No, kiwifruit are not tropical fruits.
Understanding Kiwifruit and Their Climate Requirements
While kiwifruit thrive in warm climates, they are not considered tropical fruits. The standard kiwifruit found in supermarkets needs a long growing season, exceeding 200 days. More importantly, they are intolerant of freezing temperatures, specifically those below 10ºF (-12ºC). This cold sensitivity differentiates them from true tropical fruits that flourish in consistently warm, frost-free environments.
- Long Growing Season: Kiwifruit require a significant amount of time to mature, a characteristic not exclusive to tropical fruits.
- Cold Sensitivity: The inability to withstand temperatures below 10ºF is a key factor distinguishing kiwifruit from tropical varieties. Tropical fruits generally thrive in temperatures well above freezing.
This means that kiwifruit cultivation occurs in subtropical and temperate regions with mild winters, often requiring specific frost protection measures. Their growth requirements highlight a significant difference from tropical fruits that tolerate much warmer and consistently humid conditions.
