When Are Kiwis In Season?

Kiwis are a delicious and much-loved fruit, popular worldwide and used in numerous desserts, cocktails, recipes, and snacks.

While many people can enjoy fresh kiwi fruit all year round, those who choose to eat seasonal fruit and vegetables – as well as those who want to grow their own – will need to know when the peak growing season for the kiwi is. 

But when exactly is the kiwi fruit in season and when Is Kiwi season, and is this the same in every country? 

Where Do Kiwi Fruits Originate? 

Also known as the Chinese gooseberry, the kiwi fruit is native to China, something that might surprise many, namely those who took the name ‘Kiwi’ to refer to those from New Zealand. 

This change in name and the association with New Zealand resulted from trade throughout the area, which saw the kiwi fruit brought to New Zealand during the early 20th century – when the first cultivation outside of China began. 

Immigration during and following World War 2 also saw previously unheard-of fruits and vegetables, including the kiwi fruit, being brought to the United Kingdom and the United States, where it has remained popular today and is widely available in the northern and southern hemispheres.

When Are Kiwi Fruits In Season? 

In the United States, kiwi season is generally between November and January – something that might surprise many. 

Kiwis have such an association with the summertime and the hot weather that comes with it that most people might be surprised that they are actually winter fruit.

However, this doesn’t mean that all forms of kiwi can tolerate the cold, which means that proper research during the planting and cultivating stages is required to ensure a good harvest. 

In the American market, for Kiwi season USA, though, this makes perfect sense anyway.

Kiwis are generally grown in California, one of the hotter states of the US; thus, harvesting them in the fall and winter means that they are not damaged by the excess heat of the summer and are thus easier to store and preserve through the colder months. 

Is Kiwi Season The Same Everywhere? 

Similarly to the United States, kiwi season in New Zealand also runs from November to February – where the more temperate and (in some regions) subtropical weather requires colder months to cultivate and pick the kiwi fruits effectively. 

This does differ in countries like China, where the Kiwi season runs from spring to early fall.

This is undoubtedly due to the differences in climate between China and the US, where the Chinese winters would likely become colder than those in California. 

How Are Kiwis Accurately Harvested? 

As you might imagine, the kiwi fruit is relatively delicate and a temperamental one at that. This means that farmers need to know when their kiwi crops are suitable for harvesting. 

Most farmers use a device to measure the sugar content of their kiwi harvest, as this will accurately tell them the ripeness of the fruit in question and whether it is ready to be picked. 

Generally speaking, if the sugar content is 6.5% or above, they are ripe enough and ready to be harvested. 

How To Know Your Kiwis Are Ready? 

Of course, these pieces of equipment are expensive to those not in the industry, and as such, people growing kiwis at home need to learn other methods to ascertain when their kiwis are ready. 

While many might think that firmness is a good indication, this is not necessarily the case – and could indicate that they are not ripe yet. 

The most accurate method for people to check is to cut a kiwi fruit open. This might seem like a risk, especially if you only have a few kiwis on your plant; however, it is the best way to be sure. 

If you cut open your kiwi and the seeds are black, then the sugar content is sufficient and the other kiwis can also be picked. 

How To Pick Kiwis

When picking kiwis, they can just be snapped off the branch of the plant.

However, it is important to be careful with kiwis when picking and storing, as they are renowned for bruising easily, which can lead to them turning bad more quickly. 

How Should Kiwis Be Stored?

When storing your harvested kiwis, they can be kept in a refrigerator or a fruit bowl; the only difference is that the fridge will make them last longer. 

Generally speaking, kiwis kept in a fridge will last for (at most) four weeks. However, this will vary depending on the refrigerator’s efficiency, the environment in which you live, and how often the fridge door is open. 

For kiwis stored in a fruit bowl, the general lifespan is roughly 7-8 days, so while this is still a good amount of time, the difference between the two storage methods is quite distinct. 

How To Tell Kiwis Have Gone Bad

When telling if your kiwi has gone bad, there are certain signs to watch out for (to learn more about fruit going bad, read here).

Kiwis that have gone bad will be softer to the touch, mushier in texture, and oozing more juice than normal – and, as such, are best avoided. 

Frequently Asked Questions on When Are Kiwis In Season?

Final Thoughts

And there, we have everything you need to know about kiwis and when they are in season. 

It’s true that kiwis are a delicious and much-loved fruit in most countries, and fortunately enough, during kiwi fruit season, they are available most of the year.

However, if you only try to eat seasonal fruit, or indeed you want to try and grow your own at home, then knowing their ideal season is important knowledge. 

So, if you are growing your own kiwis, be sure to take note of some of these important facts!

Further Recommendations:

• When to plant Strawberries in Seattle
• Golden Kiwi vs Green Kiwi – which is the best?
• The ultimate guide to growing Serrano Peppers in pots
• How to grow mushrooms in Georgia
• How to eat a kiwi fruit.

Video: Kiwi Picking in New Zealand