A Hortgro-funded project assesses the effect of draped nets on external and internal fruit quality. By Anna Mouton. There is a growing consensus among most plum technical advisers that protective nets are becoming essential for maximising Class 1 pack-outs of…
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…
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…
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…
How plum and pome-fruit growers can optimise pollinator performance in netted orchards. By Anna Mouton. “The pollination of plums is super-important,” says stone-fruit grower and technical adviser Petru du Plessis. “If you have correct pollination in September, you can look…
The latest results from a three-year Hortgro-funded investigation of effective pollination period in Japanese plums. By Anna Mouton. Export cartons per hectare drive the profitability of Japanese plum orchards. The first step in filling those cartons is to have a…
Experts explain two agrochemical options that growers can use to manage harvest maturity. By Anna Mouton. Ethylene is a plant hormone that promotes fruit ripening, flower opening, and leaf dropping. In mature pome and most stone fruit, ethylene drives the…
Can plums tolerate higher CO2 levels during shipping? By Kyra-Kay Rensburg. The current reefer container-vent setting of 15 m3 per hour for stone fruit aims to prevent CO2 build-up but exacerbates moisture loss. Closing the vents could increase relative humidity…
What is the window of opportunity for pollination of popular Japanese plum cultivars? By Anna Mouton. Japanese plums account for about 10% of hectares planted to pome and stone fruit in South Africa. Despite setbacks ranging from severe droughts to…
The invasive polyphagous shot-hole borer threatens fruit trees. By Engela Duvenage. Polyphagous shot-hole borers began killing trees in gardens and forests nationwide in the past five years. Prof. Francois Roets of the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology at Stellenbosch…