How To Grow Kiwi Fruit From Store Bought Seeds 🌱🥝

That fuzzy little kiwi sitting in your fruit bowl? Believe it or not, it can become a climbing vine that produces baskets of sweet, tangy fruit. It takes time and patience, but starting kiwi from seed is a magical, rewarding project.

Step 1: Collecting Kiwi Seeds

• Slice your ripe kiwi in half and scoop out the seeds.
• Place them in a bowl of water and swirl gently to separate the pulp from the tiny black seeds.
• Rinse them well through a fine strainer.
• Pat dry carefully with a paper towel.

👉 Tip: Each kiwi has hundreds of seeds, so you’ll have plenty of chances to get viable sprouts.

Step 2: Sprouting Seeds

Just like with papayas and goji berries, the paper towel trick works wonders here:

1. Spread the seeds on a damp paper towel.
2. Fold over gently and slip into a plastic baggie.
3. Keep in a warm, bright spot (65–75°F works best).
4. Open every couple of days to let in some air and check moisture.

Seeds usually sprout in 1–3 weeks. When you see little white roots, it’s planting time.

Step 3: Planting Kiwi Seedlings

• Fill small pots or cups with a light, well-draining potting mix. Add perlite or sand for airflow.
• Plant each seed about ¼ inch deep.
• Keep the soil moist but never soggy.
• Place pots in a sunny windowsill or under grow lights.

Step 4: Transplanting

When seedlings reach 3–4 inches tall and have a few sets of true leaves, they’re ready for larger pots or the garden.

• Spacing: Kiwis are vining plants, not trees. They need lots of space. Outdoors, give them 10–15 feet between vines.
• Support: Build a trellis, arbor, or strong fence right away. Kiwis are fast growers and will climb everything in sight.
• Soil: Rich, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH (around 6.0–6.5).

Step 5: Male vs. Female Vines

Here’s the tricky part. Kiwi plants are dioecious, meaning you’ll need both male and female plants for fruit.

• Male vines produce only pollen.
• Female vines produce flowers that turn into fruit (but only if pollinated).
• You won’t know which is which until they flower, usually in 3–5 years.

👉 Rule of thumb: Plant at least 5–6 seedlings to increase your chances of getting both genders.

Step 6: Caring For Kiwi Vines

• Watering: Deep, regular watering, especially during hot summers.
• Feeding: Fertilize every 4–6 weeks during the growing season with compost, balanced fertilizer, or organic feed.
• Pruning: Essential! Thin vines each winter to control growth and encourage fruit production. Kiwis can get wild if left alone.
• Climate: Hardy kiwi varieties survive colder zones, but standard fuzzy kiwis do best in warm, frost-free areas.

Step 7: Fruiting

Patience is key. Seed-grown kiwis usually take 4–7 years to bear fruit, sometimes longer. Once mature, they’ll reward you with baskets of juicy green or golden fruit each season.

🌿 Tips For Success

• Try growing hardy kiwi varieties (like Actinidia arguta) if you live in a cooler zone.
• Mulch around the base to keep roots cool and moist.
• Protect young vines from frost their first couple of years.
• Train vines early onto a sturdy support system—you’ll thank yourself later.

⚠ Cautions

• Kiwi vines get massive. Without pruning, they can overtake fences, sheds, and even trees.
• Fruit production requires both male and female plants (unless you grow self-fertile varieties like ‘Jenny’).
• Young plants are frost-tender. Sudden cold snaps can kill seedlings.
• Don’t overwater - soggy soil can rot the roots fast.

✨ With time and patience, those tiny black seeds from your kiwi snack can grow into vigorous vines dripping with homegrown fruit. It’s the long game, but the reward is sweet.