Actinidia kolomikta

Habitat

Exposition

Plein soleil ou mi-ombre

Humidité

Humidité moyenne.

Sol

Tous sols.

pH

Sol acide ou calcaire

Rusticité

Zone 4

Habitat originel

Coniferous woodlands and hedges in mountains throughout Japan[58, 126].

Origine géographique

E. Asia - China, Japan, E. Siberia.

Comestibilité

• Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use [1, 3, 105, 183].
• Sweet and agreeable [1, 74].
• It contains up to 5 times the vitamin C of blackcurrants [74].
• The fruit is up to 2cm in diameter [198].
• It contains a number of small seeds, but these are easily eaten with the fruit [K].
• Jeunes feuilles - cuites [105, 177].
• Used as a potherb or added to soups [183].

Culture

• Prefers a sound loamy neutral soil [11, 200].
• Succeeds in semi-shade but full sun is best for fruit production [200].
• Another report says that the plant prefers semi-shade [160].
• Prefers a sheltered position [200].
• When grown in a sunny position the leaves normally develop a strong variegation [219].
• Prefers a neutral soil, plants become more variegated when they are grown in a limy soil [200].
• Very cold resistant, dormant plants are hardy to at least -30°c but new growth in spring can be cut back by late frosts [74, 160, 200].
• Plants grow well on a wall and can also be grown into trees [1].
• Cats are very fond of this plant and can damage it by scratching it etc [1, 3, 200].
• A very ornamental plant[1], there are some named varieties that have been selected for their edible fruit [183, 200].
• The form most often cultivated in this country is a male and it is quite possible that all the plants grown here have been developed from a single clone [219].
• Often confused with the closely related A. polygama, but it can be distinguished by its leaves which are heart-shaped at the base whilst those of A. polygama are tapered [219].
• Fruits are produced on second year wood or on fruit spurs on older wood[126], any pruning is best carried out in the winter [219].
• The flowers are sweetly scented [184].
• This is a climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around branches etc [200].
• Les plantes de ce genre sont notamment résistantes aux armillaires (champignons) [200].
• Dioïque .
• Vous devez planter des plants males et femelles si vous souhaitez obtenir des graines .

Propagation

• Graines - semez au printemps sous serre [133].
• It is probably best if the seed is given 3 months stratification[113], either sow it in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in November or as soon as it is received .
• Fresh seed germinates in 2 - 3 months at 10°c, stored seed can take longer [133].
• When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter .
• When the plants are 30cm or more tall, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts [K].
• Most seedlings are male [126].
• The seedlings are subject to damping off, they must be kept well ventilated [113].
• Cuttings of softwood as soon as ready in spring in a frame [K].
• Boutures de bois mi-mûr, Juillet/Août sous chassis .
• Very high percentage [113].
• Cuttings of ripe wood, October/November in a frame .