New Zealand Tree Crops Association

www.treecrops.org.nz    All Events    BAY OF PLENTY Branch Events

 * Visitors welcome at all our functions. Come learn about Tree Cropping!

PLEASE respect our generous hosts' property and other visitors' peaceful attendance. Bring NO pets.
Beware of health and safety hazards which may exist - children must be supervised. Bring sturdy footwear and suitable clothing. Let's all enjoy our day!

Newsletter Editors - Important note:

Branch Events - Field Days & Meetings - Upcoming, current, recent

October 2010

October Field Day
Host:  Bill
Kauri Point Road, Katikati
1 pm Sunday 10th  October

A chance to learn more about growing lemons.

How to get there:
From Tauranga - take SH2 north from Tauranga.  Continue north through Katikati.  Kauri Point Road is the first road on the right past Woodlands Road.  Drive up Kauri Point Road - you will pass Castlegrace Drive on your right and continue through the "dog-leg" corner.  Property appears to be quite a distance down a shared driveway.  Signs will be out!  Katikati locals will be familiar with Kauri Point Road.

September 2010

Westbay Waratahs
Hosts: Julie & Geoff
Pine Ridge Lane, Aongatete, Western BOP
1pm Sunday, 12th September

Westbay Waratahs grow flowers and foliage for the floristry markets.

How to get there:
Pine Ridge Lane is on the right some kms up Wright Road. From Tauranga, head north on SH2, Wright Road is first road on left past Work Road (also on left, or past Morton Road which is on the right). As always, our signs will be out! From Katikati, proceed south along SH2, and Wright Road is next road on the right after Lockington Road.
It's right at the end of Pine Ridge Lane - you will see a sign "Westbay Waratahs Packhouse & Coolroom"

August 2010

August Field Day Incredible Edibles (Tharfield Nurseries) 
Hosts: Andrew & Fiona
Lockington Road, Aongatete, Western BOP. 
1 pm Saturday, 21st August. 

This well known nursery supplies many garden centres with cropping plants. If you have ordered from the list enclosed you will be able to pick them up.
How to get there:
From Tauranga - take SH2 north from Tauranga, Lockington Road is the next road on the left past Wright Road.  From Katikati, take SH2 south toward Tauranga... Lockington Road is opposite Matahui Road and/or first road on the right past Walker Road East & West

July 2010

Saturday 10th July at 1.00pm
Allport Road, Paengaroa
Hosts: Geoff & Jill

This is an established farm forestry operation.

How to get there:
From Tauranga end, take SH33 toward Rotorua. Allport Road is the first road on the left approx 5 kms after you have left the settlement of Paengaroa - (you will pass O'Hara Estate Deer Farm and OSKAT recreational park on your right, then Allport Road is at the bottom of the hill past OSKAT.) Turn left into Allport Road and head down there just over 8 kms - the property is on the right.

From Whakatane end, turn left onto SH33 at the intersection of SH2/SH33... continue through Paengaroa as above.

From Rotorua end, from SH33 turn right into Allport Road.

June 2010

Saturday 12th June at 1.00pm
Waipapa Block Road, Pahoia, Tauranga
Hosts: Ken & Pru

June's Field Day topic is a "pot-luck" propagation field day. Bring propagating material of plants that:

• you want to know how to propagate and/or
• you think others might like to propagate

Also bring a sharp knife (craft or grafting), secateurs, containers (Plastic planting bags or tubes), labels, pens, bucket. This day is looking forward to next year when we are planning to have a public treecrops plant sale day (when there will be the opportunity for you to sell what you have raised as well as our organising plants for sale from some commercial growers.) NB: Propagation part of the field day is open to the public. Following on from the field day there will be a "pot-luck" dinner with Ken & Pru - dinner is for Tree Crops members only please. BBQ; oven and microwave ovens available. Enjoy a mid-winter get together with fellow Tree Croppers!

This was one of those field days that one later feels privileged to have attended. The three tutors—Bill Rae, Nick Nelson-Parker and Jim Peele—are probably among the most experienced of cutting grafters. To compare their somewhat different propagating goals, priorities and techniques was a rare opportunity.

To many tree croppers such as myself from the spade and chainsaw division, grafting has seemed a bit of a black art, and left it to others who have time for the fiddly work. But now, having taken the chance to join some bits of wood DNA for myself, I just might try a few experiments. With a wide variety of scion wood available, many samples were exchanged by keen students young and old.

And that was before the shared dinner. What a scrumptious variety of dishes.

A most memorable and pleasantly-hosted field day.

Les G

May 2010

Sunday 16th May at 1.00 pm.
Pukakura Road, Katikati
Host: Beverley

An opportunity to learn more about the growing and harvesting of persimmons, there may be a chance to pick some fruit as it is harvest time.

How to get there:
From the South, take SH2 to Katikati. Turn into Beach Road at the end of town on the right hand side just before you exit the township. Travel down Beach Road and Pukakura Rd is right at the end of Beach Road, on the left hand side.
From the North, turn off SH2 into Beach Road on the left just as you enter Katikati, then continue on to Pukakura Rd at end of Beach Rd.

Tree Crops promotion at Ohope Craft Market
On Saturday 1st May I will be manning a stall at the Ohope Craftmarket to promote NZTCA. The main purpose is to display the BEE information put together by the bee group. It will also be a chance to display other activities and crops of interest to tree croppers.
I plan on covering the cost of the site by selling some produce. Once the $15 is covered, the rest of sales is for the person who supplied the produce to keep. I figure 'produce for sale' is the best way to attract attention to the site and give us a chance to talk to people about tree crops.
There are 2 ways to help.
1. provide tree crops type produce
2. help man the stall
So if you are local to the Eastern BOP, and would like to be involved, please contact Nick Nelson Parker.
Regards, Gayle Couch

April 2010

The BOP Tree Crop Field Day for Sunday 11th April at 1pm is as follows:
Figs at John & Heather Dean’s,
662 State Highway, RD1, Katikati

From the South, their property is on the right hand side of SH2, and a few minutes north of Katikati - past the Country Pumpkin. They suggest you continue north past their place and turn right into Tanners Point Rd, then turn around and approach from the north as entry off highway is safer from this direction.

March 2010

2010 March 25^th ~ 28^th —

2010 NZTCA NATIONAL CONFERENCE - Christchurch - more details...

March Field Day

Sunday 14th March at 1pm

Tauranga Direct Road, Hamurana (15 minutes from Rotorua)

Host: Paul

Visit to a recently established truffiere

Paul is hoping to organise a truffle specialist to also come and talk with us. Afternoon tea about 3.00pm

How to get there: From Tauranga take SH36 towards Rotorua, approximately 40 km down this road on your right.

From Whakatane take the Rotorua road, after you pass Hells Gate, turn right at the T junction onto SH33, follow this along and turn left into Hamurana Road. Turn right into SH36 towards Tauranga, on the left hand side.

February 2010

A.G.M. - Sunday February 14th
Ongare Point Road, Katikati
Hosts: Thelma & John

Bee Group Exhibition

Read the January 2010 Newsletter, members-only PDF file...

December 2009

Sunday December 13th at 4pm
Capamagian Drive, Katikati
Hosts: Margaret & John
Xmas BBQ which is the 2nd Sunday in December. There will be a committee meeting prior to this.
Please bring a plate, salad or sweet to share. Sausages and fruit juice will be provided. You may wish to bring your own drinks, meat for the BBQ and folding chairs, plates and cutlery.

Forestry Venture Scuttled by ETS -

A Bay of Plenty farm and nursery operation has had a multi-national group withdraw from planting hundreds of hectares, because the government Emissions Trading Scheme prevents it from being profitable - read more...

 

WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT THE BEE????

The Bay of Plenty Branch of NZTCA has recently initiated a Bee Sub-group.

The present aims include:

• To provide information about Bees and their needs
• To establish a Trees for Bees programme

Bee Sub-group, read more...

 

November 2009

Sunday November 8 at 1.00 pm
Canon Road, Katikati
Hosts: Bill and Elizabeth
Topic for the day is "Growing Pecans". Varieties, row spacing, damage control, pollination, harvesting and drying will be looked at. Hopefully there will be some flowers to find as well.
The pecans are about eleven years old and are now beginning to produce reasonable crops.
Also grown on site are hazels, macadamia, gevuina and a walnut.

Message from our Chairperson

We have had some really successful field days recently, Pruning at Waihi by Bill Rae and the following month Propagation at Brian's Place, again with Bill and his knowledge, and this last month a great field day at The Blueberry Corner with Ben and Heidi. Thank you all, without your contributions we would not be able to carry on.

We have Rosemary who has started up a group to make people aware of the Importance of Bees and she has been buzzing around, I am sure you are going to see more of her in the next while.

I am hoping you are all aware of the fact that Rotorua are opening their Airport to International Travel with flights going in and out of there on a regular basis, and they did not even consider there would be a problem with people bringing foreign things in their luggage.

It is a fact that 40% of passengers do not realise they have fruit in their bags. So do we have a problem? They say they will randomly check passengers bags! We need them to make sure they check them all 100%.

We have the varroa problem with our bees – brought in to NZ and the Guava Moth which has come from Australia in recent times, both real threats to our fruit industry.

Now I guess we had better get on with the weeding and planting and the harvesting with strawberries ready and everything growing like mad, and hope you will make time to come to our next field day – and then to Christmas at our place, you are all welcome.

Regards - Margaret Clode

 

October 2009

Sunday October 11th at 2pm (please note time)
Blueberry Corner
Thornton Road
Whakatane
Hosts: Ben & Heidi
This is a commercial blueberry and strawberry growing operation, also new for this year, raspberries.

Blueberry Corner, Whakatane

A small group of Tree Croppers gathered at Blueberry Corner to see this commercial blueberry operation. Ben and Heidi own two blueberry sites, plus they lease another. With their shop they have found their customers requiring diversification, hence they now also have strawberries and raspberries at the main site.

The strawberries are replanted each year and a specialised machine pulls up the rows, sterilises the soil and wraps the rows in plastic. Strawberries are very sensitive to fungus, wet weather and other nasties and it is more economic to replant on a yearly basis. Main varieties grown are Camarosa and Pajero, both of which suit the climate of the bay.

The raspberries which were first planted last year have all been removed and replaced as the variety did not do well at this site. The new plants are growing well.

The blueberries are for the main part caged as the birds pick them off. They are moving back to growing some of the older varieties, which not only seem to do better, but are not licenced making it easier to replace stock. We were told there are only around 30 blueberry commercial growers in NZ and most of them are in the Waikato.

Blueberries do not like too much good feed, so they mainly use fertiliser products directly around the individual bushes and in small quantities. Sawdust is used as a dressing around the rows.

The shop is currently being updated and modified, Heidi told us they sell all sorts of blueberry related products, from jam to soap as well as delicious icecreams.

Wendie Rosewell gave a vote of thanks on behalf of all those present to Ben and Heidi for an interesting visit.

Gayle Couch

 

September 2009

Sunday September 13th 1.00pm
Sedgemoore Lane, RD2, Katikati
Hosts: Brian & Jan
This will be a propagation and potting on day. In addition there will be a tree sale. A beautiful property to visit.

Notes on potting on seedlings and plants.

Potting on is the process by which a plant is progressively moved into larger containers as it grows.
It may be a seedling from a flat into a tube or a young plant into a larger planter bag.
The basic principles are the same.
Most potting mixes for potting on are designed to last 3 months and will have 3 month slow release pellets, eg Osmocote in the mix.
The choice of pot size then is governed by the amount of growth you expect from the plant in 3 months.
The roots should be just filling the pot space in this time and not winding around the pot.
The size of pot is important as if too large it will mean that the potting mix will stay too wet for too long and the plant may rot.
Similarly potting mix should go right to the bottom of the container as this gives the the container a bigger 'head of pressure' so that after watering all the free water drains faster from the mix, being replaced by air which is needed for roots to grow.
Rocks etc. in the bottom of containers actually impede drainage.

Potting mixes for potting on will have:

  - peat or bark to absorb water
  - pumice sand to help with aeration
  - Osmocote 3 months to provide nutrients and trace elements
  - Dolomite lime to provide Ca, Mg, and raise the pH of mix

Procedure:

• Select the right size container
• Firm some potting mix into the bottom of the container with your fingers and make sure that it fills the corners of planter bags (so the bags wont fall over later)
• Remove plant from old container and straighten out roots trimming if necessary. Hold plant by leaves or cotyledons so the stem wont be damaged.
• Pour mix in around plant and firm down.Mix should only come to original height up stem.
• With small seedlings fill container then make a suitable sized hole with a dibber, (plant tag works well) Place the seedling's roots in the hole then firm around the roots with dibber.
• Water in plants with a watering can or a hose with a soft rose allowing the water to fall on the containers.

Do it yourself potting mix to make 50 l. of mix

30 - 35 l. dry peat or fine bark
20 - 15 l. pumice sand
75g 3-month slow release pellets
150g dolomite lime
6.25g fritted trace elements (or 25g micromax)

Mix the dolomite lime and the fritted trace elements together first to ensure an even spread of the trace elements. Mix ingredients together by turning them over with a shovel on concrete.

For a SEED RAISING mix: use 25l. peat plus 25l. pumice sand

  Bill Rae

 

August 2009

Sunday August 9th 1.30 pm.
Pyes Pa Road, Tauranga
Host: Mark
Mark has for the last 7 years been collecting plants & seeds to plant in his Arboretum. He is growing pre-historic palms and cycads on the north sides and South African and Mexican on the East, and Australian on the West, on the south he is planting Hardwoods. We will see the block of land in its early stages of development and hopefully be able to watch as he progresses through the years. Mark says it would be advisable to wear gumboots or similar, to have a walk around.

Tree Croppers gathered to learn more about Mark's plan for a garden. The site had been purchased in 2002 and was a pine plantation. Many plants were brought down from his previous garden in Auckland. It was chosen because it was a valley and also for the volcanic loam soil, both of which he felt were necessary for the gardens success. The south westerly wind is the predominant wind on this 7½ acre site and it is close to the large population base in Tauranga, this is important as in the future it is hoped the garden will be open to the public. Mark is mainly planting palms, cycads and succulents, interspersed with a few other interesting trees. Planting is for future generations as some of the examples will take two or three generations to become mature. He has drawn inspiration from Lotus Land, California and others.

First we looked at the various plants at the top of the valley moving away from the house. Abyssinian bananas Ensete ventricosum have been used in places to shelter tender plants. A hybrid jellobi palm was planted near to a Magnolia, in between the two there had previously been a long drop. The Magnolia was transplanted to this site and as it was a large specimen a wire rope attached to a tractor was used to tighten and slice through the base of the root ball, but it has survived and looking at the buds will provide a magnificent display in a short while. Over near the Photina hedge we saw a large Aloe bainsaii, to improve drainage he has constructed small raised plant beds for these and covers the roots with gravel. Regarding photinas we were told when planting a hedge to ensure all are of the same cultivar, otherwise the height differences can result in an up and down hedge. Palm by hedge Chaleamarocks humilis. They are on bore water and Mark said a hot water cylinder was eaten through in just 18 months due to the high nitrates and acidity, now there is a lime filter for the water and with the little amount of watering of plants, they seem unaffected.

A strongly growing totara hedge was seen, just 4 years old, Bill Rae commented that totara grew well from cuttings. Mark said he thought they did not form quite such a strong root system from cuttings.

Red akeake hedge interspersed with groups of palms. Kikuyu and gorse help to hold this type of soil together and prevent slips, so he does not use spray very much preferring to just use the brush cutter and allowing the mat of dead material to build up. Bill said kikuyu was dormant in winter and could lead to a problem in damp areas.

There are seven species of the Norfolk Pine Auricaria heterophylla in the garden. On these slopes larger cycads were planted to prevent swamping by weeds as it is difficult to work on the slopes. Brahea armata, a blue hesper palm was also in this area, it is very attractive but slow growing. Cycads thrive on the slopes, we were told they can die due to overwatering, but are never too dry. At the top of the valley we saw erosion from the neighbours run off, Mark plans to place and earth bund here in the future. Cycads take many years to grow to a good size specimen and as a result they a sometimes stolen. Mark's plan is to place plenty of sharp pointed plants around to injure and trap would be thieves.

Many of Marks plants have grown from seed that he has gathered from many different sources. The Mexican hand flower, Chirandendron pentalactum (devils hand tree) with a red flower had grown from seed gathered in Albert Park. They are also good tui food John Dean said.

We saw Washingtonia robusta palms. Many varieties of aloe and agave were also to be seen. Crea sellowa variegata (spiny aloe) and ordinary yuccas were seen in amongst the gorse on the slip lower in the valley, also Banksia speciosa, serrata and grandis. There are numerous old pine stumps which had to be watched for as it is easy to catch your foot in the holes beside them.

Tasmanian Blue Gums had been grown from seed collected just outside Taupo, more of these are planted in the woodlot. This gum regenerates well if not cut too low. Lower still in the valley Caryota urens polinus, a fish tail palm used for sago, palm sugar and alcohol, had suffered frost damage and rabbit digging.

Since cattle have been removed from the block and Mark has been off work with injury the gorse is coming back strongly. There is a neurotoxin in cycads which if eaten by cattle brings on staggers.

Mark told us during WW11 in Guam there were food shortages and the natives tried to use the starch in the cycads for food. The seeds need a lot of processing in order to rid them of the neurotoxin and unfortunately they did not process them enough which resulted in those that ate it suffering from a dementia/alzheimers type of problem.

In the bottom of the valley where in the future Mark envisages an entrance coming into the garden for the public he has planted an avenue of Liquid Amber. In this low lying area there are swamp cypress which are good for erosion control., John Dean said Pond cypress – Taxodium distichum var nutans is more upright and attractive tree. Bananas in the lower levels of the valley had suffered badly from frost.

Jubaea chilensis palms which withstand the frost are now protected in Chile as their use for luxury palm honey nearly made them extinct. Andean wax palm-Ceroxylon (grows to 60m), as the valley is 40m below road level , in the future, about 150 years Mark envisages the palms growing up so their tops can be seen from the road and then when you enter into the valley you see their true size and wow factor.

Acer flamingo and A Negundo "box elder maple", Rhopostylis bauerri and Kermadec Nikau under bags, grows faster with a white flower. These had been moved from higher up and had suffered from the cold and damp hence the bags and flowers of sulphur has also been spread to protect. He plans to put Aurucaria bidwillii (bunya bunya trees) along the boundary. Red Indian horsechestnut and purple (copper) beech. Also in this lower part we saw monkey puzzle trees and frost hardy hibiscus. A golden elm had been cut back to try and regrow after borer attack also an attractive Larex leptolepis, Japanese larch.

Moving back up the valley we saw Aloe bainsii growing where it is planned to make a water feature of running water from the top of the slope to the bottom recirculated by an Anderton pump, also Bismarckia nobilis, Dypsis disepian (skinny bottle palm) Beautia capitata, Livistona chinensis - Chinese fan palm and Agave americana. Along the base of the retaining wall at the top of the slope were various cycads 6 -7 years old, these are in deep planting bags on top of scoria filled trays for good drainage. Encephalartos longafolius and Cycas panzhihuaensis, a striking blue colour, among them. An attractive specimen of Leucadendron argenteum was seen with beautiful silver leaves, this is actually a tree and will be planted on the slopes. Wild Spaniard in pots, native to south island. Planted further along slope groups of Aloe ferox and Encephalartos longafolius. Mark explained that like most cycads, Encephalartos natalensis growth was triggered by warmth. Hence the roots are covered in stone to heat them and they are fed before labour weekend so they grow well.

We walked through the nursery area which was crammed with plants, this area is to become Mark's house site when he gets them all planted out. For fertilizer he uses citrus fert for palms; bulb fert, as low in nitrogen, for succulents and for cycads Thrive lawn fert to which you can add a pinch of trace elements. These are cost effective options.

John Dean gave a vote of thanks of behalf of the Chairperson, Margaret and all those present, saying he hoped we could return in around three years to see the development of the garden.

Gayle Couch & Elizabeth Rae

 

July 2009

Sunday July 12th 1.00pm
at Woodlands Road, Waihi.
Host: Katherine
This is a pruning demonstration day at an organic property with an establishing orchard. A pair of secateurs could be useful. Learn to train young plants, renovate old plants and maintain fruiting trees. There are apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, and citrus, plus other bits and pieces.

Review

On Sunday 12th July after some dreadful weather 50 people met at Katherine's for the pruning demonstration. Bill began with a talk on the basic principles of pruning (see notes below) and illustrated this with wood from home. A good question time showed people were thinking hard about how they were going to translate this to their own trees.

We then moved outside to the orchard where the theory was put into practise on a pear tree that had its centre eaten out and the renewal system could be shown.
We then moved to 2 overgrown apple trees where careful selection of wood showed how to open up your trees to light by shaping first and then pruning with the renewal system again so that the trees would fruit every year. A ladder was required for this as the trees were limbed up to keep the sheep away.
Next we just discussed pruning of a large almond as it was about to burst into flower and then John Dean showed us what to prune on Katherine’s catalpas.
Lastly on the way back up to the house Bill pruned out a small citrus thinning it out to let in a lot more light so that you get fruit throughout the canopy not just round the edges. Afternoon tea completed our field day.

Thank you Bill for sharing your expertise and Katherine for the shelter of your garage and free range on your fruit trees.

Elizabeth Rae

Pointers for pruning

Reasons for pruning:

• To restrict the size of the tree (height and width).
• To maintain the shape and structure of the plant.
• To allow access for picking and pruning.
• To allow better light penetration and spray access.
• To improve the quantity and quality of the fruit.
• To allow good air movement around the tree to minimise fungal problems.
• To remove diseased or damaged wood.

Points to note about plants before you prune:
    Upright shoots tend to be vegetative and vigorous, horizontal shoots more fruitful and less vigorous.
    The harder you prune (the further you cut back) the more vigorous the regrowth will be.
    The position of the bud immediately below the cut will determine the direction of the regrowth.
    Learn which year wood your plant fruits on (you could be pruning off next years fruit!) –
Examples of the ages of fruitful wood:
    1 year old or current year - grapes, feijoa, guava and tamarillo.
    2 year wood - olives, peaches and other stone fruit.
    3 year wood - apples, pears and quinces.

Strategy
Have a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve (see reasons above). Pruning isn't about giving your plants a haircut and providing clippings for the mulcher!
    Remove the 3D's: dead, diseased, and damaged.
    Remove crossover branches and unwanted watershoots.
    Sort out structural and shape problems.
    Prune for fruiting wood, if any thing is left.

Basic tools
    Secateurs for small twigs.
    Loppers for larger wood up to 5cm.
    Pruning saw for larger cuts and those cuts close to the framework.
Sharp tools make cleaner cuts with less effort and heal faster. A sharp pruning saw makes the cleanest cut.
Tools should be cleaned between trees to minimise the transfer of disease. A wipe down with meths will kill most bacteria or fungi.

Remember, 'A good pruner is a cut above the rest'
Happy Pruning – Bill Rae

 

June 2009

Saturday June 13th 1p.m.
At Wainui Rd, RD 2, Opotiki
Hosts: Nick and Pauline Nelson-Parker
Walnuts, chestnuts and various fruit trees. Nick has received the Dr Don McKenzie award this year for his work with walnuts. Take your lunch for a picnic.

Review

Nick welcomed a large group of members and visitors, saying:

  ‘I have noticed that not many people go along with my idea of growing European Walnuts for timber while cropping the nuts.

  ‘Briefly, I firmed up on the idea as a forestry student. I discovered I had enrolled in a largely uneconomic industry, and came to the conclusion that the only way to make a forest pay was to generate annual returns while waiting for the payoff at clearfall. Walnuts seemed the obvious candidate, and the high value of the walnut timber at the end was attractive.

  ‘So this place is the experiment to see if the idea is possible. The timber is the primary focus. The nut crop needs to generate enough income to take any pressure off harvesting the timber. It needs to make the question, “What age do you cut the trees down?” irrelevant. We also built a third question into our experiment; “Can we use gravity to harvest our nuts?” As a young student I figured that a timber stand would not have nice neat rows that you could pick up nuts with a machine, so planting walnuts on these steep slopes is part of the experiment.

  ‘So we will start the fielday showing why the idea should not work.’

  Nick led us off by the rear track, mentioning as we walked the health benefits of walnuts. A pinus strobilanthes was planted near the house so its finger-sized cones, which fall from the tree, can be easily collected for tinder/kindling; The “Carbon Market” is also a spin-off (~ $2000/hectare/year for eucalypts – better return than sheep or beef in areas such as Hikurangi). This met the objection that earning carbon credits does not reduce the total global output of carbon dioxide, just displaces it. Can this source of income therefore be justified on ethical or practical grounds?

  Newer plantings of Black Walnuts (said to be best timber, but hard to distinguish from J. regia when dressed), at 750 stems/ha reducing to 200. Difficult to prune, with conflicting advice. Seedlings give good growth – they seem to be 5 years ‘ahead’ of grafted plants in 4 years! Surplus stumps coppice if not killed – Nick has found Grazon works well.

  ‘Halliday’ a Juglans yunnanensis cultivar. Walnuts of the ‘European’ type range through northern Asia. Juglans australis – South American walnuts – characteristically grow straighter and when the best rootstock has been determined, crossing with j. regia may hold promise.

  The original plantation was set out at 1900 stems/ha – the then-standard radiata spacing. The trees are now, 30 years later, about 4 x 8 metres, and many are over 10m tall. Nick intended to graft from the heaviest croppers, but suitable branches are now out of reach at 7m+. A row of orange sticks marks the harvesting line in the valley – gravity is a help! Rain usually brings the ripe walnuts down in a short ‘window’, but this dry season caused husks to reclose, so the nuts are still falling.

  Phytophthera is a problem for walnuts world-wide, but as yet only a nuisance here. Blight can be prevented by (aerial) spraying with copper – ‘Roadside 12’ descendants grow out of blight. No pruning can be done between June and Christmas because of excessive bleeding. (Chestnuts for timber must be cut April to August or they split self-destructively when drying.)

  In the USA, the millable size of black walnut is considered to be 30cm diameter, most of which is heartwood. In our temperate climate, only a small core of heartwood would have developed by this stage. Recent market has required extremely even, clean grain for luxury panelling and veneers. Woodturners prefer ’interesting’ grain from stumps and forks. The longer the growth time, the more the trees straighten and smooth out irregularities. Walnuts for timber are definitely a long-term investment, but Nick is able to sell all the nuts he can produce.

  We continued to walk around many interesting plantings, noting the beautiful clear yellow leaves of Populus yunnanensis, which is also possum- and stock-resistant, and gathering lots of cuttings of figs and chokeberry.

  Back at the barn, TCA President, Murray Redpath, presented Nick with this year’s Don McKenzie award, which Nick confessed he had long-coveted, but never really expected to win. Both his speech and Murray’s revealed what a depth of research and practical application Nick has contributed over many years, and how well-deserved is the award. Prolonged and resounding applause!

  All then enjoyed afternoon tea, with much chat, appreciation of walnut goodies and warm thanks to Pauline and Nick for an enjoyable and interesting visit.

  Wendie Rosewell.

 

May 2009

Note - Amended date: Sunday May 17th 1.30 p.m.
at Te Puna Rd, Tauranga.
Hosts: Garth and Jennifer
Garth and Jennifer grow vanilla commercially in Tonga and New Zealand. Vanilla plants are the only edible fruiting members of the orchid family. There is an article on this property on page 34 of the March TreeCropper magazine.

April 2009

Return visit to a grower's delight - Beach Road, Katikati
Sunday April 19th at 1pm
Hosts: Pauline and Theo
This property has a wide selection of tree crops; citrus, feijoa, macadamia, almonds, persimmon, apples, grapes and asparagus. See what is possible to grow successfully in this area and in particular learn how Theo trains and controls his grapes, both indoor and outdoor varieties.

March 2009

GreGoli Gardens, Stanley Road, Wainui, Whakatane
Sunday March 15th at 2 pm (as Whakatane Farmer's market Sunday morning)
Hosts - Olia & Greg
The Property supports a grove of 200 olive trees with olives pressed and bottled for 2 years now. Other tree crops include plums, figs, feijoas, with a heritage orchard of peaches, plums and apples.
These and gardens of beans, garlic, herbs and mediterranean vegetables are grown organically, Olia's herbal teas and remedies make an interesting for seasonal supply to the Farmer's market.
Bring your lunch & sit in the courtyard beforehand. Tea and cold drinks provided. Olive oil tasting after - at the end of the day.

February 2009

Bay of Plenty Branch AGM, Sedgemoor Lane, Katikati
Sunday 15 February, 2009 at 12 noon
Hosts Jan and Brian, Katikati.
Please bring lunch and eat while we have our AGM.
Afterwards a Field day, enjoy looking at this beautiful property.

 

December 2008

Xmas BBQ, Capamagian Road, Katikati (towards Waihi Beach)
Sunday December 14th at 4pm
Hosts: Margaret & John. "...Of interest at our place will probably be the berry garden which John has added another 500mm to the height of, and the Avocadoes and other fruit and nut trees and their progress..."

November 2008

Growing cherries in Katikati, Walker Road West, south of Katikati off SH2.
Sunday November 9th at 1pm
Reece has had success in growing cherries in Katikati. Plants are grown in bags and the cherries are sold locally in Katikati.
Walker Road West is 4km South of Katikati off SH2. The Walker Road West/SH2 intersection is quite dangerous when approaching from the North (Katikati) and you may find it safer to turn left into Walker Road East, turn around and then cross SH2 into Walker Road West. This allows you to see the traffic approaching from both ways. Please park on the roadside outside.

October 2008

Ohiwa Macadamias, Harrison Road, off Wainui Road, Cheddar Valley
Sunday 19th October at 1.30pm
Bring your lunch for 1pm and enjoy a picnic in the orchard before starting. Ohiwa Macadamias is a 12 hectare property situated in the Cheddar Valley on the shores of Ohiwa Harbour. Paul and Anne have been planting macadamias from 1992 through to 2006 on the property. They have around 800 macadamia trees, around 30 walnut trees, some pecans and all sorts of home orchard fruit trees. They also have a stand of Tasmanian Blackwoods and Paulownia. Last year Ohiwa Macadamias opened their processing facility and commercial kitchen and sell their own product at the local farmers market and various shows.
How to get there
Take the road from Ohope towards Opotiki (Wainui Road). Harrison Road is about 5 - 6 km on the right hand side in the Cheddar Valley.
OR take SH2 towards Gisborne through Waimana, then turn left onto Wainui Road towards Ohope, Harrison Road is on your left hand side.

Review - Field Day, Ohiwa Macadamias

  An overcast but pleasant afternoon saw 15 or so treecroppers winding their way into an attractive 12-hectare macadamia orchard. We were welcomed by Anne and Paul with cups of tea and delicious macadamia cookies in the room that will soon be the orchard shop. This building also houses a commercial kitchen, drying room, husking and processing gear. Since buying the former dairy run-off in 1990, they have fenced off and allowed a fair area, where there were still a few larger trees, to regenerate to native bush. They planted some nikau and kereru have introduced more seeds, which are doing well. We walked through this area up to the 'house site', a sunny elevated clearing containing two wings of a projected house. The children having flown the nest, as they will, the living rooms and kitchen that would link with the wings may remain at 'concept stage'. All the buildings blend into their surroundings, being clad in deep green-painted corrugated iron.

  Plantings of macs began in 1992. There are 23 varieties, many still too young to assess yet. Own Choice has emerged as the favourite for flavour, pest-resistance and habit of growth (the flowers and nuts are borne throughout the tree, not just at branch tips) and Beaumont is also preferred. These two older varieties hold their nuts so have a longer harvesting window than 'droppers', like the 'A' series, which must be off the ground within a few days, regardless of conditions, before they start to deteriorate.

  Paul finds that the main questions are "Which varieties will do best?" and "What is the optimum spacing?" Unfortunately, it is near-impossible to get reliable advice because sites vary so much; what works in one place will not necessarily work in another. He is glad that at the beginning of the enterprise, they invested in the services of a landscape architect, who drew up a scheme that gave an overall plan to the property. As we walked between different areas of macs, we crossed a damp valley where Kahikateas, pruned for timber, flourished and Tasmanian Blackwoods, Black Cherry and Paulownias clothed the slopes while suppressing ragwort and (not quite yet) brambles. Barberries continue to be a problem to eradicate. Although Paulownias have a number of uses, including repelling insects (linings of 'camphor chests'), Paul would prefer to plant more Own Choice macs on these well-drained slopes.

  Seedling walnuts are producing, but commercially bring in less per kilo than grafted ones, so the question arises whether to keep them low for nuts or prune them high for eventual timber.

  On reaching the lower and newer mac plantings, Paul pointed out the drainage and spacing features, which are a major, essential and inevitable expense when setting up. The former pasture had to be killed with Roundup, harrowed and mounded. He has found from bitter experience that post-planting attempts to improve drainage are unsuccessful. Macs cannot stand wet feet! He has settled on raising long ridges, nine metres apart, and planting at four metres apart in the rows – this gives a gentle enough contour to mow comfortably and ensures sunlight for each tree, with a longer time before the canopy closes and the question of pruning arises. Experience has also shown that the best thing to do with unthrifty trees would be to rip them out and start again, but it is dauntingly expensive.

  Pukekos and rabbits, as well as frost, are a threat to young trees. Aluminium foil is bound round stems "less than the thickness of a beer bottle", from ground level to about 50cm during the frost season. This is not just a whimsical decoration but helps to reflect early morning sunlight and thaw frozen stems more slowly, thus reducing the risk of them splitting. Young trees also have their own shelters, four posts enclosed in windbreak and roofed with frost cloth. Paul observed that "You do all this for the one really damaging frost a year". The valley is sunny from 9am to 3pm, but has occasional frosts to -5 celsius.

  Anne and Paul foliar-feed their trees according to what annual leaf-analysis shows to be needed, but use no other sprays except roundup. Although Own Choice is resistant, some varieties can suffer losses of 20% - 30% from the green vegetable bug. Control of this is, however, unreliable, and so costly in time and money as to outweigh its benefits.

Back at our starting-point we saw the husker in action, chopping the husks for compost. The in-shell nuts are dried for two weeks at 30 degrees. Water for the radiators is heated by burning shells – a nice little 'virtuous circle'! Nuts are picked over a six-month season and once dried and shelled can be vacuum-packed in foil bags and roasted as required. Cracking is the bottleneck (partly manual). At present Paul and Anne can sell all they produce at local craft/farmers' markets. As usual, the future is unpredictable.

Rounding off the enjoyable and interesting tour, Paul reflected that they have learnt only by experience: the growing aspect is pretty well sussed – wet feet the only real problem – cracking machinery is the next big investment and they have not been over-ambitious in plans for opening the orchard shop next year. While expressing thanks for the insights of the afternoon, Bill Rae commented that it was very encouraging to all tree-croppers to see what Anne and Paul had achieved in the nine or ten years since our first visit. A cup of tea gave opportunity for lots more discussion and considerable purchase of goodies.

Review by Wendie Rosewell. From Bay of Plenty newsletter, editor Gayle Couch.

August September 2008

Plant propagation, successful seed raising, cuttings and grafting at Helen's and Mike's
Rescheduled due to weather conditions; road too wet in August
1.00pm Sunday 17th August 14 September, Waikite Road, Welcome Bay.
This property is situated in the hills behind Welcome Bay and consists of a well established poplar plantation under which Helen grazes Dorper sheep. There is an extensive true Treecroppers orchard with heritage apples, peaches, pears, citrus, feijoas, cherimoya, bananas and lots more. The focus of the day is plant propagation and will be hands on so bring secateurs, a sharp grafting knife or snap off stanley knife, labels and a plastic bag(s).

Tips on plant propagation

Seed Germination:
For seed to germinate successfully they need water, oxygen and warmth throughout the process. Seed must also be ready for germination. For those of us who collect fresh seed more of that later.

Potting mix for seed germination is usually fine bark or peat to retain moisture during the process, together with fine sand to provide oxygen and drainage. Fertiliser is not necessary as the seed has nutrient stored in its cotyledons to power the germination process. However if the seedlings stay in this mix for any length of time they will need nutrients.

Preparing the seed tray:

• Firm mix with the fingers so soil is evenly compacted in tray.
• Level mix with wooden float. Sweep float over to level mix, don't press down.
• Scatter seed evenly over tray, spaced depending on the seed size or eventual size of the seedlings.
• Sift mix over seed – dependent on seed size. Fine seed is often not covered.
• Water seed trays with a fine rosed watering can or hose. Start from outside the tray and allow the water to FALL on the tray – finish watering off to the side.
• Place a layer of glass over the tray to keep in the moisture.
• Put a couple of sheets of paper over this to keep the tray insulated and the temperature steady.
• Put the tray in a warm place, but not in direct sunlight.

If collecting fresh seed:
Clean it, dry it and store in a sealed container. Fresh seed may need after ripening i.e. time needed for the embryo to develop before germination. It may also need a cold treatment to break dormancy or the seed coat may need abrading if it is hard and impervious to water.

By Bill Rae. From Bay of Plenty newsletter, editor Gayle Couch.

July 2008

Pruning and training at Elizabeth's, Sharp Road, Katikati
1pm Sunday 13th July
There are a selection of plants, apples, quince, grapes, olives, hazels and loquats.
Experienced Tree Croppers will share their expertise with learners.
Basic tips on pruning and outline will be given, then we will work in small groups on selected plants.

Review - Notes on Pruning Field days.

Fine days for both of these days meant a good range of plants could be dealt with. At Wendy's place peaches were dealt with to confine their spread and bring fruit down to a reachable height. Apples were trained in both vase and pyramid (central leader) forms and an apricot was organised into an espallier. At Elizabeth's grapes ,apples citrus, quince,peaches and olives were pruned to reduce the height of the trees and to open them out. A small plant sale was held, thanks to those who brought plants along for sale. A generous afternoon tea of scones,cakes and biscuits was provided by Elizabeth and enjoyed by the many who attended. The prunings were gathered up and Theo fed these in to a mulcher. Two productive and instructive days.

Pointers/Reasons for pruning.

--To restrict the size of the tree (height and width).
--To maintain the shape and structure of the plant.
--To allow access for picking and pruning.
--To allow better light penetration and spray access.
--To improve the quantity and quality of the fruit.
--To allow good air movement around the tree to minimise fungal problems.
--To remove diseased or damaged wood.

Points to note about plants before you prune.

Upright shoots tend to be vegetative and vigorous and horizontal shoots more fruitful and less viogorous.
The harder you prune ( the further you cut back) the more vigorous the regrowth will be.
The position of the bud immediately below the cut will determine the direction of the regrowth.
Learn which year wood your plant fruits on (you could be pruning next years wood off !). The following are examples of the age of fruitful wood.
1 year old or current year- grapes, feijoa, guava and tamarillo.
2 year wood-olives,peaches and other stone fruit.
3 yearwood- apples, pears and quinces.

Strategy

Have a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve (see reasons above). Pruning isn't about giving your plants a haircut and providing clippings for the mulcher !
Remove the 3D's; dead, diseased, and damaged.
Remove crossover branches and unwanted watershoots.
Sort out structural and shape problems.
Prune for fruiting wood, if any thing is left.

Basic tools.

Secateurs for small twigs. Loppers for larger wood up to 5cm. Pruning saw for larger cuts and those cuts close to the framework. Sharp tools make cleaner cuts with less effort and heal faster. A sharp pruning saw makes the cleanest cut. Tools should be cleaned between trees to minimise the transfer of disease. A wipe down with meths will kill most bacteria or fungi.

Remember, 'A good pruner is a cut above the rest', Happy Pruning.
Bill Rae - from branch newsletter, July 2008: Issue 3 (editor Gayle Couch)

June 2008

Pruning and training at Wendie's, Old Creamery Road, Opotiki
12.30pm Sunday 8th June
Everyone is welcome to come earlier and eat a picnic lunch here. Wendie has kindly offered up her plants for the "slaughter". There are a selection of apples, pears, quinces, peaches, plums, passion fruit and ornamentals. Experienced Tree Croppers will share their expertise with learners.
Basic tips on pruning and outline will be given, then we will work in small groups on selected plants. Those who looked at the eucalypt trial in its earlier stages will see what gums can do in three years!

May 2008

Olives at Bert's, Lindemann Road, Katikati
1.00pm Sunday 11th May
Bert has an established olive grove with trees first planted in 2000 – 01 and younger plants in 2006 – 07, last year he bought a press to do his own pressing. On the Field Day we will be able to learn about the varieties he has selected, how he prunes and cares for his plants. Also he will share with us his experience of what to do and what not to do.
Bert has experimented with girdling trees to enhance the crop. There will be a display of harvesting gear and a chance to see the press in operation, also a tasting of Bert's oils with an opportunity to purchase the oils. This promises to be a very interesting day for all olive growers.

Review - Olive field day courtesy Bert and Netty

A large crowd gathered for this field day as we were combining with the Small Farmers Group and as a bonus it was a beautiful day. After a welcome by Bill and a warning from John Dean to be aware the Fruit Driller Caterpillar (Guava Moth) had reached Auckland, Bert led the way to his olive plantings.

The original trees planted in 2000 were at 6 x 6 spacings with no shelter but new plantings will be 6 between rows and 5 between trees. Bert has been putting on 2 tonnes of lime per year but will ease off on this now. The orchard is undergoing conversion to organic certification so Bert is aiming to mow both ways, so no spraying. Boron is the biggest issue with organics but you can use ulexite and twice a year he uses cuprofix. The orchard is already N.Z. Gap certified.

Bert has had good success with girdling but has now decided to do half the orchard at a time. "It is more economical to get 40kg off alternate trees every year than 20kg off each tree every year." It also gives the trees a rest year. Early February when the trees are flushing is the ideal time for girdling so they heal well and this brings maturity forward by two weeks.

Pruning - Bert's first decision is which big branch shall I remove first? He also brings up the skirts to help stop peacock spot. Branches with long internodes have no fruit. The very fruitful brancheshave short internodes and are out on the edge all summer. In other words the same old rule applies. Light = more fruit. Bert prunes heavily when he knows the trees are going to fruitwell and goes easy on the trees that have been girdled. Pruning needs to be finished by early August before the first buds are showing. In summer all the water shoots are removed.

Some rows are netted to frustrate the birds but nets are expensive and at 15 metres wide and tall trees are awkward to install with just Netty and Bert doing the job. Olives are wind pollinated so choosing your varieties is important.


Bert's comments on some of the varieties he grows.

Koroneiki - small fruit with pointy end. Easy to propagate, fruits every year but is not easy to process. These were small trees interplanted with Picual.

Picual - Not attacked by birds. This springthey are going to plant Picual and Frantoio.

Manzanillo - smaller than others and not heavy producers. Dual purpose but the oil is hard to get out. These might be removed.

Frantoio - Old variety with good oil. Matures and softens so the birds come, so this variety is always picked early.

Leccino - Stays firm. Birds only peck and leave. Easy to prune.

Pendolino - Named for its pendulous branches. It is a pollinator and easy to prune. Best crop this year. Has a strong flavour but this disappears quickly so need to mix this olive with Leccino.

Kalamata - has one tree and had one fruit, so is ever hopeful.

There were also J5's planted.

We then moved back to the Mill House passing pigs, bush and an interesting "tree croppers" mixed orchard on the way. A Buddha’shand was producing well, cherimoya, citrus, tamarillos, peaches, pomegranate etc.

Bert has produced a fact sheet on harvest, picking and the Mill House pressing operation so if anyone else would like a copy we will have a few at the August meeting.

Bert will process for others and although there is an optimum amount a small crop can be pooled with others to make a pressing. Avocado oil can also be processed. Please contact Bert and Netty directly.


Thank you Bert and Netty for a most pleasantand informative afternoon and the opportunity of looking again at those gorgeous views from up Lindeman Road.
Elizabeth Rae - from branch newsletter, July 2008: Issue 3 (editor Gayle Couch)

April 2008

Friday 25 - Sunday 27 April 2008
Eastwoodhill Road Trip – ANZAC Weekend 2008 -
Join the luxury coach from Hamilton (via Tauranga) to the autumn glory of Eastwoodhill Arboretum

What:

Field day - Feijoas

When:

Sunday 13 at 1:00pm

Where:

Lambert Road, Kawerau - will be signs posted.

March 2008

2008 March 28~30^th - NZ Tree Crops Association National Conference, CROMWELL!

What:

Special - Heritage apples, tomatoes with Mark Christensen

When:

Wednesday 19^th from 12 noon

Where:

Hidden Valley Orchard, Esdaile Road, Tauranga - will be signs posted.

Details:

Bring your picnic lunch and walk around this magic property - Mark will attend from about 2:15pm for an informal discussion on his notable research work.

What:

Hazel Field Day

When:

Sunday 9 at 1:00pm

Where:

Wairata Forest Farm, south of Opotiki - will be signs posted.

February 2008

What:

AGM, picnic lunch then walk around

When:

Sunday 10^th at 12 noon

Where:

Property of Margaret and John, Capamagian Road, Katikati - will be signs posted.

December 2007

Hello, everyone –

Our final event for 2007 is a barbecue at Jan’s and Brian’s place

Sunday 16th December, 3.00pm
at
Sedgemoor Lane, Katikati.

This will be our end-of-year get-together.
Bring something to cook on the barbecue, a salad or dessert to share and anything exotic you wish to drink.
Sausages, soft and hot drinks will be supplied.

Wendie

August 2007

Hello, everyone.

Do hope that you are warm and cosy on this miserable afternoon. A period of winter dormancy is OK for people, too, you know!

Our next field day will be Sunday 12 August 1pm, at Elizabeth & Bill's property, Canon Rd, R D 1 Katikati.

The theme for the day will be planting for fruit all the year round. Bill will show us their fruit plantings and explain when and where to plant.

This event will include a grand SALE of those extra seedlings, trees and cuttings - especially treasures and produce that is hard-to-find or not commercially available.

Pauline Swanton writes:

“Field day at Ray and Elaine's, Whakatane on Sunday 15th July was a really good day, the weather was kind to us and Bill pruned several fruit trees with full explanations as to what and why he was doing. A very good attendance of 23 people, and Elaine and Ray made us very welcome and provided us with tastings of their own Olive Oil. Their son produces a concentrated seaweed fertiliser for $15 a litre, so if anyone wants some, it is on sale at Western Drain Road, Whakatane.”

Cheers,
Wendie Rosewell,
Newsletter editor

2007 April 13-15th Tree Crops Association National Conference 2007, in review

March 2007

When:

Sunday 11 March at 1:00pm

Where:

Mamaku Blue, 333 Maraeroa Rd, RD 2 Rotorua

What:

Blueberry field day

Details:

This is a fully commercial operation, which expects to be picking and packing at the time we visit. The tour of the property will be an opportunity to ask lots of questions of interest to Tree Croppers. All welcome!

Meet at 1 pm for 1.30pm tour.
The cost of $13 per person will be paid by the BOP Branch for our own members, visitors pay for themselves. We suggest people try to car pool if possible.

The tour takes about one and a half hours and includes Tea or Coffee and Muffin.

February 2007

When:

Sunday 18 at 12 noon

Where:

Pottsbury Farm, Ongare Point Road, Katikati - will be signs posted.

What:

AGM then Field day

Details:

Please bring your lunch as the AGM is held while we eat, and usually takes about half an hour. Don't be scared to come, no one is dragged onto the committee.

If you would LIKE to join the committee please tell, phone or email, Alan or Pauline and we will arrange some one to nominate you. We would love to have more committee members as we could use some new ideas.

About 1pm we will have a field day at this wonderful property, which is a sub tropical orchard and worm farm.

Please read the last years AGM minutes and Chairman's Report printed in the branch newsletter and bring them with you.


By the way, does anyone have a female carob tree? Thelma would love to give one a home beside her nice shiny male one.

Events and Reviews to end 2006

Earlier Events and Reviews

See also the old Bay of Plenty Branch's old WEB SITE - 'a longer internet presence'

Other Branches Events pages

Refer to this List.

...Interested in knowing more? So are we! Join us...
H O W   T O   J O I N   a n y    N Z T C A   B r a n c h . . .
See Publications for information on crops discussed above

 

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Created: 12 Feb 2002 - Updated: