Tips for planting hardy kiwi Issai (Actinidia arguta)

I'm in USDA zone 8b and am planning on transplanting kiwi Issai (Actinidia arguta)

These are very prolific berry sized kiwis and I'm wondering how sturdy of a trellis do I need to support these plants?

How long until they are hardy enough to survive the cold, 8b is probably pushing it a little.

I don't think my soil is very acidic, what amendments would you suggest for this plant?

 8b is fine for cold hardy kiwi. A freeze after bud break in spring can cause a little damage, not too bad.   You will need a stout trellis.  I used cattle panels. these put on a LOT of foliage.
Do not fertilize the plants much, just a little compost is good for massive crops. I would test your soil PH.   Mine is slightly acidic, kiwi just don't like alkaline soil.
prune them back every winter to a few buds on each spur like you do with muscadine grapes.

My hardy kiwis have seemed to really like well draining soil, and didn't care for soil that stayed too wet for very long.

I haven't grown the variety Issai, but I've heard that it is a little more less vigorous/dwarf than most other hardy kiwis.

I'm experimenting with growing them up trees as a trellis, still in the early phases of experimentation.

Steve Thorn wrote:My hardy kiwis have seemed to really like well draining soil, and didn't care for soil that stayed too wet for very long.

Does anyone know of people growing them in the Pacific Northwest where it's wet all winter?

Suggestions for that ecosystem?

How much/ how often will it need water in the summer drought?

I live in the Coast Range where it's wet all winter (usually) and bone dry all summer (usually). I've grown Issai hardy kiwi for many years in 20 gallon pots in high quality potting soil. I usually water them once a day in the summer, but during nasty heat waves I water them twice a day. Plants in the ground will probably need watered every two days in the summer. I fertilize the plants several times a year with a little tiny bit of side dressing, usually bone meal or chicken manure. I propagate them using the layering method in pots.

They should do great in your area, just add compost to the soil before planting or grow them in big pots in high quality potting soil.

The main thing I've noticed for hardy kiwis is that they do NOT like hot sunny weather (like me) and will require shade during the afternoon during the summer. If transplanted into full  sun, their leaves can get fried during a sudden heat wave. Also, they need a trellis- I use an old swing set with wire fence pieces hooked over the top, also t-posts with wire. Cattle panels or concrete wire will work well, too. Fuzzy kiwis require bigger trellises, but can take more sun. Another thing- wait till fall or late winter/early spring to transplant your kiwis. Good luck!

Any idea if they would tolerate being under the drip line of cedar? Hard to get away from cedar on my land, if I want afternoon shade.

My experience with cedars (Incense and Western red cedar) is that many plants don't like being planted in the root zones of these trees because of the chemical compounds in their roots inhibit the growth of many other plants, sort of like black walnut trees. (Western red cedars are also an alternate host for cedar apple rust, but that's a different story.)

I'm not sure, but my gut feeling would be that the kiwis would not like being transplanted into the established root zone of a cedar, so I would transplant your Issai kiwi into a big pot with premium organic potting soil- 10- 20 gallon size. Issai is especially well adapted to being grown in big pots. An added bonus is that you can move the plant around if it needs more light or more shade. My kiwis are under a crab apple and old swing set. Observe the kiwi  carefully during heat waves for signs of stress. Mulch with compost and/or chicken poop. Hand pollinate the flowers with a paint brush the first few years, because our local bees are unfamiliar with the flowers and it takes a while for them to figure them out.

By the way, the fruit on Issai kiwis is incredibly delicious and is one of my all time favorites- well worth growing.