  Actinidia deliciosa Seeds
Common Names: Kiwifruit, Chinese Gooseberry 
Actinidia deliciosa or kiwifruit is native to southern China, and has been declared the national fruit of that country. The fruit of Actinidia deliciosa is borne on a vigorous, woody, twining vine or climbing shrub reaching 9 m. The oblong fruits are up to 6.25 cm long. The russet-brown skin of the fruits is densely covered with short, stiff brown hairs. The flesh is firm until fully ripen; it is glistening, juicy and luscious. The color of the flesh is bright-green, or sometimes yellow, brownish or off-white, except for the white, succulent center from which radiate many fine, pale lines. The flavor is subacid to quite acid; it is suggested that it is similar to the flavors of the gooseberry or strawberry. In 1847, Specimens of the plant were collected by the agent for the Royal Horticultural Society, London. Cultivation spread from China in the early 20th century when seeds were introduced to New Zealand by Isabel Fraser, the principal of Wanganui Girls' College, who had been visiting mission schools in China. The seeds were planted in 1906 by a Wanganui nurseryman, Alexander Allison, with the vines first fruiting in 1910. People who tasted the fruit then thought it had a gooseberry flavour and began to call it the Chinese Gooseberry, but being from the actinidia family it is not related to the Grossulariaceae (gooseberry) family. The familiar cultivar Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward' was developed by Hayward Wright in Avondale, New Zealand around 1924. This is the most widely grown cultivar in the world. Chinese Gooseberry was initially grown in domestic gardens, but commercial planting began in the 1940s. In 1959, Turners and Growers named it, Kiwifruit, after New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi - brown and furry. Italy is now the leading producer of kiwifruit in the world, followed by New Zealand, Chile, France, Greece, Japan and the United States. Kiwifruit is still produced in its birthplace China, but China has never made it to the top 10 list of kiwifruit producing countries. In China, it is grown mainly in the mountainous area upstream of the  Yangtze River. It is also grown in other areas of China, including Sichuan. Kiwis have male and female plants, so you need at least one of each in order to have fruits. The bid amount is for 1 Seed Growing Instructions will be sent to your email. 
|
