or grape up a pergola
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- Posted by glib 5.5 (My Page) on
Thu, Dec 11, 08 at 21:07
| 100 lb is probably a good number, but only after years of waiting, and letting the vines sprawl. My hardy kiwis grow about 12 ft/ year. If you let a single plant go 48 ft in each direction before pruning, you'd get 100 lbs easily. |
RE: kiwi or grape up a pergola
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| We built a pergola last Spring and planted two hardy kiwis in February, a male and female. They are both now reaching the top of the pergola and we are hoping for fruit next year. They haven't needed any special training, just twine to keep them against the poles so they know where to grow. Stunning color this past fall as well! Bright, bright yellow leaves. And they do well in the mild climate here in Portland, OR. Good luck! |
Here is a link that might be useful: My urban edible landscape blog
RE: kiwi or grape up a pergola
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| wow I'm impressed - I planted male and female "hardy kiwis" last spring and have done everything "by the book" and pampered their every need and they were just babies by fall in my eyes... but maybe next year they'll take off like crazy. I'd say plant a hardy grape known for big leaves and good coverage. A good nursery catalog like Raintree is more exact in descriptions so you know what you're getting-and the staff can make suggestions. Grapes will produce less fruit and more growth with a little fertilizing. Honeybees won't be a problem. But any flowering plant will attract someone to pollinate it. Happy gardening. |
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