Kiwis and Grapes and Hops OH MY!

  

     While we were planting our trees in the backyard we were also planting several different vining plants.  

     Next to the chicken coop along the run we planted a hops vine.  This vine dies back to the ground each fall and will re-emerge every spring. It's an aggressive growing plant that should climb the chicken run and provide a canopy along the top giving our chickens a little shade from the hot summer sun.  Additionally, we will be able to dry the hops flowers and use them in making our own beer.

     Along chain link fence across from our garage we've planted a few grape vines.  We'll train these into "T" shaped cordons along the top of the fence.  We've planted four types:  Reliance, Riesling, Cayuga, and Marechal Foch. 

     With our kiwi pergola built and ready to go we were really happy when our Kolomikta kiwi's arrived.  Due to a mixup with our order we received five kiwi plants instead of the three we ordered.  With both an extra male and extra female plant we decided to keep the extras as insurance in case some don't make it.  

     The white blotches on the leaves of this kiwi are not caused by a disease but a natural variegation that occurs in the male plants.  The female plants will also have this variegation but not until they are older.  It will be really interesting to see how much they grow this year as they are purported to be super aggressive growers.  Based on what we've read it could be up to five years before we get to start harvesting kiwis but we bet it will be worth the wait!