Growing and Kiwi fruit harvest in Vancouver?

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by vicarious1, Sep 26, 2025.

  1. vicarious1

    vicarious1 Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Burnaby North on a slope facing south & a view :-)
    This is the first time I get Kiwi 6kg. With the two weeks of rain and cool weather I was concerned they may rot. So I harvested them.
    What's the best way to keep them? We have a rec room 18C at night 21C daytime for work from home.
    The little dots that fell from the top of the fruit are they seeds also? Or only the black dots inside?
    This is the fifth year they grow. We had to move them two years ago because the shade was bad for all our Kale underneath and only 6hrs sun per day.
    So our neighbors with lots of grape pergolas are hosting them now in full south sun.
    Any other advice on keeping them the best way. We don't have a fridge big enough to store the 6kg
    I saw this video of someone who grows them in New Westminster just a few miles away
    we are in North Burnaby

    Thank you very much for any advice and success on your Kiwi growth and harvest.
     

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  2. vitog

    vitog Contributor 10 Years

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    Location:
    Burnaby, Canada
    These look like fuzzy kiwis, which usually do not ripen on the vine in this area (North Burnaby). I harvest them as late as possible, usually in late November or early December, just before the first killing frost. The vines tolerate cool temperatures and rain very well; the leaves will only turn brown after they have been frozen. Even in December the fruits are still very firm and not ripe, but the nice thing about kiwi fruits is that they ripen well indoors at room temperature and will store for a long time in a cool basement. I keep mine in a cool room at one side of the basement; it is isolated and insulated from the rest of the basement and is mostly below ground level. The kiwi fruits here will usually keep until April, if they haven't all been consumed by then.

    My kiwi vines grow in a sheltered location, right on a south-facing wall. If your vines are not in a similar environment, they will probably be very unripe now and may not ripen properly indoors. However, you may have an earlier ripening variety. Do you know what it is? I've read that commercial growers harvest the fruits when the brix level is around 6.5% and then store them in a refrigerator. However, I get good results without refrigeration; and I see that the fellow in the video also does not refrigerate. You might want to experiment with some in a refrigerator, some in a basement or garage, and some left at room temperature. You can check for ripeness as in the video: squeeze the fruit gently. They are ripe when they are obviously soft.
     
  3. vicarious1

    vicarious1 Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Burnaby North on a slope facing south & a view :-)
    Thank you so much. These have grown full south on pergolas. Unfortunately my neighbor was keen to clear everything since the grapes are done. Our basement is under ground as we live on a hill. So I stored them there. Let's see how things goes. I will keep you posted.
    I can't recall the variety. I got them at Garden Works fine years ago. A male and female.
     

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