Looking to be involved with an orchard from its development through to full production, Nick Common joined Harbour Edge... Read More
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 May & June
- Do soil and leaf tests now if not done in April.
- Harvest should be finished by May and frost protection becomes important in the cooler months particularly in frost prone areas.
- June is an ideal time for structural pruning to improve light penetration into the canopy, aid spraying and manage crop load.
- For pre-harvest citrus, watch for greenhouse thrips, which may remain problematic in mild autumns. Excel Organic Oil is the best control option pre-harvest. Fyfanon® can be used but be aware of the pre-harvest interval of up to 42 days in some markets.
- For varieties at harvest, if mites are still a problem, Excel Organic Oil can be applied.
- Brown rot may be more prevalent in any cooler, wetter autumn conditions. Best options to manage include Dithane® Rainshield™ Neo Tec, Captan or coppers such as Tri-Base Blue®. If applying Captan, do not use mineral oils 14 days either side of its application. Include cultural control as a form of prevention by ensuring tree skirts are not touching the ground.
- Floral induction and initiation start in June, and this is a good time to consider flower manipulation with GIB40 / GIB3.
- Maintain leaf colour and quality with foliar nitrogen sprays such as YaraVita Safe-N or low biuret urea (LBU) combined with Krista magnesium sulphate. Where additional phosphorus and potassium are needed, apply a foliar spray of YaraVita Croplift.
Knowledge Hub | The Latest Avocado News
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Fertigation boosts productivity in Northland avocado orchard -
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Fruitfed Supplies avocado monitoring expands northwardWhen Fruitfed Supplies launched its avocado monitoring programme in 1997, it was a joint venture called AvoGreen with the... Read More
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
- Harvesting continues for early sweet oranges, early navel oranges, mid-season mandarins, lemons, limes and grapefruit. Some satsuma varieties are already being harvested and supplied in May, so check for Brix and acid levels.
- Prune post-harvest and implement frost protection as needed.
- Conduct soil tests in autumn and early winter to determine next season’s fertiliser needs.
- If not done last month, collect leaf samples to determine plant nutrient status and plan next season’s programme. If testing shows potassium is low, apply foliar YaraVita Croplift-K or ground-apply sulphate of potash. Potassium is important for fruit sizing, flavour and peel thickness. Regular applications of calcium with YaraVita Stopit can reduce rind disorders and improve pack-out and shelf life.
- Monitor and control thrips and mites during the pre-harvest period. Both can be controlled with Excel Organic Oil, and thrips with Fyfanon® (except Meyer lemons), however, consider the pre-harvest interval of up to 28 days for Fyfanon in some markets if growing early season satsumas, or up to 42 days for other citrus varieties.
- Manage brown rot, caused by phytophthora which can lead to fruit drop, with copper products such as Tri-Base Blue®, or Dithane® Rainshield™ Neo Tec or Captan 600 Flo®. Do not use oil products 14 days either side of Captan application.
- Replenish nutrients post-harvest to compensate for what was removed with the previous crop. Foliar nitrogen options include YaraVita Safe-N or YaraVita N400. For micronutrient replacement, consider YaraVita Bud Builder FL.
Here's The Latest Citrus News From Our Knowledge Hub
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A key component in effective disease preventionTrusted for nearly 20 years, Pristine by BASF protects grapes, citrus, pipfruit, and vegetables from major diseases like... Read More -
Posted in: Horticulture Summer Fruit Wine Grapes Pip Fruit Stone Fruit Horticulture Product Showcases
Fertigation supports growth of fruit cropsOver the winter months, a good number of the Fruitfed Supplies Technical Horticultural field team participated in training... Read More -
Busy horticultural crop monitoring season underwayFruitfed Supplies Crop Monitors are hard at work all over New Zealand at this time of year, looking for pests, diseases and... Read More -
Scholarship winner's keen involvement in horticultureThe 2021 recipient of the Massey University Fruitfed Supplies Horticulture Scholarship, Dylan Hall, has grown up surrounded... Read More