Duo of Yellow Kiwis 'Kiw'Happy' Male and Female

The Kiw’Happy yellow kiwi duo (Actinidia deliciosa) combines a male and a female plant, essential for successful pollination and a bountiful harvest. These vigorous kiwis thrive on a sturdy support around which they will entwine long, climbing tendrils. In spring, each plant produces small, fragrant, cream-white flowers. After 3 to 4 years of cultivation, the female plant will bear golden fruits with sweet, juicy flesh, whose flavour evokes a blend of honey and mango. They are harvested in October-November.

The duo consists of:

- 1 'Kiw'Happy' male plant, whose primary purpose is to pollinate the female plant

- 1 'Kiw'Happy' female plant, a variety with highly attractive and delicious golden-yellow fruits. Its large, oval fruits are slightly hairy. They have yellow flesh, unlike the green flesh of the botanical species. It offers an intense, sweet, and smooth flavour with a slight tangy note. These fruits are rich in vitamin C and are harvested from October onwards.

Kiw'Happy kiwis are horticultural selections. It is a vigorous, twining climber that can grow 2-3m per year under favourable conditions. This climbing plant will need to be trained on a sturdy support, such as a wall with robust wires, a trellis, a pergola, a tree trunk, or a fence. It will reach 4m in height and 3m in spread and requires pruning to control its growth.

Some varieties are self-fertile (with male and female flowers on the same plant) and can be planted alone. Others bear either male flowers (like the Kiw'Happy male) or female flowers (like the Kiw'Happy female) and require the presence of a plant of the opposite sex to enable pollination. Only female plants produce fruit.

Kiwi is very hardy, able to withstand temperatures down to -15°C, but it is sensitive to late frosts, as the buds freeze at -5°C. Its deciduous foliage falls in autumn. The stems bear large, ovate, entire leaves, dark matte green on top and lighter underneath, covered, like the stems, with small red hairs. Flowering occurs in May-June, on the previous year's shoots. The cream-white flowers are fragrant with broad petals. Male flowers have numerous yellow stamens, while female flowers bear white stigmas.

Kiw’Happy yellow kiwis should be planted in spring or autumn, avoiding periods of heatwave and frost. Place them in full sun, sheltered from cold winds, against a sturdy support such as a pergola, trellis, or taut wire. Ensure the male plant is positioned near the female plant (approximately 2 to 3m apart) to ensure good pollination.

They prefer rich, deep, moist, and well-drained soil, slightly acidic to neutral. Mulching at the base helps retain moisture in summer. These plants thrive in temperate climates and can withstand temperatures down to -15°C at peak, but winter protection for young plants is recommended. Allow a spacing of at least 3m between each kiwi duo to enable them to flourish fully.