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INBRIEF GLOBAL
Issue 395 7th December 2018
Disclaimer: Agfirst Consultants Nelson Ltd (Agfirst) have exercised reasonable skill, care and diligence in obtaining and preparing the information contained in this newsletter, however Agfirst do not make any representations about or guarantee the accuracy of the information, or the performance of any of the products mentioned therein. Agfirst will not accept liability for any losses arising in any way from the use of the information or the products referred to in this newsletter. Articles written in a region do not necessarily apply to other regions.
171 High Street, PO Box 33, Motueka Tel: 03 528 0330 Fax: 03 528 0331 Email: [email protected]
201b Warren St. Nth, PO Box 1261, Hastings Tel: 06 872 7080 Fax: 06 870 3629 Email: [email protected] 1/2
AROUND THE NELSON REGION…
SETTING THE CROP UP FOR HARVEST
We have seen some variable results from this year’s apple chemical thinning applications. Now it’s down to set up the crop for harvest. There’s 2 things every orchard should strive to achieve: the first part is obviously high yields. But more importantly there should be no compromises on quality. We know from research that early thinning to the right crop load will deliver the best fruit quality. I think one of the key aspects is not just to get the trees to the right crop load but to also target high quality fruit well distributed throughout the tree. Fruit needs to be evenly spaced and exposed to light, ideally in an open canopy. Overloading certain parts of the tree just to get the numbers will create problems with dry matter and colour in those fruits.
Ulf
KIWIFRUIT GIRDLING
Girdling can start now. Correct technique is key to receive the full benefit. December girdling greatly improves fruit size (large fruit have higher dry matter). Too deep and girdles will struggle to heal (Fig 1). Too shallow or incomplete removal of the phloem tissue (bridging) results in little benefit at all (Fig 2). Correctly executed girdles have all the bark material (phloem) cleanly removed down to the xylem tissue (harder tissue) (Fig 3). Correct instructions and regular checking of staff are essential. (Photo’s courtesy of Zespri
Canopy, KiwiTech Bulletin No. N46).
Fig 1. Too deep. Tip of pen showing correct depth.
Fig 2. Too shallow or incomplete removal of bark material resulting in bridging.
Fig 3. Correctly executed girdle.
Dean
INDIAN GROWER VISITS
Over the last 10 days, I showed a group of north Indian apple growers around in Nelson and Hawke’s Bay. The Indians were truly impressed by what they saw here and how our industry is performing. I would like to thank all the people we visited. I was rapt how open and welcoming people were and how willingly everybody was to share their knowledge. Thank you!
Figure 4: Ulf Kerer and the Indian Group out visitng local
Orchards.
Ulf
INBRIEF GLOBAL
Issue 395 7th December 2018
171 High Street, PO Box 33, Motueka Tel: 03 528 0330 Fax: 03 528 0331 Email: [email protected]
201b Warren St. Nth, PO Box 1261, Hastings Tel: 06 872 7080 Fax: 06 870 3629 Email: [email protected] 2/2 www.agfirst.co.nz
LARGE FRUIT SIZE CONCERNS - APPLES
Some exporters are reporting difficulties in marketing very large fruit. Where orchards are young and trees still developing canopy volume, there is not sufficient bud numbers to carry large crops necessary to manage fruit size and tree vigour. Over size fruit tends to be a problem on developing canopies and should diminish as a problem once canopies mature. The key to overcoming an oversize fruit problem is to grow a large, calm canopy quickly. Where high fruit colour is required, it is necessary to carry fruit in singles to avoid within bunch shading. Another reason for a large calm canopy. Where it looks as if large fruit will become a problem, the thinning strategy should be to selectively thin off the biggest fruit. Other tools that may hold fruit size back include deficit irrigation. This forces deep rooting which may help with colour because deep water is less likely to supply significant amounts of nitrogen. Advancing fruit colour with reflective mulch and other tools. As a general rule of thumb, fruit grows at around 1% per day through harvest. Harvest 10 days sooner and fruit will be one count size smaller. CAUTION: Avoid water stress during periods of high temperature as water stress at this time can cause sunburn.
John
ALL HAIL THE WINE (BUT NOT THE VINE PLEASE)
Hail is generally associated with spring thunderstorms but may occur at any time of year. Hail is formed in huge thunderhead (cumulonimbus) clouds. Thunderhead clouds contain an incredible amount of wind energy called updrafts and downdrafts. Hail forms in the cloud's main updraft winds in the form of supercooled water that stays in a liquid form even though its temperature is below freezing. To become a solid, supercooled water needs something on which to freeze (e.g. dust, and salt particles from ocean
moisture). Hail forms when the particles come in contact with the supercooled water. The more a hailstone comes into contact with supercooled water, the bigger the hailstone will become. Hail can quickly destroy a season of painstaking management in the vineyard. This time of year, a hail event can damaged flowers, defoliate vines, and cause extensive shoot damage, all of which will impact yield and fruit development and quality. If you suspect hail damage, contact Justin ([email protected]) to help to assess your vineyard and develop a yield management plan for the rest of the season.
Justin
Figure 6: Storm Clouds and possible thunder and hail over Hawkes Bay end of November 2018.
Figure 5: Bordeaux vineyard after a series of hail storms in May 2018 (source:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/30/eight-million-bottles-worth-champagne-grapes-
wiped-freak-hailstorms/)
