Peaceful Valley Kiwi Planting and Growing Guide Instructions

: June 3, 2024
: Peaceful Valley

Table of Contents

Heeling In
Planting & Growing
Fertility
Important Information
Pruning
Harvesting
Return Policy
Limited Product Guarantee
- Limited Dormant Tree & Plant Guarantee
Support
Documents / Resources

Peaceful Valley Kiwi Planting and Growing Guide Instructions

Native to Eastern Asia. It is an introduced fruit crop to America that is gaining popularity as a backyard fruit. Emerald-green flesh with small, black edible seeds. Hardy Kiwis (Actinidia arguta) grow well in zones 4–9 and have smooth edible skin. Tender kiwis (Actinidia deliciosa) are the traditional fuzzy fruits and grow well in zones 8-9. For the self fertile Issai Hardy Kiwi, fruiting is satisfactory even in mild winters. The tender kiwis require both a male and female vine to bear fruit. Kiwis will start to fruit anywhere from one to six years after planting depending on how well they are cared for. Kiwi grows best in areas with mild spring and fall weather and high summer temperatures. Early fall frost or late spring frost can be detrimental.

Heeling In

When you receive your kiwis they will be boxed securely. If you are not ready to plant or if the temperatures are too cold, immediately place them in a sheltered location, safe from frost. A root cellar, basement, or garage works well. It’s important choose a place where the temperature stays between 38–45°F. This is important so the roots neither freeze, nor warm enough to break dormancy. It is essential that the young roots have plenty of time to become established before the plant begins its spring limb growth and bud break.

Planting & Growing

Kiwi can be grown in a wide range of soils, as long as the soil is well drained. Choose a planting site that is protected from strong winds. Plant 10–15’ apart. Kiwis need a good deal of water for healthy growth; do not let the vines dry out. Water frequently and deeply in very hot weather.

Fertility

Nitrogen fertilizers should be applied only after the first year. Apply in early spring, mixed into the the top 6” of the soil in a broad ring approximately the diameter of the vine canopy (the “drip line” of the vine). In the long-term, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, along with sufficient nitrogen, will significantly enhance vine health and fruit quality. High quality composts are also recommended as they contain a naturally balanced blend of nutrients, minerals, and pro-biotics. Natural kelp (Peaceful Valley Liquid Kelp or Maxicrop) compounds are a great addition to fertilization regimes, whether added to irrigation water or used as a foliar spray between bud coloration and

Important Information

If your plants arrived damaged, take photographs and contact us immediately and we will provide you with a refund of the purchase price, or a replacement.
You should plant your kiwi within a week of delivery. If you are unable to do so, see the “heeling in” section for storage instructions.
In the rare event that your kiwi does not leaf out by May 15th, we offer a Limited Guarantee on dormant plants. See the last page for details.

1” fruit size. Avoid synthetic fertilizers as these can destroy many of the naturally occurring beneficial soil organisms that nurture healthy root systems. Synthetic fertilizers also tend to produce overly lush and unnatural top growth that attracts common insect pests and micropathogens. In late summer or fall, do not fertilize and taper off water to avoid encouraging frost-tender new growth.

Pruning

Vines can spread up to 30’ and need to be supported by trellis or arbor or espalier. Most fruit is produced on new growth that emerges from 1 year old wood. Prune only fully dormant vines. Pruning after the buds swell results in loss of sap and weakened vines.

Harvesting

Fruit must be picked hard and then softened at room temperature. Signs of ripeness include the skin color turning from green to full brown or when the first fruits turn soft. Once harvested, Kiwi can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 months or at room temperature for 2 weeks. If picked too late, fruit will not store well and if picked too early the fruit will be tart.

Return Policy

Perishable Items (3-Day Return Policy)
We guarantee the perishable items we sell to be in good, viable condition when we sell them. Perishable items include, but are not limited to, garlic bulbs, flower bulbs, seed potatoes, onion sets & transplants, bare-root trees, vegetable crowns… etc. If your perishable item arrives in substandard condition, please contact us within 3 days of the purchase date (or delivery date) and we will provide you with a refund of the purchase price (including shipping costs), or a replacement. Accordingly, we urge you to open any boxes marked as “Perishable” immediately upon receiving them. Because some perishable items can deteriorate very quickly, we cannot accept any claims beyond the 3-day time frame as it becomes too difficult to determine if these items were delivered in substandard condition, or if they turned into such substandard condition because of having been improperly cared for or stored once delivered.

Limited Product Guarantee

Limitation of Remedy
We warrant to the extent of the purchase price only that the seeds or plants sold hereunder are as described on the label within recognized tolerances. No other warranty is given, expressed or implied, of (1) the merchantability or fitness of the seeds or plants for any particular purpose, or (2) against loss due to any cause. We cannot accept any responsibility for the many uncontrollable growing and climatic conditions (soil preparation, fertilization, weed and pest control, temperature control, irrigation…etc.) that must be met to insure the success of your crop(s) or plants.

Limited Dormant Tree & Plant Guarantee

* Claim deadline is June 15th
We guarantee that your dormant tree or plant will arrive in good, viable condition. If your tree arrives in substandard condition, notify us within 3 days of delivery. Please email pictures of the box, inside packaging, the tree and its roots to helpdesk@groworganic.com. We will investigate your claim and process a request to exchange or refund the damaged product.

If your dormant tree or plant has not grown new leaves by June 15th, you may be eligible for our Limited Dormant Tree & Plant Guarantee. This guarantee provides for a store credit for the purchase price of the tree, excluding shipping. Please see the Instructions below.

Important Dates:

April 1st Dormant trees/plants must be planted in the ground
May 15th Perform scratch test, if no new leaves have grown
June 15th Deadline to apply for a dormant tree/plant credit

All required documentation must be received by June 15th for your claim to be considered. Claims or documentation received after June 15th will be denied, without exception. Instructions listed below

Terms and Conditions

We cannot guarantee that your tree or plant will remain alive and healthy after it is received, or bear fruit as there are too many variables in your environment that are beyond our control (i.e. soil preparation, weed and pest control, proper irrigation, chill hours, compatible hardiness for your growing zone, proper choice of pollinator, extreme weather, rodent damage, disease, etc.).

We cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide a replacement tree/plant of the same species either that same growing season or in future years. Customers are responsible for all shipping fees associated with replacement trees and plants.

If we determine that the tree you purchased directly from us is not viable, we will issue you a store credit (not a refund) for the purchase price of the affected dormant tree or plant. Shipping is not included in the dormant tree/plant guarantee. Store credits can be used to purchase any product we sell and are valid for use only until July 1st of the following year.

Historically, 98% of our dormant trees and plants grow and thrive when they have been cared for and planted using our growing guides. Dormant trees and plants must be planted in the ground by April 1st in order to be eligible for credit. If the ground in your area is still frozen solid, you may temporarily plant your tree or plant in a pot.

Potted, non-dormant trees or plants are excluded from this guarantee as they are not dormant at the time of shipment. Evergreen trees such as citrus, avocado and olive trees are not available for credit under the Dormant Tree and Plant Guarantee.

Instructions

We guarantee that your dormant fruit tree or plant will leaf out, if you care for it according to our growing guides. In the unlikely event that your dormant tree or plant does not have leaves by May 15th, follow these simple steps to apply for a store credit:

Before you call or email, please perform a “scratch test” to determine if the tree or plant is still alive. This video shows how to check for live tissue under the bark. Scratch tests need to be done a few inches above and below the graft.

Green Cambium Layer–Living Trees/Plants
If the cambium layer under the bark is green, give your tree a little more time. It is still alive, but hasn’t come out of dormancy yet. Check to make sure that it is getting the right amount of deep root water, enough sunlight and that the weather is warm enough for that type of tree/plant to come out of dormancy. Every tree has its own personality and will come out of dormancy at different times. Be sure to submit the required documentation listed below by June 15th, if it doesn’t grow leaves.

Brown Cambium Layer–Dead Trees/Plants
If the scratch test shows a brown cambium layer or if your dormant tree/plant doesn’t have leaves by June 1st, please email us at helpdesk@groworganic.com. All required documentation listed below must be received by June 15th for your claim to be considered. To be considered for the guarantee claim, all required documentation must be received by June 15th. Incomplete submissions will be denied.

Required Documentation

Order number
Name of dormant tree/plant and the quantity affected
Photos of each tree or plant showing: The roots (tree or plant must be pulled out of the ground), the scratch test areas, the entire tree/plant

We reserve the right to not issue credit for items that have already been replaced. We also reserve the right to require photographic evidence that the tree/plant was not killed by root rot, rodent or mechanical damage.

Videos
How to Grow Kiwi

Articles
Planting & Pruning Kiwi
Landscaping with Edible Plants

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Support

Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply
P.O. Box 2209 • 125 Clydesdale Ct.
Grass Valley, CA 95945
888-784-1722
Fax 530-272-4794
www.growOrganic.com
Entire contents © 2022 Peaceful Valley Holdings, Inc All rights reserved. Revised August 12, 2022

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