kiwi flower drop

[otorongo]

I got my kiwi vine in January this year and planted it against a SW-facing fence.

The flower buds started opening about a week ago, and within a few days it was all covered in white blossom.

Now I see more and more flower 'petioles' (or whatever they're called) with no flowers on them, and fallen-off flowers on the ground. Would anyone know what's causing this disaster please? I don't want to end up with no fruit

Edit: We had 2 frosts in April, when the flower buds had already set. Some buds dropped immediately, others stayed on the vine. Could this flower drop now be a delayed consequence of those frosts 2 months ago?

[kiwiman]

My Kiwi has taken 4 years to actually flower, (Jenny variety) and the flowers seem to be ok at this point, only recently having opened. Is it just the petals that have fallen or the whole of the flower, if it's just the petals then this is normal, as the flowers are pollinated and the fruits set.

[otorongo]

The whole of the flower. I'll take a picture and post on here when I get a chance.

They told me at the nursery the vine had fruited last year.

Someone suggested lack of pollination somewhere else, but I think the flowers wouldn't fall off like that, they would just shrivel and die. Now my main suspect is something wrong with the soil... perhaps too alkaline or lacking some nutrients?

[veggiechicken]

The flower buds on my Jenny kiwi haven't opened yet.

[otorongo]

8 June


22 June




Flower heads on the ground


It looks like it's too late now and this season is lost, but I'd like to prevent this disaster from repeating in the future. Any help would be appreciated.

[otorongo]

The flower buds on my Jenny kiwi haven't opened yet.

As you can see mine had already opened on the 8th June... Apparently London is much warmer.

[veggiechicken]

Update, mine has flowered, lots of petals came off in the wind but the rest of the flower is still attached yo the stalk.

[kiwiman]

Looks like you might have a bird pulling them off. I have had pigeons pulling off plum blossom and also primrose heads. The leaves look healthy, if it was nutrient they would probably not have flowered in the first place,

[otorongo]

Thanks for the suggestion, kiwiman. May I ask what you did to stop the pigeons? It's too late now, but I might have to come up with something next season.

[kiwiman]

Thanks for the suggestion, kiwiman. May I ask what you did to stop the pigeons? It's too late now, but I might have to come up with something next season.

I have to report that my Kiwi has suffered the same now, just one or two flowers left. I haven't seen sny birds pecking so am now as puzzled as you.

[veggiechicken]

I still have plenty of flowers - don't have problems with pigeons as the only ones here are woodpigeons and they're too heavy to land on it!

[Feral007]

Well, we need to sort this out, I'm planning on getting one of these plants since everyone has been complaining how vigorous, if not just plain triffid-like they are. I did think the fruit would be nice as well tho.

[IanC]

I have a jenny it is 8 (eight) years old and has never flowered. Any ideas?