Carbon jargon
Your quick guide to carbon literacy. By Anna Mouton. CO2, CO2e and GHGs Greenhouse gases — GHGs — in the atmosphere trap heat that would otherwise radiate into space. The most abundant greenhouse gas in our atmosphere is water vapour,…
Case study: effective plant improvement
The Netherlands is a small country that packs a powerful horticultural punch —can the South African pome- and stone-fruit industries up their game by studying Dutch plant-improvement practices? By Anna Mouton. Article summary The Dutch plant certification system at a…
Choosing a rootstock
Matching rootstock and scion genetics to environmental and management factors is essential for establishing a winning orchard. By Anna Mouton. Rootstock selection begins with a vision of the winning orchard, according to soil scientist Mico Stander of agricultural consultancy Agrimotion…
Climate-change guidelines for growers
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…
Comparing apples with apples
Why is there so much variability? By Anna Mouton. Inconsistent fruit quality and ripening is the bane of apple growers everywhere. How is one supposed to harvest at optimum maturity when there is so much variation on the same tree?…
Compatibility explained
The details matter for optimising yields and quality in pome and stone fruit. By Anna Mouton. Pollination is essential for fruit set in most pome and stone fruit. The transfer of pollen to the stigma is the first step toward…
Confronting climate change
Carbon emissions and the future of South African agriculture. By Anna Mouton. Global warming threatens South African agriculture as much by changing consumer behaviour as by changing the climate. Growing awareness of the environmental impacts of agriculture is leading consumers…
Consistency is key
New Zealand apple growers are maximising profitability by improving fruit quality and uniformity. By Anna Mouton. “Our goal is consistency of targeted fruit that will pay top dollar,” said Craig Hornblow. He is an AgFirst founder with nearly 40 years…
Cover crops in orchards
It takes an ecosystem to grow a tree. By Anna Mouton. We humans often describe a clean floor as one you can eat off. But a clean orchard floor starves soil organisms. Cover crops can boost diversity both above and…
Cross-pollinator considerations
How to think about cross-pollination when planning orchards. By Anna Mouton. Effective cross-pollination is crucial for maximising productivity of self-incompatible deciduous-fruit orchards over their lifetime. This article shares insights on cross-pollinator selection and management from horticultural adviser and plant breeder…