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Wilkinsons have got a Kiwi for £3 I think, is there anyway I can tell if it's self-fertile or would I have to buy two to be on the safe side?

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Bex

Not sure , but I'm seriously thinking about buying a plant this year.

We were looking at some in a garden centre yesterday. it looks like there are 2 main varieties- normal and dwarf. Apparently the normal grow huge- spreads out like a vine.
Even the dwarf get pretty big.
I'd like to find out about rootstock/ height/ pollination too. Although I got the impression they are self fertile - how on earth could anyone accommodate 2 'normal' sized ones in a typical sized garden.
I feel a Google coming on!!!!

Kiwi's need a mammy and a daddy plant to fruit. There are different varieties which often, like say apples, bloom at different times and you need to know what variety you have to find a pollination partner. You also need to know what gender you are buying so as to get the other. Sorry, but true.

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Why didn't Noah just swat those 2 greenflies?

oh dear!!...I wonder if that's why so few peeps grow them- I was surprised to see they're quite happy to grow in the UK!

I thought you could get 'self-fertile' varieties of kiwi, isn't Jenny self fertile?

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Bex

Jenny and Solo are both self fertile (I am sure there are others) - does it say the variety on the box?

... and that's why they're only £3 - because they don't come with full information & growing instructions Like, they take 5 years to fruit, you can't just have one, and they can grow higher than your house! It makes me so cross

Anyway, this may help: Kiwi Fruit Bushes - Fruit Expert (UK)

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~ "I would rather do a good hours work weeding than write two pages of my best; nothing is so interesting as weeding" ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

I promise not to mention the rather excellent Search function again. Feel free to slap me if I do

It doesn't Jilly

Thanks for the info TS. I guess I'll give Kiwi a miss - shame my son loves kiwi fruit.

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Bex

Jenny & Solo retail for about £13 each, so the Wilko ones won't be those, sadly. I'm feeling a bit inclined to go and complain to Wilko (and Aldi, Lidl and QD) about the poor labelling.

After all, it's no good planting an un-named kiwi and waiting 5 years or more for the thing to fruit, for it to turn out to be male after all.

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~ "I would rather do a good hours work weeding than write two pages of my best; nothing is so interesting as weeding" ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

I promise not to mention the rather excellent Search function again. Feel free to slap me if I do

I totally agree with TS and wouldnt even be tempted to buy it.

Agree fully with you there 2sheds!
I've also found an Isacc ( Issai) which is self fertile. Apparently it's smoothed skinned.
It looks like self fertile produce smallnless pollinated by a neighbouring male plant. The males can be pruned hard back to 3' high by 2' wide as only a few flowers are needed to pollinate a huge female.

I'd pay the £12 or so for exactly what you want- maybe a birthday pressie for your son bex?- it might make him interested in gardening!
They do need planting by the end of Mach...ooohh..that's when MY birthday is!!!!!

Victoriana Nurseries 'do' Jenny. - £14.95 plus shipping. My answer was for the Wilko's one. TS is right, it is very annoying of them not to tell you what you are getting. Last year I saw some 5 ft. apples, pears and plums in there - but no varieties mentioned let alone root stocks. Ridiculous.

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Why didn't Noah just swat those 2 greenflies?

My son is already interested in gardening, so far he's got Strawberries, a plum tree and some raspberries, last night we bought a blackberry and a grapevine - do you notice the fruit theme. He's not really into veg although he wants a go at melons and pumpkins.

A garden centre not far from me has got a Jenny at £7.95 so if I do go the kiwi route then I think I'll pop in there. It is mad that Wilko do not give varieties on anything that they sell.

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Bex

I emailed Wilko and got this reply:

"I am sorry you have not been satisfied with the level of information included with this item (kiwi plant). It is a fair point that you have raised.

However, I can advise that the variety we sell is called Jenny and is self pollinating."

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~ "I would rather do a good hours work weeding than write two pages of my best; nothing is so interesting as weeding" ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

I promise not to mention the rather excellent Search function again. Feel free to slap me if I do

Wow TS. That is remarkable news. On my way to Wilko's.

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Why didn't Noah just swat those 2 greenflies?

Bought one 2 years ago in Wilks & it said it was self fertile but I can`t remember the variety. The first year it grew well but snapped off in a storm. Last year we managed to train it right round the roof of the summerhouse and as it has red stems and furry leaves it looks very decorative. i just keep my fingers crossed that it will flower one day but meanwhile it is an attractive plant.

That's really good news...was well worth the email!
Perhaps they'll label the others better in future?


excellent value then at £3!

Yes, I told them to brace themselves for a sellout

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~ "I would rather do a good hours work weeding than write two pages of my best; nothing is so interesting as weeding" ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

I promise not to mention the rather excellent Search function again. Feel free to slap me if I do

This is fantastic news. Thanks for taking the time Two Sheds.

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Bex

No trouble at all. I wanted to know!

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~ "I would rather do a good hours work weeding than write two pages of my best; nothing is so interesting as weeding" ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

I promise not to mention the rather excellent Search function again. Feel free to slap me if I do

WOW - thanks TS for the info and to think I nearly missed it :-(

Wilkinsons tomorrow without fail, I hope they have one left :-)

That's great news bought one last week and was wondering exactly what variety it was.

I was under the impression that the "self-fertile" varieties are basically "family trees" with a male and female grafted together.
If you aren't careful with pruning, you may prune-off one or other of the varieties and then won't get fruit (unless a neighbour has one!).

I don't have much regard for the cheap offerings at discount stores. The lack of accurate information is a sign of trouble.
They're cheap for a reason - and the reason is that they are often rejects from major nurseries. Perhaps they got mis-labelled or perhaps some work-experience kid grafted the wrong variety.
Are they certified as virus and disease-free?
There are many people who've bought an apple and it produced pears.
There are others who bought a Cox and got a Bramley.
Yet others may fail to grow at all.

I advise buying from a reputable nursery. It costs more, but you get what you pay for.

I went to Wilko's this a.m. having failed to get a kiwi last week. I didn't bother, and that was before reading FBs contribution above. There are no details of anything on the box and the plant itself didn't look too healthy (they just slide out, it's more sleeve than box). I got the gut feeling that it wasn't a happy plant. But I did buy a cranberry for £3 which looked far better.

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Why didn't Noah just swat those 2 greenflies?

Ooh lucky thing!Our nearest one didnt have anything like that or I'd have snapped it up (not literally LOL)

Found a photo & wil try to post it. This was July last year. By september it had gone all the way round the roof.

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Finally got to Wilkinsons today, no Kiwis left but I did get the last two Blueberries, I wonder what variety they are? Must email customer services.