Our Process

Kiwifruit vines are generally resistant and can grow in various temperatures. To produce good quality fruit, vines require well-drained rich soil, wind protection, enough hydration year-round, and protection from autumn and spring frosts.

The wind is a significant obstacle to creating a kiwifruit orchard and producing high-quality fruit. Young and blossoming branches are readily destroyed, and most orchards require wind shelter in New Zealand. Kiwi vines require a sunny location to yield the most growth and fruit. Kiwi plants need well-drained soil since they are susceptible to root rot if kept damp.

Compacted soils, or soils with little drainage and high clay content, and/or low organic matter are generally unsuitable and will require considerable modification before being fit for kiwifruit production. Before acquiring the orchard lands, we like to have the go-ahead from the surveying professionals. That is why we rely on skilled land surveying firms that have provided excellence in their disciplines for years. In essence, selecting the right site is the first step in maximising orchard potential.

After evaluating our new orchard’s quality, we prepare for the plantation. As a licensed Zespri Grower, we follow Zespri’s Planting Plan. This well-thought-out strategy includes a site preparation plan and actions to mitigate biosecurity concerns such as possible pests, planting timetables, planting phases, and spacing requirements.

This guided plan aims to promote natural processes as much as possible while maintaining kiwifruit orchard productivity.

Both male and female kiwi plants are needed to produce a healthy harvest. Flowers are produced by the male plant, while the female plant produces the fruit. At least one male plant for every six female plants is considered the ideal ratio. The vines are also spaced 10 to 15 feet apart.

After the threat of frost has gone, we plant our fully formed cuttings early in the spring. The site should provide shelter from the winter sun and afternoon sun. Kiwi vines do well in full sun, but they are also quite vulnerable to damage from wind, frost, and hot, dry weather. Choosing a site that also allows for air circulation is crucial.

Beginning in the winter months of June through August, vine trimming marks the start of the New Zealand growing season. From September through November, vines start to grow anew. Bees help pollinate kiwi blooms around this time. The pollinated blossoms soon develop into berries. The berries grow rapidly in New Zealand’s summer, which lasts from December to February.

From March to May, the climate in New Zealand begins to cool. The harvest season starts then! The kiwifruits are meticulously selected, examined, checked, packed, and dispatched. Then the leaves start to fall off the vines, signalling the end of another growing season.