Gina,
Your setup for seedlings is much better than was mine.
I will try my english, story goes:
2001. I noticed 2 backyards (in Sisak) having pair of kiwis growing there (one male and one female only - that plants are 15-20 years old by now and doing well). I saw never kiwi 'in person' before. I was amazed with the beauty of leafs (dark green leather like appearance) and shade they do... shade seemed better than one under the walnut tree.
2002. Winter coming to end...did some googling...gone to fruit store...seeds planted in a pot...waiting...
Germination took about month...looked like forever to me...finaly something tiny showed up. I was amazed.. so tiny, tiny and silky thing will became mighty plant I saw ... or is that some weed maybe
Gone to plant store...they were selling 6-packs (5 females and male) only, not wanting to sell just 1+1. Whole pack was too expensive for me and I thought I have no place for all of them...
I gone nut.
Gone to one kiwi owner, ask for cutting...he pruned kiwi already, several days before...some cuttings were still on the ground, took some and stick them in the ground on the north side of the house...more seeds planted there too...
Cuttings did not survive summer, seedlings were OK.
Inground seedlings moved to pots in autumn. Year ended with 15-20 seedlings in pots.
2003. Spring, found a way to order plants from nursery - I knew that some of my neighbours,friends,relatives will want some too so I ordered 3 pairs. They grabed them all, and most of my seedlings
Seeds planted at the north side of the house. Tried with cuttings - failed in summer again.
I planted 3 seedlings near the fence, 2 at SE corner, 1 at east side.
BTW:
Ordered plants arrived without marks so I had to learn how to distinguish genders. What people said to me is:
Females leafs are more heart-like.
Male has more pelages (I hope it's correct word [pile, hair...]) on trunk and leafs then female and its color gives more redish appearance.
2004. Spring, east side kiwi died and replaced with new seedling. One planted at west side. I did that too early, frost catched them but they regrowed.
4 kiwi pairs ordered this time, marks requested. I got plants in the summer, roasted! At least they had marks
2 female and 1 male survived, kept in pots since spring.
Two kiwi supporting systems built, T-shape on the east and pergola on the west side of yard.
2005. Spring, east side and west side kiwi frozen by the last frost, they regrowed again, growing like a 'mad' this time.
3 survived grafted kiwis planted, 1 female under trellis, 2 under pergola, female under pergola died that summer, her roots was coiled like a rope in the pocket.
I gave away all my unused seedlings, 7 planted kiwis should be more than enough.
Then amasing surprise in the late spring, I found about 5 cm tall kiwi growing on the north side of the house. It had quite redish appearance (male?) so I moved it under the trellis.
2006. I bought female kiwi at local plant store (now they are not insisting on 6 packs, eh) and have planted it under pergola.
Female kiwi under trellis had a few flowers.
2007. All 8 kiwis (5 seedlings, 3 grafted) looks good, I'm expecting first fruits on the trellis this year.
CATS - Cat loves to sharpen claws on kiwi trunk!!!!!
My sister has one grafted kiwi pair, planted 2003. She also has a cat which did incredible trunk damage to both kiwis last year. Fortunately, both kiwis have sprout below the injuries.
I cut injured males trunk and recomended her cutting of females trunk too, she didn't allowed that because of 150-200 flowers on it.
Male didn't flowered yet.
Trunks are now protected.
they didn't get watered enough..
