Sunburn
Why it happens and how to prevent it. By Anna Mouton. Sunburn is the damage caused by too much sun exposure — anyone who spends time outdoors knows this. People tend to find a tan attractive in humans but not…
Sunburn research summarised
Highlights of projects funded by Hortgro Pome and Hortgro Stone Hortgro Pome and Hortgro Stone have funded — and continue to fund — extensive research into the development and control of sunburn. The goal is to better understand the causes…
Technology for irrigation scheduling
Growers have more — and better — options than ever before. What do they need to know to choose the top tool for their orchards? By Anna Mouton. Understanding your soils is the starting point for accurate irrigation scheduling, says…
Ten tips for pollination success
Cross-pollination by honeybees is a prerequisite for setting many pome- and stone-fruit cultivars. How can growers take control of this process? By Anna Mouton. There’s no recipe for perfect pollination — growers need to fine-tune their practices according to the…
The bees and the (gum) trees
The Western Cape has a superb indigenous pollinator — we must look after it. By Anna Mouton. If insects disappeared, humanity could probably survive on cereals and other non-pollinated crops, but we would lose about a third of global food…
The benefits of soil health
Laying the groundwork for productive orchards. By Grethe Bestbier. Maintaining soil health is important for many reasons. Soil sustains all forms of terrestrial life and underpins successful crop production. Soil also stores carbon, thereby slowing climate change. Entomologist Matthew Addison,…
The Deciduous Fruit Plant Certification Scheme
Top-performing orchards start with a blue-label investment. By Anna Mouton and Rachel Kriel. What is the Deciduous Fruit Plant Certification Scheme? The Deciduous Fruit Plant Certification Scheme is a voluntary certification programme for plant material. The Scheme is managed by…
The drone detective
How De Rust Estate uses infrared imaging as a cost-effective tool to identify and address stress in orchards. By Anna Mouton. Is there an affordable tool for rapid water-stress detection in orchards? This question set Karin Clüver, production director at…
The fundamental flaws of chill models
The fundamental flaws of chill models Why they don’t work well in South Africa. By Anna Mouton. Chill models matter — their outputs have real-life implications. Growers in areas with mild winters depend on chill models for the management of…
The fundamentals of fruit set
What does it take to get from blossom to bin? By Anna Mouton. Technical input by Prof. Karen Theron, Chair in Applied Preharvest Deciduous Fruit Research at Stellenbosch University. Fruit set is that hopeful moment when the base of a…