Kiwi (actinidia deliciosa) TOMURI

Kiwi (Classic Kiwi) - Male Pollinator 'Tomuri'

'Tomuri' is the most widespread, globally reliable, and most frequently used universal male pollinator for large-fruited green kiwis. Without a quality pollinator, classic female varieties will yield no crop at all, and 'Tomuri' represents an absolute safe bet in this regard. Thanks to its extended blooming period, it reliably meets the flowers of fruit-bearing females even in years with erratic spring weather.

Classic Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) 'Tomuri' (Male Pollinator)

Since it is a male plant, its sole task is pollen production. It bears no fruit itself.

Main advantages of the pollinator:

• Universal and most reliable pollinator for large-fruited green kiwis.
• Gradual blooming ensures long availability of pollen (resistance to weather fluctuations during blooming).
• High efficiency – 1 plant pollinates 5 to 8 females.
• High production of viable pollen, flowers strongly attract bees.
• Excellent disease resistance (ideal for organic cultivation).

Origin and Breeding

• Botanical classification: Fuzzy kiwi / Classic kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa).
• Origin and history: The variety comes from New Zealand. It was purposefully selected, officially named, and introduced to the market in 1968 by the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).
• Function and compatibility: It is a male plant of a dioecious species. Scientists selected it primarily because its blooming perfectly overlapped with the world-famous female variety 'Hayward'. It is fully compatible and agrotechnically essential for all noble female varieties of the A. deliciosa species (e.g., 'Hayward', 'Tuscia') and partially also A. chinensis.

Detailed variety description: Plant (Liana)

• Vigor: Very strong-growing, exceptionally vital climbing liana. Characterized by dense and lush foliage. For its healthy development and maintenance of wood weight, it unconditionally requires a firm and permanent support structure (massive pergola, lattice, or strong training system made of thick wire).
• Blooming and pollen production (Key feature):
  • Flowers: Blooms very abundantly at the turn of May and June. Flowers are large, creamy-white, pleasantly fragrant, and arranged in clusters of 1 to 5. They are a huge magnet for bees and other pollinating insects.
  • Phenology and synchronization: The greatest asset of the 'Tomuri' variety is that the flowers open gradually. This guarantees the continuous presence of a huge amount of extremely viable pollen over a longer period of time, eliminating the risk of poor pollination due to weather fluctuations.

Cultivation properties and characteristics

• Function in the orchard:
  • Planting ratio: 'Tomuri' is an extremely prolific pollen donor. One mature male plant can reliably pollinate 5 to 8 surrounding female plants in its vicinity.
  • Location in the garden: For maximum efficiency of pollen transfer (which is carried by wind and insects), it is recommended to plant 'Tomuri' at a distance of maximum 6 to 10 meters from fruit-bearing female varieties, ideally on the windward side.
• Resistance and requirements:
  • Frost resistance: Mature, well-ripened wood reliably withstands winter temperature drops down to -16 °C. In colder regions, it requires a warm, sheltered location (ideally in wine-growing areas up to 200 m a.s.l.). In the first 2 to 3 years after planting, conscientious winter protection of the trunk (e.g., wrapping with jute) is essential.
  • Disease resistance: Male plants are generally naturally hardier than females. 'Tomuri' exhibits top-tier natural resistance to fungal diseases and common pests. Thanks to this, the variety fully complies with the conditions for clean organic (BIO) cultivation without the need for chemical sprays.
  • Agrotechnics (Pruning): Similar to other male kiwi varieties, 'Tomuri' also requires specific pruning. More substantial pruning is done only after blooming (in summer). The goal of this pruning is to tame its vigorous growth so it does not shade the female plants, while promoting the formation of new wood that will bear flowers the following year.

Drawbacks of the variety:

• Produces no fruit (occupies space in the garden exclusively for the pollination function).
• Very vigorous growth requires massive support and regular, strict summer pruning, otherwise the liana will quickly overgrow.
• In the first years after planting, it is more sensitive to frost (requires winter protection of the trunk).