How to grow Kiwi vines in the Philippines

Hello! I've always been amazed by this fuzz coated egg-like fruit called the kiwi. I've always thought that these grew in the colder regions of the earth but after researching, to my surprise, these amazing are local to the east asian region. It likes the sun SO much. But growing it from seeds is quite hard but can be rewarding (as I am yet to know).

I started my Kiwi "green house" on the 22nd of January 2015. They germinated on the 1st of February 2015. That was quite fast looking back, but the wait felt like forever! I could not wait to see my little babies sprout. By Feb 1, most of the seeds already had roots, what looks like stems, and leaves about to escape the seed husk. I wasn't able to take a picture then but the picture below was taken on the 9th of Feb 2015.

Kiwi vines are dioecious, so you will need a male and a female plant. One male can fertilize upto NINE FEMALES! Deyum boy!

(@ 19 days old)

KIWI GERMINATION/ GROWING

Here is a list of things you will need:

1) Paper towel (or tissue)

2) Any transparent plastic container (I used an old container of take-out noodles)

3) Strainer

4) Kiwi fruit!

5) WATER!

6) Small container (I used the Icecream container from selecta)

7) Transparent plastic lid or clean wrap 

8) Rubber band

Here's the procedure:

DISCLAIMER: The pictures used in the "Here's the procedure" does not belong to me. I was not able to document my seed extraction so I am just using pictures taken from google.

SEED EXTRACTION

1) slice your kiwi into quarters.

2) Remove the white core and try to get as many seeds as you can. You can eat the left over pulp :)

PULP REMOVAL

3) Put your seeds in a strainer and rinse with running water. 

    IMPORTANT: Make sure you remove ALL the pulp that is in contact with the seeds. The pulps have chemicals that prevent the seeds from germinating.

GERMINATION STATION

4) After you have thoroughly rid the seeds of the pulp put them in a paper towel or tissue paper and dampen it.

5) Press gently to squeeze out excess water.

6) Fold the paper towel or tissue paper so that the seeds are covered. Yous should still be able to see the seeds thou.

7) Put the paper towel with the seeds in the plastic container.

8) Shut the container tight.

9) Expose the container daily until two leaves have emerged.

10) Once two leaves have emerged, they are now ready to be potted.

POTTING

11) Make sure to use SOIL WITHOUT FERTILIZER. Kiwi roots easily burn from nitrogen. I used regular earth you buy from the nearest garden place. It cost me Php30.00 for a sack.

12) Place the soil in the container.

13) Gently remove seedlings from the tissue base. The roots are very sensitive so try to maneuver VERY CAREFULLY. Cut the tissue paper as needed.

14) Water regularly. Kiwi seedlings love water :)

CURRENT KIWI STATUS

Out of around 50 that germinated. I chose 18 of the best. But unfortunately I bought bad soil (I'm not being a sore gardener they were really bad) which had A LOT of rice husks and did not really have a lot of soil which caused the water to leak out faster with not enough time for the plants to absorb. After recovering from a brief moment of depression, I bought new soil from a different garden place. This time it was all soil :D But another test was about to come. I forgot to water them in the afternoon since the sun is hot right now and the soil dries up fast. when I came to look at them, all but two died. Now the two are planted in the same container but are under my room light. I really hope they survive :(

I will post updates... Probably tomorrow! Till then, come drought come heavy rains, happy planting :D