What happens in the orchard doesn’t stay in the orchard. By Anna Mouton. Apples’ storage potential is largely determined by their condition at harvest. Most growers are well aware of the crucial role of optimum maturity, but factors such as…
Johan Kotze, Dutoit Agri Head: Eastern Cape, shares some insights and strategies to mitigate climate change. By Elise-Marie Steenkamp. Dutoit Agri, which farms in several different areas of the country, has climate change as a point on its strategic business-plan…
This checklist of dos and don’ts can increase the green colour of fruit at harvest. By Wiehann Steyn. Fruit need good light exposure in the first 40 days after fruit set to get satisfactory green colour at harvest. The chlorophyll…
This checklist of pre-plant decisions and management considerations will help growers increase pack outs with the required red colour. By Wiehann Steyn. Plant redder strains of existing cultivars. Don’t plant apple cultivars that colour up with difficulty in areas where…
We know we shouldn’t compare apples and oranges, but what about apples and pears? With red colour development in pears, it is best not to compare these two fruits. By Wiehann Steyn. Red colour development in pears is an anomaly.…
New research projects will help growers plan for the future. By Anna Mouton. We could all use a crystal ball. Imagine if we could know today whether Saturday a month hence will be braai weather? Or whether or not we…
A recent Hortgro-funded project focused on how climate change will impact growers in key production regions. By Jorisna Bonthuys. Climate change poses a significant threat to the sustainability of the pome- and stone-fruit industries, according to Prof. Stephanie Midgley, Climate…