Hawke’s Bay apple harvest – the season that was
May 31, 2019
The 2019 apple harvest season in Hawke’s Bay started well with a period of sunny days and cooler nights popping the colour in Gala varieties.
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Tauranga Lincoln Diploma Newsletter
May 16, 2019
Check out our Semester Two 2019 newsletter for the Lincoln Diploma HERE
Build a solid foundation for 2020
April 4, 2019
The intent of kiwifruit winter pruning is to provide a canopy of fruiting wood to bear your 2020 crop. Done well, it will help make that crop a high yield of good quality and well-sized fruit, while also aiding yield potential for the following seasons.
The wrong image holds our industry back
March 3, 2019
It is an understatement to say that Horticulture is an important industry in New Zealand. Fresh Facts figures for year ending June 2017 show an $8.8 billion industry and 10.3 percent of New Zealand’s merchandise exports (dominated by Kiwifruit, Wine and Apples) and yet many young people looking at career choices are not aware of the opportunities, innovation and complexity of our wonderful industry.
What influences Royal Gala fruit size, maturity and quality?
February 2, 2019
Royal Gala is a good variety to consider given that it is our most planted variety and as an early season apple, it is strongly influenced by summer growing conditions. Phenology is the scientific term for the study of the effects of climate on plant life – historical data tells us that Royal Gala bloom and harvest dates vary a lot.
Apple nutrition in Himachal Pradesh
January 15, 2019
An article in May looked at the Himachal Pradesh apple industry in northern India, and the World Bank project to help increase apple, pear and subtropical productivity. This article looks at nutrient management practices used here.
Fruition Hawke’s Bay Christmas Newsletter 2018
December 12, 2018
Check out Fruition Hawke’s Bay Christmas Newsletter 2018 HERE
Tauranga Lincoln Diploma Newsletter
November 23, 2018
Check out our Semester One 2019 newsletter for the Lincoln Diploma HERE
Confirm your sprayer coverage
November 19, 2018
This article is a collaborative ‘thought piece’ about spraying of apple orchards in New Zealand. We start with a historical context, then discuss current spray calibration theory and practice and finish by looking ahead at how orchards and supporting technology are evolving.
Managing the season you are in
October 20, 2018
Every kiwifruit growing season is different. What happened last season is often top of mind and we set out ready to solve or prevent the problems of last season. The real success comes when we are able to solve or prevent the problems of this season!
Training to meet our future in Nelson/Tasman
September 4, 2018
As the horticultural sector goes through strong growth and is well on track to become a $10 billion industry by 2020, and with the pipfruit industry doubling in value to $1 billion by 2020 there is more and more discussion around labour, or more to the point – lack of it.
What is involved in a Nutrient Management Plan and how can it help an orchard enterprise?
September 4, 2018
Nutrient management plans are required for farms in the dairying sector, mainly because of their greater use of nitrogen fertilisers and the influence of large animals that contribute to nitrogen leaching. While there is not the same requirement for an orchard operation to have a nutrient management plan, there are potential benefits in going through the process.