Preparing for kiwi plant rootstock ( part 1 )

Kiwi berries are edible fruits. The size of a large grape, similar to fuzzy kiwifruit in taste and internal appearance  with a thin, smooth green skin.

We have been farming kiwi since 2013 in small scale ( 100 plants only) . with successful kiwi farming in our location Nagarkot, we Kishan agro farm produce 2500 kg  kiwi minimum.

So now we have decided to share our knowledge in farming thru production of kiwi plants. 

To grow kiwi from seed we have followed following process, which may help you to grow your own plant in your home by your self.

Collecting Kiwi for seed.

We collected the mature and big size kiwi for seeds in fist week of February. In February all fruits are fully developed,  well grown and mature. This is the last harvest of kiwi in one season. kiwi which are not affected by fruits fly, hail stones and birds are selection process.

Preparing nursery bed

Now its time to prepare our nursery bed. We plough the site and removed all weeds, roots, stone and stumps. we mixed 1 part of compost with 2 parts of soil. Nursery beds are prepared 1-1.2 m wide, 3-4 cm tall. gap between each beds are 5-6 cm. length are not so important, but commonly 5 - 10 m. 

Water movement becomes uniform and drainage of excess water is very effective in nursery bed. so we can take higher percentage of seed germination. we are preparing in  green house, so temperature control also plays important roll in germinating seeds in late winter, which is most dry season of the year. 

alternatively people cover there nursery bed with polythene sheet to maintain humidity. but in both green house and nursery bed cover with polythene sheet can germinate seeds.

Removing sees from kiwi

Seeds of kiwi are very small so it was very difficult to separate seeds from fruits. so we had to create our own idea. Mature Kiwi are soft so we used spone to collect inner part of fruits. collected in large tray and washed with water until it was separated from its flesh. It is not so easy process. It took me very long time and effort. 

Time to put seeds in Nursery bed

Before seeds dry or before seeds dye, we had to put seeds in soil. Seeds are very tiny, carefully planted all seeds and cover with thin layer of soil. thin layer of soil helps to grow fast. seeds may decompose and there is less chance of seed germination and time consuming if  covered with thick layer of soil, as of my experience.  

Mulching is done after planting seeds in nursery bed. Mulching helps to keep soil moisture ( the total amount of water, including the water vapor, in an unsaturated soil.). This method is very important for the germination of seeds.

Now we Kishan agro farm have completed first step.

Waiting to germinate seeds. Watering our nursery bed maintain humidity in nursery. 

will share other steps in part 2

                                                                                                       ........... to be continue