When to plant hardy kiwi in Port Townsend, WA

Plant hardy kiwi vines in Port Townsend Mar 15 – May 3.

Moderate Plant potted vines

Difficulty: Moderate
Sun: Full sun to light shade
Spacing: 10 to 15 feet apart
Planting depth: Same depth as in the pot
Frost: Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest: First fruit in three to five years

Why these dates

Port Townsend's typical last spring frost is March 1. In the west-side valleys, the soil is usually ready for hardy kiwi around March 15.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

How to grow hardy kiwi in Port Townsend

Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant hardy kiwi vines Mar 15 – May 3, 10 to 15 feet apart. Same depth as in the pot.
Plant one male for up to eight females unless you grow Issai. Build a strong arbor or T-bar trellis. Prune hard in winter and again lightly in summer to tame the vines.
Harvest: Pick in September when a few fruits soften on the vine, then ripen the firm ones at room temperature or store them in the fridge for weeks.

Key numbers

3–5Years to fruit
1 per up to 8 femalesMales needed
SeptemberHarvest
Late spring frostBiggest risk

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Males, females and Issai

Hardy kiwi plants are either male or female. Only females bear fruit, but they need pollen from a male that blooms at the same time, so plant one male, such as Meader, for up to eight females like Ananasnaya or Ken's Red. Nurseries label plants by sex because you can't tell them apart until they flower.

Issai is self-fertile, so a single vine can fruit on its own. It's smaller and less vigorous than other hardy kiwis, which suits small gardens, but it's also a bit less cold-hardy.

A strong support and regular pruning

Hardy kiwis are enormous, vigorous vines that can grow 20 feet in a season. They need a sturdy arbor, pergola or T-bar trellis built before planting; a light trellis will collapse under a mature vine.

Fruit grows on new shoots that sprout from last year's wood. In winter, cut back the previous summer's growth and remove tangled, old or weak canes. Then in summer, trim long, whippy shoots that aren't bearing fruit to keep the vine manageable. Young vines can be attractive to cats, so a wire cage around the base the first year helps.

Frost, harvest and storage

The dormant vines are very cold-hardy, but tender new shoots and flower buds are killed by late spring frost. Avoid low spots where cold air settles, and cover young vines on frosty spring nights. A vine that loses its first flush of shoots usually regrows but won't fruit much that year.

Pick in September when a few fruits soften on the vine. The firm ones ripen at room temperature in a few days or keep for weeks in the refrigerator, so you can ripen small batches as you go.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Port Townsend, WA?

Typically March 1. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by March 23. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Port Townsend.

Is it too late to plant hardy kiwi in Port Townsend?

The spring planting window runs through May 3. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer. Fall planting also works well here.

How long until I can pick hardy kiwi?

First fruit in three to five years. Pick in September when a few fruits soften on the vine, then ripen the firm ones at room temperature or store them in the fridge for weeks.

Do you need a male and female hardy kiwi?

Yes, for most varieties. Plant one male for up to eight females. Issai is the exception: it's self-fertile and fruits on its own.

Can you eat hardy kiwi skin?

Yes. Hardy kiwis are grape-sized and fuzzless, with smooth, thin skin you eat along with the fruit. They taste like a sweet, intense version of a grocery-store kiwi.

Why isn't my hardy kiwi fruiting?

Young vines often take three to five years to start. Other common causes are a missing male plant, a late frost that killed the flower buds, or a male plant that blooms at a different time from the females.

Also plant in Port Townsend around the same time

Planting dates for hardy kiwi in nearby areas

Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA Apr 1 – May 20
Forks, WA Apr 1 – May 20
Port Angeles, WA Mar 15 – May 3
Sequim, WA Mar 24 – May 12
Long Beach and Ilwaco, WA Apr 1 – May 20
Portland, OR Mar 15 – May 3

Full planting calendar for Port Townsend · Hardy kiwi in every city