Latest News and Articles

Tree and related news, articles and reviews.
Do you have news, reviews or photos that are web-worthy, to share with other members and web users? Please Contact us.

TreeCropper 96

2 From the editor
4 President’s report
6 Letters
8 Pests: Lemon tree borer
10 Hemp and pumpkin seeds for profit
15 Tarocco orange
16 Blue sausage tree
18 Do rootstocks impact flavour?
22 Native birds as alternative to pesticides
23 Conference 2019 – speakers
24 Conference 2019 – registration form
26 Conference 2019 – field trips
27 Rootbound plants
30 Eating acorns
32 Acorn pikelet recipe
33 Taro in Hawai’i
35 Film review: Edible Paradise
37 Cercis (Judas tree)
40 Forestry on erosible land
45 An insight into the good life
47 Pips & Pieces
48 Subscriptions

John Richards Trophy

This new trophy has been donated by the Richards family to mark the contribution of the Late John Richards to Nelson Branch. John was present at the second ever meeting when Tree Crops Nelson was formed in the 1970s.

The trophy is a brass crocodile nutcracker recumbent on a nut wood plinth. It will be awarded to a member of the Nelson Branch of the NZTCA who is deemed to be “of merit” from a local perspective. The winner is chosen by committee decision and cannot be a current member of the Nelson Branch committee. The trophy will reside with the winner for a year, before being passed on to the next recipient. A winner to hold the trophy for 2019 has been chosen and they will find out in due course.

Presentation of the inaugural John Richards Trophy will take place at the Nelson Branch end of year gathering on 15th December 2018.

Southland Open Orchards Trail Project – Auckland Branch Talk

Derek Craig’s talk about the Open Orchards project historic orchards trail in Southland.

TreeCropper 95

2 From the editor
4 President’s report
5 Letters
7 Pine, pasture & kauri dieback
8 Aquaponics
10 Macadamias
11 Prunus leaf curl
16 Growing wasabi
18 Goodnature traps
20 Soil biology
22 How to plant a tree
24 Solanums in the forest
27 Cicada damage
31 Propagation tips
32 Natural dye plants in Franklin
34 Nelson conference 2019
36 A day in the life of the Membership Sec
37 Climate change & pests in agriculture
38 Obituary: Dick Endt
39 Pips & Pieces
40 Subscriptions

In The Media

Four articles about the NZTCA Conference, Tauranga, 2018 from “The Orchardist” (Vol. 91(7), Aug. 2018). All material supplied courtesy of Denise Landow, the author and copyright holder of these articles.

Nelson Branch Meeting

Nelson Branch held a successful slide show and supper evening on Friday 6 July at Mapua Hall–the venue for the NZTCA conference in March 2019.

Bruce Wallace gave an inspiring talk about the 70-80 varieties of trees and vines he grows on his suburban section. A lot are tropical and/or unusual, including Finger Limes (yes alive and fruiting in the South Island), tropical apricots and tropical plums.

There was a slide show by Katrina Richards about the “nearly an alphabet” of fruit and nuts that Bob and Ann Phillips grow on their property. They fit a lot into a small country property.

The Branch’s mini tree and produce sale generated lots of questions and good sales.

Central Districts – Taranaki Branch Restorative Pruning Workshop

June Event – Restorative pruning tuition of fruit trees at Taihape

Saturday 30th June 2018 10.00am start

River Valley Lodge. Check out – www.rivervalley.co.nz

266 Mangahoata Road RD2, Pukeokahu, Taihape

Bring a coat and suitable footwear. Lunch is available for purchase at the Lodge otherwise BYO.

This month we gather at River Valley Lodge, an idyllic spot on the Rangitikei River renowned for white water rafting, kayaking, horse trekking and country hospitality. And like many of us, they also own the odd fruit tree requiring reshaping and reinvigorating. Our instructor for the day is Taihape horticulturalist, organics tutor and experienced nurseryman Toby Schweikert who will guide us through the process.

We also get to peruse the impressive organic veggie gardens, greenhouse and the serious compost/bio-char making operation.

Following lunch at the Lodge [at your own expense] we get a conducted tour of the Lodge site facilities, then drive to the owners home property to inspect more recent fruit and nut tree plantings along with a briefing on holistic pasture management successfully practiced on the property.

Accommodation and meals are available on Friday and Saturday evenings for those who may care to stayover, again at your own expense. Early booking will be necessary, follow the website link for further information.

TreeCropper 94

2 From the editor
4 President’s report
6 Letters
8 Drought hardy ground covers for food forests 12 Honeyberry in the USA
14 Golden passionfruit
18 Avocado orchard field trip
20 Collecting scion wood
21 Tapping syrup from trees
25 Homemade bitters
26 Creating swales
27 Feijoas fight fungi
28 Potential crops in New Zealand
29 The HSNO Act
31 Untreated eucalyptus posts
32 Growing forestry trees
34 Pollination discoveries
39 Climate change may increase pests in conventional agriculture
39 World’s heaviest blueberry
40 Soilsayers: testing for deficiencies
42 Research update
43 Obituary: Don Hamilton
44 Dr Don McKenzie Award recipients
45 Honorary life members
47 Pips & pieces
48 Subscriptions

TreeCropper 93

2 From the editor
4 President’s report
5 Underplanting fruit trees
7 Haskap research update
10 American ginseng
15 Tree crop trial templates
17 DIY labels that last
19 Removing fruit from young trees
20 Conference 2018 – speakers
21 Conference 2018 – field trips
22 Knowledge in a nutshell – Rob Peden
24 Using plasterboard as mulch
26 What apple variety is that?
33 Pest – guava moth
35 Obituary – Russell Fransham
36 Index
38 Pips & pieces 40 Subscriptions