We grow on the summer cottage varieties of actinidia argut
Of the Far Eastern species, actinidia kolomikta with bunches of sweet and sour fruits and decorative foliage is rightfully recognized as the most popular. Actinidia arguta will not decorate the garden with pink and white flashes, like its relative, but will give a harvest of miniature kiwi.
In comparison with the actinidia kolomikta, plants of this species are much more powerful and higher. Treelike lianas, reaching seven meters in height, live up to 70–90 years, starting from 5 years of age to supply the gardener with rather large fruits with sweet or pleasantly sweet and sour fruits.
A distinctive feature of actinidia arguta is abundant fruiting and excellent preservation of the ovary, which crumbles little even in unfavorable conditions. In addition, there are varieties that give fruits not only green, but also an unusual purple hue.
The list of varieties available for cultivation in Russian summer cottages today includes several dozen productive, winter-hardy varieties from domestic and foreign breeders.
Actinidia arguta Geneva (Geneva)
This late-ripening variety is well known to culture fans. Large, barrel-shaped fruits are ready for harvest in the first half of September, have a recognizable barrel-shaped shape and a weight of 5 to 8 grams.
Green-brown ovaries change color as they mature, becoming completely reddish. This American-bred actinidia arguta variety will comfortably grow and bear fruit in sunny areas, protected from wind and the danger of freezing during spring return cold weather. In winter, the plant is not afraid of frosts down to –30 ° С.
Due to the honey flavor and bright aroma, the fruits of the Actinidia Arguta Geneva, sweet with a pleasant sourness, will please the most demanding gourmets. The main thing is to harvest a bountiful harvest on time, otherwise the softened actinidia fruits may fall off.
The first ovaries on a vine are formed in the fourth year.
Actinidia arguta Issei (Issai)
Actinidia arguta variety of Japanese origin is interesting in that its plants depend little on the availability of special pollinator varieties. Thanks to the ability to self-pollinate, even from one female plant of actinidia arguta Issei, you can get an excellent harvest of sweetish, pleasant-tasting fruits ripening at the end of September. Their dimensions are not large and do not exceed 3-4 cm in length.
These are not the only benefits of culture. The first ovaries on plants do not appear several years after planting, but practically in the first year. This is due to the compactness of the liana, which grows in height only up to three meters and is perfect for small summer cottages.
The plant can withstand frosts down to –25 ° C, but in summer it does not tolerate drying out and the proximity of groundwater, this must be taken into account when planting and caring, as in the photo, for the argut actinidia.
Actinidia arguta variety Jumbo (Jumbo)
The variety of actinidia arguta, created by Italian breeders, stands out for its elongated, up to 6 cm, fruits of green or yellowish color, high yield and excellent preservation.The first ovaries on Jumbo actinidia vines appear 3-4 years after the seedlings are planted in the ground. Stable fruiting begins in another 2-3 years.
Large fruits weighing up to 30 grams are a kind of record holders among the cultivated varieties of this species. They are not as aromatic as that of Actinidia arguta Geneva, but they have an excellent sweet taste and keep fresh for a long time. Harvesting takes place in the second half of September.
In winter, tall plants reaching eight meters in height tolerate frosts down to –28 ° С without visible damage.
Actinidia arguta Kens Red (Ken's Red)
The greenish red with purple tint, the fruits of this New Zealand variety of actinidia arguta are very attractive. Despite the lack of aroma, due to the high density of berries and their good taste, this culture is a welcome resident of summer cottages and even industrial plantings.
Strong barrels - the fruits of the Kens Red argut actinidia ripen by the end of September, are up to 4 cm long, retain their consumer qualities for a long time, do not wrinkle during transportation and storage. Plants are quite frost-resistant and without shelter tolerate cold temperatures down to –25 ° C.
Actinidia arguta variety Kokuwa
Foreign breeders are actively working to obtain not only fruitful, but also self-pollinating varieties. The Japanese masters have created this kind of Kokuwa. For the formation of an ovary, plants do not need additional pollinators, which greatly simplifies planting and caring for the actinidia arguta, as in the photo it regularly brings a mass of medium-sized edible fruits with a lemon aroma.
Harvesting begins in mid-September, and when the berries are removed, it is imperative to prune the vines, removing poorly ripened, old, damaged shoots, as well as branches that interfere with the airing of the crown.
The shoots twist, so the plants can be used not only as a fruit crop, but also as a means of landscaping gazebos, terraces, for zoning a garden with trellises.
Actinidia Argut Purpurna Sadov (Purpurna Sadowa)
One of the most famous actinidia varieties Arguta was received by Ukrainian enthusiasts and today it is grown not only in their homeland, but also in Russia, in the near and far abroad.
The highlight of the variety is the original purple color of the fruit and their pulp, which gave the name to the fruit crop. But color is not the only merit of the actinidia argut Purpurn Sadov. The fruit has an excellent sweet and sour taste, attractive aroma and juicy flesh hidden under the edible skin.
Fruiting begins in the third year, the harvest is carried out in the first decade of October. With the right place for planting and leaving, actinidia arguta, as in the photo, consistently grants a harvest of beautiful fruits up to 4 cm long. In winter, plants do not freeze at temperatures down to -25 ° C.
Actinidia argut VitiKiwi (VitiKiwi)
A self-fertile variety of actinidia arguta, which has proven itself well in private gardens and in industrial cultivation. Without a neighborhood with pollinator varieties, actinidia argut Viti Kiwi bears abundant fruit, providing the gardener with beautiful, regular oval-shaped green fruits with thin skin and tasty juicy pulp.
The peculiarity of the berries of this variety is the frequent absence of seeds inside the pulp, which even more attracts the attention of gourmets.
The variety grows well, therefore, in the fall, after harvesting the fruits, the plants are necessarily cut off, cutting the crown and removing the growth that has not had time to mature.
Actinidia argut Weiki (Weiki)
The German-bred actinidia arguta variety is famous as an excellent pollinator for other self-sterile varieties, and a source of tasty, round-oval medium-sized fruits.
The female plants of Veiky's actinidia arguta are very productive. And their fruits not only bring joy to gourmets and adherents of healthy eating, but also to aesthetes. On a green background, a bright red-brown blush, which forms on berries turned to the sun, looks very decorative.The stalks of green leaves are also purple or reddish.
Actinidia arguta of this variety is excellent for Russian conditions, since it is not afraid of frosts down to –30 ° С.
Actinidia arguta Pineapple
Among the varieties of domestic selection, the most often mentioned is the Pineapple argut actinidia with oval, sour-sweet fruits ripening in October. The name of this variety owes to the exquisite fruity aroma that spreads around, one has only to cut the thin, edible skin.
Plants are extremely hardy, unpretentious and require regular sanitary pruning from the gardener, as well as frequent, especially in the hot season, watering.