PlantFiles: Bower Actinidia, Hardy Kiwi, Tara Vine, Yang Tao
Actinidia arguta 'Issai'

hady to-35
Subject: actinidia-arguta-issai

I live in zone 6b Utah
I got this plant last year and all the leaves turnd black and died back to base. I didn't over water, the plant was in full sun! i also had a cherry tomato planted next to it (touching leaves)
and it did't have the prob transfer! I know I'm not the first to have this prob. but no one has an answer yet. please help!
I got one more this year to try again I havn't even taken it out of the pot yet and the same prob showed up! again please help thanks,
nic

This is a female cultivar. Issai is reported to produce up to 100 lbs of fruit in one season.

I have had this plant for 4 years now and it grows well (but it does lose out late in the season to Sweet Autumn Clematis, so its not as rambunctious as that climber). I have yet to have it bloom or fruit.

Most varieties of this vine are either male or female and one of each is required for fruit (though one male can service as many as 8 females)

Pruning should not be done in early spring as the plant has the habit of excessive bleeding and the plant requires even moisture and cannot sit in standing water.

I'm hoping this year to get fruit (3-5 years is the norm).

The fruit is reported to be like other kiwi, but fuzzless and sweeter.

Purchased this plant at our local nursery and will post here the information I have gleaned for this culitivar and edit this post later with my observations. I am training it to grow on a bamboo teepee that is 12 ft. tall.

"This cultivar from Japan is apparently a hybrid of Actinidia arguta. It is distinctly different in appearance and behavior from other A. argutas. A self-pollinator, it bears long fruit to 1 3/4" in length. Often bears fruit the year after planting. Much less vigorous than other A. arguta cultivars (this can be an advantage where space is limited). Hardy to about -15°F, but sometimes injured at higher temperatures. Has not been reliably hardy here. Capable of pollinating other A. argutas, but blossoms relatively late, so it is probably effective as a pollinator for other cultivars only near the end of their blossoming period. Fruit ripens late; best adapted to areas with a fairly long growing season (roughly zone 6 and south). Said to do well in the mid-southern states." - triplebrookfarm.com

Also

"This vine produces tasty, 1” fruit that has smooth skin. It is self-pollinating, so having a male vine around is not necessary. This variety often bears the first year after planting, too. In its native habitat of Asia, Actinidia arguta can grow up trees to 100’ high. ‘Issai’ is much more polite, growing to around 12’ high. It prefers sun to part shade, average water & well-drained soil. The flowers are fragrant but inconspicuous. I think this vine is worth growing for its nice foliage alone. The fruits are an added bonus!" -anniesannuals.com