Female Kolomikta Kiwi (A. Kolomikta)

🥝 Kiwi VITAKOLA

Name: VITAKOLA
Type: Hardy kiwi / mini-kiwi
Botanical name: Actinidia kolomikta
Family: Actinidiaceae
Origin: European horticultural selection

🌱 The Plant

VITAKOLA is a variety of hardy kiwi, particularly interesting for regions with cold winters. It is a vigorous climbing plant that can reach several meters in height and thrives with a solid support: trellis, pergola, fence, or arbor.

It produces long stems that naturally twine around their support.

🥝 The Fruit

The fruits are small kiwis with smooth skin, unlike the classic brown, fuzzy-skinned kiwi. They are generally eaten whole, with the skin.

The flesh is green, juicy, and sweet, with a pleasantly fruity and slightly tart flavor.

👉 The fruits are particularly enjoyable to eat fresh directly from the garden. 😋

❄️ Hardiness

This is one of its great assets! 🌨️

The VITAKOLA kiwi is much more cold-hardy than traditional kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa). Once well established, it can withstand very low winter temperatures, making it suitable for Quebec gardens.

⚠️ However, young plants and especially young shoots can be susceptible to late spring frosts.

🌸 Flowering and Pollination

VITAKOLA is a female variety. To obtain fruit, a compatible male plant must flower nearby.

Flowering generally occurs in late spring, with small, very fragrant white flowers.

☀️ Growing Conditions

Hardy kiwi likes:

• ☀️ Sunny or slightly shaded exposure
• 🌱 Rich, deep, and well-drained soil
• 💧 Regular moisture, especially during growth and fruit formation
• 🪵 A very sturdy support, as the plant becomes heavy with age and fruit production

It is best to choose a location relatively sheltered from strong winds.

✂️ Pruning

Pruning is important to keep the plant productive and prevent it from becoming quickly invasive.

The goal is generally to maintain a permanent structure with fruiting branches that are regularly renewed.

🥝 Harvest

The small fruits generally ripen in the fall, often before the deep cold sets in.

An interesting feature: they can be harvested when still firm, then finish ripening after harvest.

⭐ Its Main Assets

VITAKOLA is primarily about:

🥝 Smooth, edible-skinned fruits
❄️ Excellent hardiness
🌿 A very vigorous climbing plant
🌸 Beautiful spring flowering
😋 Sweet and fragrant fruits
🏡 An interesting variety for cold climates

In summary: VITAKOLA is an excellent choice for anyone wishing to grow kiwi in a climate where traditional kiwi would be much more difficult to succeed. However, it requires plenty of space, a robust support, and a compatible male pollinator to yield a good harvest. 🌿🥝