I think we laugh more since we’ve moved rural. We may have gone slightly mad, and while that is up for debate, there is plenty to giggle about. The Kiwi way?
Like school kids we explore the backyard like it’s the first time. The seasons are bright and clear and every day shows us something new: a blossom, a new bud, a new bird song or critter squeal our ears are yet to get accustomed to. We’ve even discovered a new plant we didn’t know existed in the garden. Several.
The latest revelation was the kiwifruit. Ten months in our new rural home (and counting), we recall our previous summer – bemused by a very robust kiwifruit vine with ample flowers and bees, with no sign of fruit. Meh. Just our luck, we thought.
So it was pruned vigorously this winter, as we did with the more well behaved fruiters.
At this ‘pruning time’ we discovered there was another possible kiwifruit vine on the fence line that had been hidden in an overgrown nook. Half eaten by our friendly neighbouring cows the plant had adopted its approach to survival and had entwined itself in the nearest tree. For several years! Was it a kiwi? You bet your life on it. Kiwifruit were in bountiful supply albeit hanging some five metres in the branches above us. Yes, there are male and female kiwifruit too. Ahh, we are learning still.
Out came the extra, extra long extendible loppers and a handful of delicious kiwi were caught and released into my kitchen.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Birds and the Bees of Kiwifruit
Kiwifruit have genders and you will really only know which is which when it starts flowering, so I have since found out. The male is a pollen producer and the female vine will set fruit, so the make up of the blossoms are different. Makes sense after attending a health class or two in high school.
Like staring cross-eyed into a 2D screen trying to see a 3D image – once you’ve seen the difference, you’ll be an expert.
One distinctive feature of the female kiwifruit vine will be her flowers – sticky stigmas (similar to a male) but with a secondary ‘layer’ – right white ‘ovaries’ at the base of the flower too. While looking alien-like, the striking centrepiece will indeed morph into your harvested kiwifruit, once pollinated. Oh how I wish I had two photos to show you. I will definitely update this blog this season to show you side-by-side!
The male counterparts will have a vibrant yellow centre with pollen bearing anthers. Just one layer of lovely long arms. Their job is to attract the pollinators to then service the female kiwifruit vines.
So one giggling discovery has turned into an educational learning. I thought I’d share it as I can’t be the only one who has wondered about this delicious fruit bearing vine.
To be sure the girl doesn’t run away on us this season, we spent a mad day creating a clearing and my Englishman built a trellis for it to grow along – away from the cows and within reasonable reach to train the branches. I expect kiwifruit this year I can reach, and plenty of it!
