do kiwi vines do well in NE GA?
how do you winter them?
some of the info i researched says to select a good growing vine and train it up to trellis and cut away the rest,but how much is the rest?

Answer #1 · John Heider's Answer · Dwayne-The Kiwi vine will grow in you area fine. The hardiness zones for this plant is 5a-8b. A nice variety for its beautiful foliage is Arguta arguta 'Arctic Beauty'. I have noted Gardenality's plant file link for this plant below. Just click on the link to go directly to the plant file to see a picture and information on this plant.

The beautiful variegation in this plant only occurs on larger mature leaves, and may not be present until the plant is a few years old. This particular variety is a male, as males of this species reportedly have stronger variegation than the females. The downside, however, is that it won’t produce fruit as a male plant. Only a female plant will produce fruit. The Arctic Beauty can be used as a cross-pollinator with female varieties. A female plant used a lot alongside this plant is the cultivar ‘September Sun’. There are also nurseries and sites that will sell this plant as a set with both male and female under the same name Arctic Beauty. If the foliage is the reason for purchasing this plant and not the fruit the Arctic Beauty on its own will add beautiful color to your garden.
This plant will need a trellis, lattice or other support as it is not self-clinging.

In the winter the kiwi vine can sustain damage to the lower trunk by frost. While the top of the plant is hardy to below 10 degrees when dormant. Sunny weather with very cold nights can cause freeze damage to the lower portion of the trunk. In many cases this damage is severe enough to girdle the plants causing the death of the top. While plants often send up new shoots, the top growth is lost. To prevent this damage,wrap the lower 2-3 feet of trunk with insulating material such as ¼ inch closed cell foam. Mulch heavily around the base of the plant as well if severe weather threatens.

Pruning (to be performed in winter) should focus on selecting the "straightest and most vigorous" shoot a year after planting and treating it thereafter as the permanent trunk, prune out other shoots, so as to concentrate vigor in the one shoot. For the first year, you should focus more on straight growth and a strong framework rather than how to cut a kiwi. Tie the vine loosely to your trellis and keep it growing straight upward. Don’t allow it to twirl around your supporting structure. When the vine reaches the top of the trellis or your desired height cutting out the top of the vine at this height will encourage side shoots that grow laterally throughout the trellis.

I also noted below a link to a kiwi growing guide that may be of some interest or help to you. Whether you are growing the kiwi for its beautiful foliage, fruit, or both this may be helpful to you.

www.gardenality.com/Plants/2445/Fruit-Vines/Arctic-Beauty-Hardy-Kiwi.html

www.burntridgenursery.com/plantArticles/kiwigrowingguide.pdf

Hope this will help to answer your questions.
John)