This article reflects on changing pruning and canopy management styles in apples and considers some of the drivers of change. We then discuss new scanning technology that is improving our ability to measure and act on crop and canopy variability within our orchards.
Check out our Semester Two 2020 newsletter for Lincoln Diploma HERE
Check out Fruition Hawke’s Bay Season 2019-20 Overview Newsletter HERE
The NZ apple industry is currently enjoying an exciting time of innovation and exploration in the development of growing systems. Let’s chat about what’s happening starting with setting the scene.
Agrichemicals are essential inputs in the production of virtually all horticultural crops – in both conventional and organic production systems.
Check out our Semester One 2020 newsletter for Lincoln Diploma HERE
We are constantly bombarded with news articles about the need to attract both skilled and unskilled workers into the primary sector.
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.
Check out our Semester Two 2019 newsletter for the Lincoln Diploma HERE
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.
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.
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.