Hardy Kiwi in July: monthly care

Hardy kiwi requires disciplined pruning twice a year to keep growth manageable and encourage fruiting. The main pruning session takes place in December or January, when the vine is fully dormant. Pruning during active growth causes excessive sap bleeding, which weakens the plant. Use clean, sharp secateurs or loppers for thinner stems and a pruning saw for older, woody growth. In winter, remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches first. Hardy kiwi fruits on one-year-old wood and short spurs on older wood, so your goal is to establish a permanent framework of main stems and encourage fresh lateral growth. Cut back the long, whippy shoots (laterals) that grew the previous summer to about five or six buds from the main framework. This concentrates the plant's energy into fruit production rather than rampant leafy growth. Remove any weak or overcrowded laterals entirely to improve air circulation and light penetration. In July, carry out a summer prune to control vigour and improve fruit ripening. Shorten the current season's green shoots to five or six leaves beyond the last fruit, and remove any shoots that aren't fruiting back to a couple of buds. This opens up the canopy, allows sunlight to reach developing fruit, and prevents the vine from smothering its support or neighbouring plants. Male plants need less rigorous pruning—simply thin out congested growth in winter to maintain shape. Always wear gloves; the stems can be rough and the sap sticky.