The HKBP (Hardy Kiwifruit Breeding Project), organized by Kiwibob Glanzman, is intended to be a Worldwide collaborative effort to create a hybrid Kiwiberry with the smooth skin of the Hardy Kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) that weighs around 50 grams (about the size of a chicken’s egg), by crossing arguta x chinensis var. chinensis (Kiwi Gold). While progress toward the HKBP goal has been hampered for several years by lack of suitable male pollinators and some unforeseen compatibility issues, 2020 efforts to create a large USA pool of potential male chinensis pollinators have yielded a much larger than expected number of seeds.
We need to find willing growers to germinate some of these seeds and raise them to the point where they can be evaluated as possible breeding parents in the ongoing hybridization efforts.
In the lower elevations of Western Washington we have a climate where we can grow most species of Actinidia outdoors with little concern of Winter damage.
As of August 2021, Kiwibob now has many seedlings growing as part of his Kiwi hybridization project – F1 hybrids between Actinidia chinensis & Actinidia arguta, as well as other crosses and open-pollinated seedlings. Kiwibob is still looking for “foster homes” for these seedlings as they grow and develop.
If you are willing to germinate seeds and have the space to raise the seedlings in pots (about 5 gallon size) for 3-5 years until they can be grafted, then several more years when they can be evaluated, please let me know via the comment form on page A1.02 of my website:
https://kiwifruitsalsa.wordpress.com
When you visit the website, be sure to download the most recent HKBP Report from page A1.02, and review all previous Reports!
Hardy Kiwifruit Breeding Project Update by Kiwibob Glanzman, HKBP organizer