Fertigation boosts productivity in Northland avocado orchard
Looking to be involved with an orchard from its development through to full production, Nick Common joined Harbour Edge...
Our Avocado Knowledge
Our Technical Horticultural Representatives and stores are present in the main avocado growing regions in the North Island.
Fruitfed Supplies also launched its avocado monitoring programme in 1997 and is now the largest certified Avogreen monitoring operator, a programme administered by New Zealand Avocados. AvoGreen monitoring is based on integrated pest management principles to help growers use suitable crop protection products and improve pack-out.
Avocado Tech-Know Tips For March/April
- March sees an increase in canopy density and root growth. Late October through to May is a high-risk time for the development of phytophthora infections. March and April are good times to apply phosphonate as it coincides with root flush but, first, check the summer flush has ceased and hardened off before applying. Use Agri-Fos® 600 or Foschek® at 15 percent working solution, applying at 20 ml/m² of canopy with injections evenly spaced around the trunk in a corkscrew pattern.
- Treat fruit rots year-round with coppers such as Tri-Base Blue®. A minimum of eight applications per year is recommended, especially around wet weather events and March and April are good times for control.
- Control leafroller with Sparta™, Proclaim Opti® or Delfin® WG.
- Control scale and long-tailed mealybug with Dew 600 or Excel Organic Oil. Be aware of the ten day re-entry interval for Dew 600 and the long PHI. Consider harvest dates and what other orchard activities are required before applying this product.
- Control greenhouse thrips with Sparta, Uphold, Fyfanon, or Dew 600.
Knowledge Hub | The Latest Avocado News
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Biological control options for fungal infections in horticultural crops
Fungal infections come with summer’s warm, wet conditions and are devastating for crops. Botrytis infections in grapes,...
Katikati orchardist expands organic business
Katikati Orchardist Adam Alexander had plans to train as a secondary school teacher when two things happened.
Fruitfed Supplies avocado monitoring expands northward
When Fruitfed Supplies launched its avocado monitoring programme in 1997, it was a joint venture called AvoGreen with the...
Our Citrus Knowledge
The Fruitfed Supplies team in Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Northland offer product knowledge and support to orange, mandarin, grapefruit, and lime growers.
Crop monitoring is also an important part of Fruitfed Supplies' offering to the citrus industry. Timely pests and disease monitoring goes hand in hand with our Technical Horticultural Representatives' crop management recommendations and accurate reporting for accurate decision making and auditing purposes.
Citrus Tech-Know Tips For May & June
- During winter, early to mid-season navel oranges are being harvested, so continue to check navel BrimA readings. Grapefruit, lemons, tangelos and some satsumas are also at maturity. Afourer harvesting starts late August and mandarins reach maturity.
- After harvest, pruning becomes a key
orchard activity. Avoid pruning in wet
weather and maintain tool hygiene to help
prevent spreading pathogens, such as
those causing brown rot, between trees. - Continue monitoring for mites during
harvest. If the threshold is reached, control
with mineral oil. Do not use mineral oil 14
days either side of a Captan application.
- Winter wet weather can produce prime conditions for the development of brown rot when spores splash up from soil onto fruit. Mature fruit are most at risk, particularly those close to the ground, so pruning low skirts of trees during winter pruning will reduce this risk. Continue applications of brown rot preventatives such as coppers like Tri-Base Blue®, or products like Dithane® Rainshield™ NeoTec if pre-harvest, or Fruitfed Captan if post-harvest. Pay attention to the pre-harvest interval if close to harvest.
- Melanose is a major problem on navels, especially in the Kerikeri area. It can be controlled with Tri-Base Blue or Pristine®, which will also target scab.
- Greenhouse thrips may still be present. Monitor regularly and control as required to manage the populations. Options include Fyfanon® or mineral oil but be aware that oil applied post-flowering may delay satsuma brix and colouring.
Here's The Latest Citrus News From Our Knowledge Hub
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A key component in effective disease prevention
Trusted for nearly 20 years, Pristine by BASF protects grapes, citrus, pipfruit, and vegetables from major diseases like...
Fertigation supports growth of fruit crops
Over the winter months, a good number of the Fruitfed Supplies Technical Horticultural field team participated in training...
Busy horticultural crop monitoring season underway
Fruitfed Supplies Crop Monitors are hard at work all over New Zealand at this time of year, looking for pests, diseases and...
Scholarship winner's keen involvement in horticulture
The 2021 recipient of the Massey University Fruitfed Supplies Horticulture Scholarship, Dylan Hall, has grown up surrounded...