Kiwi Plant Golden Delight (female) - Actinidia chinensis

The Golden Delight Kiwi (female), also known as Actinidia chinensis or golden kiwi, is a deciduous twining vine, both ornamental and delicious. It produces fuzzy golden kiwis that can be harvested from late October to late November. Their golden yellow flesh has a sweet, fragrant, and particularly sugary taste. This plant requires the presence of a nearby male counterpart, the Golden Delight Kiwi (male), in order to bear fruit. It wraps around its support, but needs to be trained. Blooming occurs in late spring, with cream-white fragrant flowers. This actinidia prefers rich, well-drained, and moist soils in a sunny to partially shaded location, sheltered from heavy frost. Some enthusiasts claim it is the most flavoursome of all kiwis.

Actinidia chinensis Golden Delight belongs to the Actinidiaceae family. It originates from central and western regions of China. This vigorous liana can grow up to 3 metres (10 feet) per year under favourable conditions, reaching a height of 5 metres (16 feet) and a spread of 6 metres (20 feet). Its long sinuous stems can become as thick as a finger, forming an interlacing structure that can break a fragile support. It bears large, elliptical to ovate, entire leaves with a matte green colour, covered with small red hairs, just like the stems. The leaves are wide and ovate on sterile shoots, and more rounded on fertile shoots. Starting from the third or fourth year of cultivation, flowers appear on the previous year's branches. Blooming occurs in May-June, with fragrant flowers having wide cream-white petals that turn beige, measuring 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, surrounding a cluster of sterile stamens. The fruits are large fleshy berries, oval to elliptical in shape, weighing about 60 grams, with a thin skin covered in fuzz. The flesh is yellow, like true Actinidia chinensis, and contains numerous oily seeds. Harvesting takes place from late October to late November. The yield is not very abundant, but of great taste. The average yield per mature plant is around 30 kg after 10 or 12 years of cultivation. Kiwi is a very good source of vitamin C, as well as minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

The golden kiwi is a voracious plant that needs space to establish itself. It is necessary to provide a strong and sufficiently large support to accommodate at least one female plant and one male plant, which can be trained on a wall with sturdy wire, a pergola, or two tree trunks. This plant is not very frost-hardy, so it should be planted in a sheltered location away from cold winds. Harvest the fruits while still green, as they will ripen three weeks later. They can be stored in a cool place at 5°C (41°F), such as a cellar, for over a month. The fruit can be enjoyed peeled and fresh, or mixed in an autumn fruit salad with pears, apples, Italia or Red Globe grapes or pineapple, for example, flavoured with dark rum and vanilla.