The kiwifruit was first known as "Chinese Gooseberry". It got its new name from the kiwi bird, one of the national symbols of New Zealand.
The kiwi fruit is a fuzzy brown egg-shaped fruit with green flesh. This page provides some basic information on kiwifruits, together with photos, proverbs and a recipe.
| Scientific name: | Actinidia deliciosa |
| Family: | Actinidiaceae |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Common names: | English: Kiwifruit, Chinese Gooseberry, Vine pear, Wood berry |
| Origin: | China |
| Distribution: | Main production of kiwi fruits is in: Italy, New Zealand, Chile, France, Greece, Japan, Iran, United States, Canada and Cambodia. |
| Evergreen or deciduous: | |
| Flowers: | Individual kiwi plants are either male or female. Female plants bear fruits but only if the flowers were pollinated by a male plant. |
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| Fruits: | Kiwi fruit is an edible berry with slightly tart green or golden fresh. The flesh contains with rows of small, black, edible seeds. The fruit has a fuzzy light brown skin and an oval egg shape. Fruits are 5-8 cm long and 4.5 to 5.5 cm in diameter. Kiwifruit is a rich source of vitamin C. |
| Climate and weather: | Kiwi fruits prefer a temperate climate with sufficient summer heat. |
| Pollination: | Pollination by bees. But many bees are needed as kiwi flowers are not very attractive for bees. Producers can artificially pollinate by collecting pollen from male flowers and blowing it over the female flowers. |
| Height: | Kiwi vines are commercially grown on sturdy support structures. |
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| Pruning: | Just like grapevines, kiwifruit vines require a lot of pruning. |
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(Well, it's not really a proverb. Who know a real kiwi proverb?)