Did you know you can grow kiwis right in your own back yard?  The fruit of 'Ken's Red' hardy kiwi vine is a
cousin of the familiar grocery store kiwis. The berries have the same sweet-and-citrus taste, maybe a little
sweeter. But they're bite-sized and smooth skinned so you can pop them in your mouth like grapes.  In fact, with 'Ken's Red', the berries are red, so they even look like grapes.

There's
more good news. 'Ken's Red'
is hardy to -25, so you can be confident Chicago winters
won't faze it.  Despite the name, 'Ken's Red' is female, so you'll need a male kiwi vine nearby for pollination. You can grow it in full sun or
part shade, though you'll get a better crop in full sun. However, it
will need frequent pruning and strong
support...the vines are large and heavy and bear about 100 pounds of
berries a year.  A note of warning to cat owners: this vine smells like
catnip to cats, and they may harm foliage or dig at the roots.