Kens Red Hardy Kiwi

Kens Red Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta 'Ken's Red')

Kens Red Hardy Kiwi is a vigorous hardy kiwi selection prized for smooth, elongated fruit with deep red skin and rosy red flesh; glossy foliage races over arbors and trellises, delivering sweet, aromatic harvests from late summer to fall.

Distinctive Features

Striking Fruit: Red-skinned, red-fleshed kiwis with rich, sweet flavor and edible skins; High Vigor: Dense, fast growth creates a lush green curtain on sturdy supports.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun for best flowering and sweetness; light afternoon shade in hot-summer regions.
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained loam enriched with organic matter; avoid waterlogged sites.
• Water: Keep evenly moist during establishment and fruit swell; do not allow prolonged drought.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9.
• Mature Size: Vines 15 to 25 ft or more with support.
• Bloom Time: Late spring; fruit ripens late summer to fall depending on climate.
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic, about 5.0 to 6.5.

Ideal Uses

• Arbor or Pergola: Creates edible shade and a colorful fruit display.
• Trellis or Fence: Trains into a productive privacy screen.
• Edible Landscape: Ornamental foliage and vivid fruit for backyard orchards.
• Wildlife-Smart Siting: Position where fruit can be netted from birds.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deeply soak when the top 1 to 2 in are dry; increase frequency during flowering and fruit swell.
• Pruning: Winter prune to renew fruiting spurs on 1-year wood; summer tip and thin vigorous shoots for light and airflow.
• Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with a balanced fertilizer; avoid excess nitrogen that pushes rank growth over fruiting.
• Mulching: Apply 2 to 3 in organic mulch to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping it off the crown.
• Notes: Female vine that requires a compatible male A. arguta nearby for pollination; provide stout, long-term support and protect young shoots from cats.

Why Choose Kens Red Hardy Kiwi?

• Unique Color: Red skin and flesh stand out in the garden and kitchen.
• Sweet, Edible Skins: Snackable fruit with no peeling needed.
• Cold-Hardy Vine: Reliable production in cool climates with sun and pruning.
• High Coverage: Fast-growing foliage for shade and screening.

Plant in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil, add a male pollinizer, and train on a stout support for abundant, vividly colored kiwifruit.