When one thinks of crops Alabama is known for growing, you will be sure to list cotton, soybeans, peanuts, corn, catfish, etc., but, in the upcoming years, you may be able to add kiwis to the list due to a number of new varieties patented by Auburn University. Now-retired Auburn University horticulture professor Dr. Billy Dozier spearheaded the research on kiwis in Alabama starting in 1985 at the Chilton County Agricultural Experiment Station. The varieties have been patented and are now for sale to anyone interested. They are perfect for anyone who wants to try their hand at growing something new or could even turn out to be a high-value specialty crop to the state and the southeastern region.
Kiwifruits are native to China and were originally known as the "Chinese Gooseberry." They were commonly used as an ornamental vine and not as much for their fruit. The vines can reach up to 25 feet, so they are grown on trellises to support the heavy growth. Tips for building structures to support the kiwifruits can be found on Gold Kiwi Group’s website
http://growaukiwi.info. The information found on their page is all based on their research done on the fruits over the last 28 years.
There are several varieties that have been patented. One variety is the green-fleshed, egg-shaped, fuzzy, "traditional" kiwifruit which has more of a sweet, but tangy taste. There are also a few yellow-fleshed varieties called "goldens"; they are slightly different with a sweet taste and a smooth skin. According to Dozier "no one has ever tried one and not liked it. It is not sour but has a sweet tropical flavor."
Dozier’s research started out focusing on the green-fleshed kiwis and was working on determining if subtropical fruits could be grown in Alabama as a commercial crop for fruit and vegetable producers. Kiwi research in Chilton County diversified in the early 1900s when they added the golden varieties to the research. The golden varieties were originally developed at the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences’ Institute of Fruit and Tea in China.
Wayne Bassett, left, on a fact-finding mission harvesting kiwi in New Zealand May 2012.
Wayne Bassett, owner of Beck’s Turf and The Wildlife Group in Macon County, said, regarding the gold kiwifruits, "As soon as I tasted the gold kiwifruit, I knew it would be a hit; it is sweet."
Bassett’s belief in the golden kiwifruit led him to work with Auburn’s Office of Technology Transfer so he could license the patented varieties and now he has the rights to sell the kiwifruit through his newly formed company, Gold Kiwi Group LLC.
The golden kiwifruit varieties from Gold Kiwi Group are the AU Golden Dragon, AU Fitzgerald and AU Golden Sunshine. The pollinators for these female plants are a variety called Hortkiwi Meteor. According to Bassett, one male will pollinate up to four females.
Since Alabama is not necessarily a "tropical" region, one might wonder how the kiwis are able to grow in Alabama, but Dozier said it is not a problem.
"If you are in a region where you are able to grow peaches, then you can grow kiwis," Dozier explained.
They need the same cold weather as peaches do each year, at least 300-400 chilling hours (below 45 degrees) to survive and about 1,000 chill hours to produce fruit. The kiwifruits have adapted well to our area.
The kiwi plants need sandy, well-drained soil; the vines do not do very well in clay. The soil pH needs to be around 6-6.5.
There are no known diseases that plague the kiwifruit vines. The only thing you have to treat for is scales which are sucking insects you prevent by spraying a coat of oil on the plant.
Kiwifruit was originally grown in China as an ornamental vine and not as much for its fruit. As you can see, it has beautiful blooms. Right, kiwi vines can reach up to 25 feet and need to be trellised, but they are easy to grow in your own backyard. You will need a least one male and one female plant.
As with most fruit, your most expensive operating cost is labor; vines have to be hand-pruned once during the dormant season (November through February) and at least twice during the growing season.
If you are going to have a commercial-scale operation, it is recommended you plant 340 kiwifruit vines per acre. About 4,000-6,000 flats of fruit can be harvested per acre. There are about seven pounds in a flat which equals out typically to 28-30 fruits in a flat.
If you would prefer to grow on a smaller scale, kiwifruit vines are easy to grow in your own backyard. Dozier recommends three or four plants. You must have at least one male and one female plant in order for them to produce fruit. You can order the plants and plant them in the late-winter to early-spring time. You can expect to see your first crop three to four years after planting.
"They are very easy for homeowners to grow," Bassett said. "We are looking for growers of all sizes from the commercial scale to the homeowner wanting one in their backyard."
There are several reasons you might want to join the "kiwi revolution." Not only could you make a profit by selling the fruit, kiwis are also known to be high in beta carotene, magnesium, potassium, polyphenols, and vitamins C and E. Dozier’s research compared the standard green-fleshed kiwi to the yellow-fleshed and found the yellow-fleshed kiwi has significantly higher cellular protection from free radicals. Kiwis have one of the highest nutrition densities which make them a good choice when choosing a fruit.
For information on purchasing Auburn-patented kiwifruit vines, contact Gold Kiwi Group at info@goldkiwigroup.com or at 1-800-288-4291.