Kiwi Plant Morning Star (female) - Actinidia deliciosa

The female Kiwi Morning Star, in Latin Actinidia deliciosa is an original variety that produces golden fruits with yellow flesh and a sweet, non-acidic flavour. The fruits, with their thin skin covered in hair, are ovoid with a diameter of 3 to 4 cm and a length of about 6 cm. This female variety requires the proximity of a male plant to bear fruit, such as the cultivar Morning Star Male. Planting is best done in autumn or throughout the year, excluding the frost period, for a harvest from mid-September to the end of October, starting from the 4th or 5th year.

The Kiwi (Actinidia chinensis or deliciosa), also known as Chinese gooseberry, yang tao, or vegetable mouse, is the fruit of the Actinidia plant. It belongs to the Actinidiaceae family, just like its cousin the Kiwai (Actinidia arguta). Native to China, the kiwi is a vigorous climbing plant that can grow up to 3m per year under favourable conditions. This climbing plant should be trained on a solid support, such as a wall with sturdy wires, a trellis, a pergola, a tree trunk, or a fence. It can reach a height of 5m and a spread of 10m 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. Other varieties have either male or female flowers and require the presence of a plant of the opposite sex for pollination. One male plant can pollinate approximately 5 to 6 female plants. Only the female plants produce fruits. The Morning Star Female cultivar only bears female flowers.

The Kiwi Morning Star Female is hardy to -10°C, but it is sensitive to late frosts as the buds freeze at -5°C. Its foliage is deciduous and falls in autumn. The climbing stems bear large, ovate, and entire leaves, dark green on the upper side, lighter underneath, and covered with small red hairs, just like the stems. From the third or fourth year of cultivation, clusters of flowers appear in May-June on the previous year's branches. These are fragrant with broad petals, cream-white and 4cm wide. The female flowers have white stigmas.

The flowering is followed by the formation of large, fleshy, ovoid berries weighing 30 to 50 grams. The thin skin is golden and hairy for varieties derived from Actinidia deliciosa. The flesh is yellow, juicy, sweet, non-acidic, and contains numerous small black seeds. Kiwi is rich in vitamin C, fibre, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Harvesting is done in autumn, before the frost. The fruits can be picked even when they are still green, as they continue to ripen after harvest. They can be stored in a cool place at 5°C for over a month. Kiwi is ripe when it is soft to the touch. Place kiwis next to apples or bananas to accelerate their ripening. Once peeled, kiwi can be enjoyed on its own or mixed with other autumn fruits, used in jams, or used to decorate pies and certain savoury dishes.

To save space, plant a male plant at the base of a pole or a pylon: it will climb and grow without occupying too much ground space.