Flavour Burst

Day 350: Hardy kiwis have been a "learn as you go" project for me. I have finally figured out when they should be harvested without having to resort to buying a refractometer. The stems of the berries will wither and turn dark brown/black, and the berry will release from the stem easily. And wow, what a flavour burst when these little nuggets are fully ripe! I found these to taste somewhat stronger than full-sized kiwis, and they were definitely sweeter for having been left on the vine to maturity. I have also ascertained that my original and purportedly self-fertile "Issai" is not producing. However, the "Anna" (female) of the pair I put in just a few years ago is producing nicely. I had hoped the male ("Clark") of that pair would also fertilize "Issai," but I see no evidence of that happening. I may simply remove the "Issai" and let the pair take over the trellises. That said, the Grand Kiwi Experiment can now be claimed as a horticultural success!