I harvest the kiwi fruit, by hand, in October or November, just before a hard frost. The cooler weather helps concentrate the sugars in the fruit.
In our climate, kiwi fruit does not ripen on the vine, but it can be enjoyed for months if properly refrigerated.
So how do you ripen the kiwi fruit after it’s picked?
Put the kiwi fruit into an airtight container or bag, then into the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
The container / bag lessens dehydration and prolongs freshness. Hard kiwi can last in the refrigerator for 3-4 months, but should be checked regularly to prevent moisture build-up and rot.
After 2 weeks, remove the number of kiwis you wish to ripen from the refrigerator. You can speed up the ripening by exposing the kiwi fruit to ethylene; place the kiwi in a paper or vented plastic bag with an apple, banana or pear. Keep the bag at room temperature.
Test the kiwifruit regularly for ripeness by pressing with your thumb. The fruit is ripe if it yields to slight pressure.
We think it was planted about 25 years ago.
The vines are not self pollinating, they require separate male and female plants to produce fruit. Only the female plants bear fruit.
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