Kiwi Plant Solissimo (self-fertile) - Actinidia chinensis

The Solissimo Self-fertile Kiwi, also known as Actinidia chinensis Solissimo, is a deciduous and vigorous twining climber. The plant is self-fertile, only one plant is needed to obtain an abundant harvest. The white flowers, turning orange at full bloom, are fragrant in May-June. The harvest of brown and hairy kiwis takes place in November. Their flesh is sweet, juicy, and rich in vitamin C. The foliage is also interesting, opulent and ornamental, dark green with a lighter underside. It is a plant to be trained on a solid support, in ordinary but fertile soil, in partial shade or semi-shade.

Actinidia chinensis Solissimo belongs to the Actinidiaceae family. It comes from Actinidia chinensis, native to central and western regions of China. This vigorous liana grows 3 metres (10 feet) per year under favourable conditions, reaching a height of 6 metres (20 feet) and a spread of 4 metres (13 feet). Its long stems can reach the thickness of a finger, forming a framework capable of breaking a fragile support. It bears large oval and entire leaves, dark matte green on top, lighter underneath, covered, like the stems, with small red hairs. The leaves are wide and ovate on sterile shoots, more rounded and heart-shaped on fertile shoots. From the third or fourth year of cultivation, flowers appear on the previous year's branches, grouped in clusters. Flowering takes place in May-June, in the form of fragrant flowers with wide cream-white petals turning orange, measuring 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, around a heart of fertile stamens. The fruits are large fleshy oval to elliptical berries, weighing about 60 grams, with a thin light brown skin covered with fine silky hairs. The flesh is green, with numerous oily seeds. The harvest extends from late October to late November. It is abundant and tasty. The yield is about 60kg per mature plant, after 10 or 12 years of cultivation. This kiwi is a very good source of vitamin C, vitamin E, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

Solissimo kiwi is a voracious plant that needs space to establish itself. It is necessary to provide a solid and large enough support to accommodate a plant that will be trained on a wall with a strong wire, a pergola, or a tree trunk. This plant is very hardy, but it should be installed sheltered from cold winds. Harvest the fruits when they are still green, they will ripen three weeks later. They keep well in a cool place at 5°C, in a cellar, for more than a month. The fruit can be enjoyed peeled and fresh, or mixed in an autumn fruit salad: pears, apples, Italia or Red Globe grapes, pineapple, for example, flavoured with dark rum and vanilla. They can also be used to make delicious jams and beautiful decorations on pies.

This new variety, resulting from a mutation, is a real breakthrough. Before the appearance of the Solissimo kiwi, it was necessary to plant at least 2 plants (1 male + 1 female) to harvest kiwis. There were indeed self-fertile varieties, but they produced very small fruits.