mcguire@aero.ARPA (Rod McGuire) (02/20/86)
>> what else do cats like? > >Some of them like something from the stems and esp. roots of kiwi plants. > ... Now the question: I have very healthy kiwi vines, and some blooms > each year, but no fruit. Why? First cats: Our cat is not all that interested in food - we can leave almost any food (except sushi) on a table and she will leave it alone. The only food she goes crazy over is "squid jerkey" (available in japanese grocery stores as "soft saki ika: prepared cuttle fish"). She has been known to jump from the floor to my shoulder and then smell my breath to make sure that I haven't been eating some without her. We tried Fish Treats (whole dried little fish) on her, but after initial enthusiasm she lost interest 1/3 of the way through the bag. WARNING: do not let your cat eat as much dried squid as it wants, or be prepared for awful smelling farts. Second Kiwi: Thanks, I couldn't figure out why the cats were eating the mud where I distirbed the kiwi roots. As for non-fruiting, I have the same problem, but am hopefull because because my vines are yet young. They have been one year in the ground (where they didn't flower) after a year in pots. In pots they flowered, but that year the male plant did so prematurely and his pollen wasn't around for the females. If you have gotten any fruit at all, this probably isn't your problem, otherwise you may have to rig up reflectors to warm up the females. If they are flowering at the same time, check out your bee population. My bible, "Kiwifruit Culture" (by P. R. Sale, published by the New Zealand Government Printing Office, Wellington) says "It is unlikely in the home garden that bees can be relied on to achieve adequate pollination. Hand pollination should be carried out according to ..." [send me mail for the gritty details]. As for fertilization for the home garden, the book says: "Good fruit can be produced even in areas not suitable for commercial production, providing a warm, sheltered spot is found in the home garden. ... Manuring can be a simple job. A general fertiliser that has proved satisfactory for general gardening purposes in the area should be applied at .5 kg (about 1 lb) per year of the vine's age up to a maximum of 8 kg (17.6 lb), and spread evenly over an area to at least 1 m (3 ft) beyond the leaf canopy. [this seems a huge amount to me, but these vines are supposed to be quite vigorous]. Two thirds of this rate should be applied in spring at about bud burst, and the other third just after fruit set. In marginal situations (e.g., when crops have been lost by spring frosts), the second application should be omitted. A periodic application of lime or dolomite is beneficial in areas where the soil is naturally acidic. In sandy soils, or other soils prone to drought, mulching with lawn clippings or other bulky organic material can help to conserve moisture. Apply mulch only to soil that is adequately moist already. On such drought prone soils, keep up regular watering through dry periods. When watering on heavy soils, however, take care not to over-water, as root rot may result, weakening or even killing the vine." Maybe you should try squid meal on your vines :-). I hope this helps both your cats and vines. Rod McGuire@aerospace.arpa