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Kiwifruit
Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa · Actinidiaceae
Climber
Nectarless dioecious vine offering only pollen; fruit yield needs intensive bee pollination, although bees find it unattractive.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 5-9 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
🐝 Add to my apiary
Log in to add it to your apiary.Value for beekeeping
Kiwifruit flowers produce no nectar. Female and male flowers grow on separate plants; bees collect only pollen from both. The pollen in female flowers is sterile, but bees take it too. As wind pollination is insufficient, many bee visits are needed for large, well-shaped fruit.
Flowering
From late May to early June, lasting about 1-2 weeks in an orchard. In Turkey there are commercial orchards in the eastern Black Sea region, Yalova and the Marmara region.
Honey and pollen
It does not contribute to honey. Pollen loads are pale and of moderate protein value.
Note for the beekeeper
- In New Zealand around 8 strong colonies per hectare are used.
- Bring the hives in when 10-15% of the female flowers are open; bees brought in early turn to nearby nectar sources such as clover or bramble.
- Feeding colonies sugar syrup and having plenty of open brood increase their urge to collect pollen.