Topics & Insight Of Interest To Tree Croppers
Dr Don McKenzie Award 2023 Recipients: Bob and Ann Phillips
Nomination for Don McKenzie award, awarded annually to a member who has made a ‘significant contribution to Tree Crops.’ Nominating Branch: Waikato Bob and Ann have been long time members, and invested time, effort and love into local Nelson Branch and at a national level. The current membership system only goes back to 1988, so finding a date that Bob and Ann joined was difficult. The best we can [...]
Dick Roberts Photo Competition Winners 2023
The annual Tree Crops photo competition in memory of professional photographer and dedicated tree cropper Dick Roberts was presented at the 2023 NZTCA Conference in Otaki. Congratulations to Linda Stopforth (Wellington-Horowhenua) for taking both 1st and 3rd placings and to Annette Ah Chee (Waikato) for runner up. National president David Whyte presents Linda Stopforth with Dick Roberts trophy. Forming Medlar Fruit - 1st Linda Stopforth of [...]
TreeCropper 113
Contents 2 From the editor 3 President’s report 5 Your emails 6 Elderslie Estate 12 Forage fodder 17 Robb's field trip 20 Chestnut timber, truffles & extraction 25 Jim Dunckley Heritage Orchard 27 Apple varieties to grow 30 Table grapes 36 Index 38 New dragonfruit varieties 39 Pips & Pieces
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – less familiar currants
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. Most Kiwis are familiar with blackcurrants – those pungent, tart, vitamin C and antioxidant-loaded black spheres (even if it is via over-sweetened Ribena drinks consumed as a child). Blackcurrants are cold-hardy and prolific, ripe about now in mid-December, and certainly worth having in the garden for cooked desserts, cordials and preserves – though in my experience, only the toughest [...]
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – Feijoas
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. I’m pretty sure kiwifruit takes centre stage as New Zealand’s national fruit, but I reckon the feijoa runs a very close second. Supermarket shelves, greengrocers’ bins and roadside stalls are bursting with these fragrant green grenades in autumn, not to mention the many hundreds more littering lawns throughout the nation. You either love or hate the floral-medicinal flavour of [...]
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – Apricots: Summer’s Gold
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. I have a busy weekend ahead of me – my first case of apricots has arrived from Central Otago and predictably, the mercury is still hovering around 29°C at 4.30 pm. I’ll be spending most of my weekend in the kitchen, engulfed in a cloud of steam, with a sticky bench and even stickier complexion. Is it worth it? [...]
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – Notable plums
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. I spent a good chunk of my summer break up a ladder and on the carport roof picking plums and lowering laden buckets down via a rope to my parents, waiting expectantly below. It’s become somewhat of a ritual and we make deliveries of bags and boxfuls around the neighbourhood afterward, as there is far more fruit than we [...]
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – A peach by any other name
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. The dark red, velvet-skinned, late season peach beloved of many a Kiwi has recently undergone a name update, bringing it firmly in to the 21st century. Sanguine peach, blood peach, Pêche de Vigne (peach of the grapevine; vineyard peach) or simply, as I heard recently – purple peach – call it what you may, this fruit holds a special [...]
TreeCropper 112
Contents 2 From the editor 4 President’sreport 5 New committee member 6 Aloe vera gel & grafting 7 Ale vera gel & root cuttings 8 Fruit hard pressed 9 Villageagrarians 11 Recreate NZ 14 Processing unusual crops 20 Africanolive 21 Ficuselastica 24 NZTCA Conference 2023 28 stamen cordial 30 Green Earth Food Forest 32 Mashua 33 Country Calendar croppers 34 BaxterMosey-Reid 37 Canistel 40 GoldenBayAvocados 45 Ice cream [...]
TreeCropper 111
Contents 2 From the editor 3 President’s report 6 NZTCA Conference 2020 8 Celebrating Gorse 13 Luther Burbank 15 Honeyberry Research update 19 Kaputahi Community Orchard 25 Edible hops 28 Rainy day reading 30 Foraging in a forest 34 Chestnuts: pests and disease 39 Pips & Pieces 40 Subscriptions
TreeCropper 110
Contents 2 From the editor 3 President’s report 4 South Island VP 5 Emails 7 Lucuma & green sapote grafting 10 Fig pruning 12 Dick Roberts Photography Competition 15 Soil Moisture Update 16 Black garlic 20 Citrus selection 23 Codling moth 31 NZTCA history 33 Barberries in the kitchen 36 Pomegranates and pineapples 37 Pistachio trials 39 Pest: flowering currant 40 Chestnut Q&A 47 Pips & Pieces 48 Subscriptions
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – Tamarillos
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. New Zealand horticulture has a reputation for turning obscure fruits into success stories. From Chinese gooseberries (now recognised far and wide as kiwifruit) to feijoas, it seems we can take a species little-known outside of its native range, cultivate it successfully in our amenable climate, make it a domestic favourite, and then more often than [...]
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – Loquats
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. You’ve probably heard gardeners and self-sufficiency enthusiasts talk wistfully about the ‘hungry gap’ as winter turns to spring. In terms of fruit and vegetable production, the late winter and early spring months can be deceptively sparse, as the cold-weather crops finish or bolt to seed and the new-season crops are in their infancy. This is [...]
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – Rhubarb
Rhubarb and patience can work wonders – German proverb By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. When is a fruit not a fruit? When it’s a vegetable, of course! A vegetable, you say? In botanical terms, rhubarb is indeed a vegetable, as it is the herbaceous stem portion that we cook and eat, as opposed to its actual fruit, which by strict [...]
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – Almonds
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. This month, we’re going nuts for almonds. Although this versatile member of the Rosaceae family does not provide a crop to harvest in September, it is a cheerful harbinger of spring, among the first of the fruiting trees to flower (somewhat profusely) in late winter and early spring. As such, I think it deserves an [...]
TreeCropper 109
Contents 2 From the editor 3 President's report 5 Field trip - oaks & natives at Woodend 9 Wineberries 12 Rowan 15 Caigua or Slipper Gourd 20 Kiwifruit for home gardens 22 Fireside secrets: drying wood 27 Field trip - capers & quandongs 31 Growing flowers commercially 36 Index issues 101 -108 38 Chestnut cheese research 39 Pips & Pieces 40 Subscriptions
TreeCropper 108
Contents 6 From the editor 4 President’s report 6 Correspondence 7 Turning vodka into gin 8 Wildwood mushrooms 12 Chinese toon 14 Early exotic fruit recipes 19 Re: Attack on fig tree 24 Tips for grafting avocados 28 DIY grafting guard 29 Field trip to Hautere Plain 32 Conference 2022 36 Photo competition deadline 37 Johnson Grass 40 Guaviyu 43 Honeyberry harvest 44 Crown shyness 46 Membership changes 47 [...]
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – Beyond the Meyer lemon
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. I’d like to survey every backyard in New Zealand, from Cape Reinga to Bluff, and count up all the lemon trees. I reckon you’ll find one more often than not, and chances are those trees will usually be the ubiquitous stalwart of the hardy citrus tribe, the Meyer lemon, and not without good reason. The [...]
Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – The Humble Choko
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. This month, it’s time for something completely different as we step away from the ordinary and take a look at the much-maligned but eager-to-please choko. You may or may not have heard of this strange pear-shaped “is it a fruit, is it a vegetable?” Those in New Zealand’s northern climes are perhaps more likely to [...]
TreeCropper 107
Contents 2 From the editor 4 President’s report 6 New committee members 7 Hedge of thorns 10 Canterbury tales 11 Carpophilus beetle 13 Nitrogen fixing in willows and poplars 17 Chokos 20 Growing jackfruit in Auckland 22 Waikato annual tree sale 24 NZTCA Conference 2022 26 Early orchard families in New Zealand 31 Fancy a cuppa in the Wairarapa? 32 Stocking the Nelson pantry 33 Feijoas and biochar 34 [...]
Persimmons
10 year old espaliered Fuyu persimmon at harvest, Nelson region. Photo: A & B Phillips. By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. May is the peak season for fresh persimmons in New Zealand, with supermarket shelves and market stalls now laden with this increasingly-popular fruit, which looks somewhat like a squat miniature pumpkin-tomato hybrid. As a home garden specimen tree, [...]
Table Grapes
By Anna-Marie Barnes This article was originally published on lifestyleblock.co.nz. In a land where wine grape-producing vineyards are a dime a dozen, if you mention table grapes to the average New Zealander, their thoughts will likely settle on the large bunches of majestic-looking but rather tasteless imported fruit to be found in supermarket chillers year-round. But if we cast our memories back, many of us [...]
TreeCropper 106
Contents
Waikato Branch Annual Tree and Plant Sale 2021
Saturday 3 July 2021 – 8 am to 12 pm Venue: Hamilton Gardens, Governor’s Green To get there; Enter Gate 2 from Cobham Drive, Governor’s Green is the grass area opposite the carpark. Everyone welcome to sell and buy Buyers – There will also be a good range of public stalls selling tree crops and plants, ornamentals, farm trees and natives, perennials, cuttings and produce. The Waikato Branch of [...]
Dick Roberts Photo Competition Winners 2021
Winner: Michelle Derecourt, Canterbury Other Finalists Anne Dickinson, Nelson David Wayne, Nelson Michelle Derecourt, Canterbury Mzia Khmaladze, Wellington-Horowhenua Mzia Khmaladze, Wellington-Horowhenua
TreeCropper 105
Contents 2 From the editor 3 President’s report 4 Correspondence 5 Yerba Mate 7 Growing commercial peanuts in NZ 8 New Year's honour for member 9 High Health Orchard 12 Linden trees 16 Nitrogen fixing in sugarcane 18 Sugarcane in Waikato 21 Conference 2021 23 Wish Trees 31 Farmable Orchard app 33 Apple acidity 35 Hot climate apples 36 Index 38 Kombucha 38 Tip to reduce myrtle rust 39 [...]
TreeCropper 104
Contents 2 From the editor 3 President’s report 4 Correspondence 6 Birds in the orchard 9 Honeyberry research update 11 Okinawa spinach 13 Ecosourcing plants 16 Ecosourcing nursery Q&A 19 Using glyphosphate 23 Measuring your carbon footprint 26 Auckland Conference 2021 27 Conference field trips 29 Growing jackfruit 30 Conference speakers 31 Making gorse rum & ice cream 33 Multi-grafted apple tree 35 The papaya project 39 Knowledge in a [...]
TreeCropper 103
Contents 2 From the editor 4 President’s report 6 Correspondence 7 Highly recommended plum varieties 10 Harlequin ladybird 14 Eating acorns 18 Acorn recipes 19 Cider 21 Hops 22 Saffron milk caps 26 Growing truffles 29 Creating an orchard using permaculture principles 33 Otto Muller, inventor 37 Japanese raisin tree 39 Pips & Pieces 40 Subscriptions
TreeCropper 102
Contents 2 From the editor 3 Best branch newsletter 4 President’s report 5 Check your envelopes 5 Correspondence 7 Auckland conference 8 Platycodon grandiflorus (doraji root) 10 Honeybees and salt 14 Lingonberry 21 How to be a successful plant hunter 22 Four thieves vinegar 24 Meadowsweet 26 Macadamias & bananas 30 Comfrey as a mineral accumulator 33 Edible roses 35 The story of Granny Smith 37 New Zealand's oldest/most popular [...]
Hop plants – ready to hit the ground running…
Heather Spence Nelson Branch, June 2020 Brent McGlashen amid his ripening hops, late January 2020 The 2019 TCA conference field trip to MacHops prompted a request for further information on hop plants for sale. A conversation with Brent McGlashen, as affable and helpful as ever, elicited the following. Varieties available from MacHops are Sticklebract, Green Bullet, Pacific Gem and Chinook. The NZ Hops website lists the following qualities [...]
Dick Roberts Photo Competition Winners 2020
There are two categories for the photo competition: Category 1: A photograph featuring “tree crops”. That is, the trees, shrubs and other plants, produce and products of interest to tree croppers. Category 2: A photo that features “tree croppers”. That is, the people involved in the NZTCA, or members and the public attending tree crop events. Winners Overall national winner: Peter Syms, Nelson Winner category 1 Tree Crops: Peter Syms, Nelson Overall [...]
TreeCropper 101
Contents 2 From the editor 4 President’s report 5 Correspondence 6 Conference 2020 8 Drought tolerant tree crops 9 Tree crops all year round 11 Red kiwifruit 12 Viburnums 14 Plant varietal rights 17 Chinese nutmeg yew 18 Reading faded plant labels 19 Fragrant olive 21 Nitrogen fixing in pines 26 Missing December issue 27 Pruning blueberries 28 Trees for bees 32 Gorse 33 Gorse petal ice cream 34 [...]
TreeCropper 100
Contents 2 From the editor 3 Issue 100 4 President’s report 6 Correspondence 9 Macadamia nuts 12 Cranberries on the West Coast 16 Recipe: cranberry salsa 17 Shredders 19 Honeyberry update 22 Conference 2020 field trips 24 Conference registration form 26 Conference 2020 speakers 28 Counting birds for research 32 Walnut trials 36 Propagation from cuttings 37 Chinese tallow tree 39 Avocado mutants 42 New national secretary 43 Bladder nuts [...]
TreeCropper 99
Contents 2 From the editor 3 Diary of a Christian 3 John Gare Butler 4 President’s report 5 Correspondence 8 Summer grafting 10 The search for juniper berries 12 NZTCA Conference 2020 15 Hazel grove in memoriam 16 Growing cinnamon 18 Chestnut beer 22 Flammable native plants 25 Purple tea 27 Sea buckthorn berry brandy 28 Growing sea buckthorn 30 First babacos in New Zealand 34 Knowledge in a nutshell: [...]
TreeCropper 98
Contents 2 From the editor 3 President’s report 4 Correspondence 5 NZTCA photo competition winners 6 How to make cider 9 Peckhams field trip 10 Conference 2019 photos 11 Golden Hills Walnuts 14 Pollinating pecans 16 Grafting pears on hawthorn 17 Food act amendment 20 Trail tree markers 23 Blackberry jam tree update 24 An interview with a BioGro auditor 27 Honorary life members 27 Dr Don McKenzie Award recipients [...]
NZ Tree Crops Association Dick Roberts Photo Competition 2020
In our first photo competition we discovered our members’ photography talents — now we want to see more of it! We invite all branches to our second annual NZTCA photo competition, in memory of professional photographer and dedicated tree cropper Dick Robert. Category 1: a photo featuring TREE CROPS - trees, shrubs and other plants, produce and products of interest to tree croppers. Category 2: a photo featuring TREE CROPPERS [...]
Auckland Branch Meeting – Derek Craig on Sugar Sap July 2019
Auckland Branch - speaker Derek Craig on Sugar Sap as a crop from trees. Download a PDF of the slides here.
Bay of Plenty Branch – 2019 Annual Tree Sale
2019 Annual Tree Sale Day Venue: A & P Showgrounds, Katikati On: Saturday July 20, 10am – 12.30pm Enquires: 07 549 2795 Good variety of fruit and nut trees at reasonable prices plus other plant stalls from Katikati and other areas. We aim to have early, mid season and late varieties of major fruit groups so gardeners have fruit all year round. Cash payment only
Inaugural Dick Roberts Photo Competition 2019
At the 2019 Nelson Conference we celebrated the life of Dick Roberts through the inaugural photo competition. Dick was a professional photographer, dedicated Tree Cropper, founder in 1973 of the Willing Workers On Organic Farms scheme (now known worldwide as WWOOFing) and in 1975 he helped establish the Nelson Tree Crops Association. He travelled extensively taking photos for his collection. Dick’s 300 acre Todd’s Valley Farm was used as an educational [...]
Fruit and Nut Trees for Every Microclimate – A Guide to Planting in Nelson & Marlborough
This resource was funded by the Dick Roberts Community Trust. G. R. (Dick) Roberts moved to Nelson in 1968 to develop 300 acres of gorse covered hillside in Todds Valley, as he could see its potential for a variety of tree crops. Dick was a professional natural history photographer, teacher, founding member of the New Zealand Tree Crops Association and a keen advocate for “tree crops for every micro-climate”, based [...]
Welcome to new Tree Crops Secretary Vera Burnside
NZ Tree Crops Association welcomes Vera Burnside from Waihi to the role of Secretary on the national Management Committee. Katrina Richards has stepped down to devote more of her time to roles in Search and Rescue and the Meteorological Society of New Zealand. Annie Barnes has stepped down as South Island Vice President. This role remains vacant. Expressions of interest can be sent to President David Whyte at president@treecrops.org.nz or [...]
Auckland Branch Meeting – Anne-Marie Endt on Babaco, March 2019
Anne-Marie Endt speaking to Auckland Tree Crops about Babaco, March 2019
TreeCropper 97
Contents 2 From the editor 4 President’s report 6 Emails & letters 7 Air layering propagation 12 Beauty berry 14 Bay of Plenty Branch gifting 15 Neem oil 18 Seed banks 19 Palm sugar 21 Propagating tips from 1853 22 Chestnut recipe hunt 24 Recipe: chestnut frittelles 25 Don McKenzie Award past recipients 26 Honeyberry in review 28 Kai Rakau Project 34 Blackberry jam tree 36 Index 38 Pips & [...]
NZTCA Dick Roberts Photo Competition
Branches are invited to take part in the first annual NZTCA Dick Roberts Photo Competition. This has been created to encourage members to take and share photos of tree crops, tree croppers and branch events. The competition also celebrates the life of the late Dick Roberts of Nelson Branch. Dick was a professional photographer and dedicated tree cropper. Funds from the Dick Robert Trust have been donated to facilitate this [...]
TreeCropper 96
Contents 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 [...]
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 [...]
Southland Open Orchards Trail Project – Auckland Branch Talk
Derek Craig's talk about the Open Orchards project historic orchards trail in Southland.
TreeCropper 95
Contents 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 [...]
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. NZTCA Awards Alistair Mowat David Pattemore David Whyte
TreeCropper 94
Contents 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 [...]
TreeCropper 93
Contents 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 - [...]
TreeCropper 92
Contents 2 From the editor 4 President’s report 5 Letters 7 Macadamia nuts - pollination 8 Fig cultivars: What's in a name? 11 Candy Cotton grapes 15 Summer tasks in the orchard 16 Nashi pears 20 New Zealand's oldest fruit trees 23 Conference 2018 - speakers 24 Conference 2018 - registration form 26 Conference 2018 - field trips 27 Commercial pine nut orchards 31 The aliens have landed 32 [...]
TreeCropper 91
Contents 2 From the editor 4 President’s report 5 Inventive uses for crop waste 8 Capuli cherry 10 Spring tasks in the orchard 12 Growing frewood 14 The kakabeak: an endangered species 16 Snaffle the apple - saving heritage apples 21 Knowledge in a nutshell: David Whyte 23 The ins and ins of seed smuggling 26 Research update: haskap/honeyberry 28 Taro trials 31 Citrus brown rot 34 Trees for bees [...]
TreeCropper 90
Contents 2 From the editor 3 President’s report 4 Letters 6 New South Island vice president 7 DIY olla 8 Apple breeding using genetics 10 Field trip: Waiata Gardens 12 Truffles Q&A 15 Growing szechuan pepper 17 Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) 19 Nitrogen fixing plants 24 Life membership recipient: Bill Rae 25 Avocado trials with mycorrhizal fungi 28 Field trip: Plant & Food Research Riwaka 30 Conifer grafting 34 Winter [...]
Walnut Blogletter 29 – April 2017
Walnut Blogletter 29 – April 2017 This blogletter is a quick appeal for information from you lot. We have just had the absolutely worst season weather-wise that any of us imagined. A problem, yes. But it is also a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn about growing these walnut things. So please get on your computer and give us a quick description of how this season has treated you. [...]
Walnut Blogletter 28 – March 2017
Walnut Blogletter 28 – March 2017 Covered in this blogletter is our continuing battle with Phytophthora, and the latest results in our search for better walnut varieties. Plus I have thrown in a few notes on random walnut topics spotted on the internet. But first… A follow up on our stumping experiment… In the May 2012 blogletter I described an experiment of ‘stumping’ some 4 year old trees that had [...]
TreeCropper 89
Contents 2 From the editor 3 President’s report 4 New national secretary 5 Comfrey 9 Phenology in the field 12 Guava palaver 15 Feijoa maturity dates 16 Tree crops for every microclimate 21 Dung beetles 23 Fruit waste holds water 24 Hall Cup recipients 25 Nitrogen fixing plants 29 Biological farming in Australia 31 Autumn in the orchard 33 Knowledge in a nutshell 34 Conference 2017 35 Community fruit harvesting [...]
Sugi – The Sacred Japanese Cedar
by Ben Gaia, West Coast TCA, dialatree.co.nz Cryptomeria japonica, the Japanese Cedar, sometimes called Japanese Redwood by foresters, should be a widely planted timber tree for New Zealand. For thirty years I have been growing and promoting timber trees, especially alternative timber species to wean off our reliance on pines, which although healthy and fast growing, tend to blow down on a large scale. Pinus timber is only allowed in [...]
TreeCropper 88
Contents 2 From the editor 3 President’s report 4 Letters 6 Obituary: Les Gruebner 7 Mixed forest model for the West Coast 11 How to make a solar dehydrator 14 Oakleaf papaya 17 Cold hardy subtropicals 18 Research update 20 Hazelnut repository 22 Tree lateral tie downs 23 Conference 2017 27 Insiders guide to walnuts 31 Finding the right pollinator 32 A plum summary 33 Plum maturity chart 34 [...]
TreeCropper 87
Contents Front cover: Lichen (Xanthoria parietina) 2 From the editor 3 President’s report 4 Letters 5 Roots 8 The Food Act 2014 9 Understorey planting 12 Subtropicals in Australia 14 NZTCA research report 16 Controlling weeds 18 How to make potpourri 20 Pest: black cherry aphid 23 Knowledge in a nutshell: Clare Ryan 26 The permaculture orchard 30 Subtropical experiments 32 Almond trials in California 35 Lichen on your [...]
Walnut Blogletter 27 – October 2016
Last July I introduced the blogletter with this paragraph. With the huge increase in walnut plantings around the world, especially in China, we need to focus on what advantages we can exploit for walnuts grown in New Zealand. Massive planting has also been happening in countries around the Mediterranean as well as non-traditional places like Australia and Chile. Even in USA the big increase in walnut area is meeting headwinds [...]
Walnut Blogletter 26 – August 2016
Obituary Very sad news. Les Gruebner, a long time Bay of Plenty Tree Crops member, died quite unexpectedly on Monday night. No other details are available at the moment. Les was a major force behind NZTCA getting a website, and was also very encouraging to me producing this blogletter. He will be sadly missed. Some feedback Hi Nick, Thanks for the recent newsletter. I wonder if you can help me [...]
Walnut Blogletter 25 – July 2016
The May Walnut Industry Group (WIG) newsletter raised some issues in my mind. It seems that we were not the only people to have a challenging walnut harvest with prolonged autumn rains. This report was in April this year. Intense rainfall has had a major impact on Chile’s walnut production, in particular the late season Chandler variety, says the grower and exporter association Chilenut. You can see the full article [...]
Summer Pruning of Stone Fruit
Bill Rae demonstrates summer pruning Some of the ideas expressed by Bill Rae, 28-Feb-2016. Compiled by Don Harwood. Purpose Remove excess growth to allow light into the tree and onto fruiting buds Stimulate new growth. Heavy pruning stimulates lots of new growth but less fruit production. Shape the tree, pyramid or open vase shape typically. Vase has only one layer of branches extending from the stem. To limit [...]
TreeCropper 86
Contents Front cover: Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) 2 From the editor 4 President’s report 5 New members 6 Letters 7 Dr Don McKenzie Award recipient 8 Feijoas 9 Miracle berry 10 Importing seed 11 Subtropical plants in Waikato 14 Apple research 16 Humus saves the world 20 Biochar 24 Olive leaf extract 25 T-bud grafting 26 Loess Valley, China 28 Black chokeberry 30 Sheep sorrel 31 Citrus deficiences 34 Franklin [...]
Hazelnut
Guidelines for Growing Hazelnuts in New Zealand A series of bulletins in PDF form for download (2016): Bulletin 1: Introduction Bulletin 2: Hazelnut Varieties Bulletin 3: Flowering and Pollination Bulletin 4: Nut Development and Quality Bulletin 5: Establishment Bulletin 6: Orchard Management Bulletin 7: Harvesting […]
Bob and Ann Phillips Get Growing
New president Bob Phillips and his wife Ann were recently featured in the Get Growing digital magazine. Click on the image to read the full article.
Sheryn Dean- 2016 Dr Don McKenzie Award Recipient
Sheryn receives the Dr Don McKenzie award from president Bob Phillips The 2016 recipient of the Dr Don McKenzie award is Sheryn Dean (ex Clothier), who retired as TreeCropper editor earlier this year after 11 years. Sheryn is one of a rare breed – a second generation TreeCropper, growing up in the Dean family. She joined Tree Crops under her own right in about 2004 and epitomizing the [...]
Conference 2016 Review
See more conference photos here. From Franklin Branch Chair, Raewyn Jarkiewicz Huge congratulations to the committee for organising the NZTCA National Conference held at Wesley College 22nd – 24th April. Thanks go to Heather Douglas, Joan Leitch, Val Pearce, Keith Dixon, John Allen and Virginia Warren for all their time and effort in making the conference a success. Also thank you to Bron & John Fergusson for manning the produce [...]
TreeCropper 85
Contents Front cover: ‘Tamarillo’ by kind permission of Trish Coonrod www.trishcoonrod.com 2 From the editor 4 President’s report 6 Letters 7 New committee members 8 Obituary: Barry Charles Quinn 9 Hickory nuts 10 Hickory nuts - the inside story 11 Waimea Nurseries: Q&A 15 Bamboo: pandering to a market 17 Harvesting bamboo 18 Date plum 20 Franklin conference 2016 22 Tamarillos 26 Psyllids & essential oils 27 Fungi - an [...]
Franklin Food Forest In The News
This article about the Franklin Food Forest, which was initiated by Franklin branch member John Allen, was published in the Valley Voice, March 2016 edition.
TreeCropper 84
Contents Front cover: Red currant - a fantastic, edible, Christmas decoration that ripens right on time every year. Photo: Sheryn Clothier 2 Editor's opinion 4 Pips and pieces 6 NZTCA notices 7 President's report 8 Your letters 10 Persimmons 13 Questions 14 Lucuma 16 Asimoya 18 2016 Conference 23 Monk Fruit 24 Guthrie-Smith Arboretum 29 Pineapples 30 Rootstock effect on fruit 34 Understanding your soil test 39 Monkey Puzzle [...]
NZTCA Patron Jennifer Hutson on RadioLIVE
NZTCA Patron Jennifer Hutson talked to Tony Murrel on RadioLIVE. Click play to listen to the interview.
TreeCropper 83
Contents Front cover: A selection of apples from Plant and Food Research’s germplasm collection. See page 22. Copyright © Plant & Food Research. All rights reserved. Back cover photos by Sheryn Clothier. 2 Thanks to members contributing to TreeCropper 5 Why two copies 6 President's report 7 Pips and Pieces 8 Almonds 14 Apples 28 Bananas 32 Capers 37 Pine nuts 38 Chestuts 46 Figs 59 Guava moth 59 Gevuina [...]
TreeCropper 83 References and Weblinks
References and web links included in TreeCropper Issue 83. Includes list of cultivars held by Plant and Food Research Repository. […]
TreeCropper 82
TreeCropper Issue 82 Front Cover: Leonie Bart (centre, pink shirt) shared her extensive knowledge and experience with NZTCA members as we toured her 4ha avocado orchard during Conference 2015 2 Editor's opinion 3 Thanks to members contributing to TreeCropper 4 President's report 5 NZTCA notices 6 Pips and Pieces 8 Your letters 9 Growing bat willow 10 In defence of truffles 14 Willow weaver 16 Growing willow for basketry [...]
TreeCropper 82 References and Weblinks
References and weblinks included in TreeCropper issue 82 […]
Auckland Branch – First Annual Tree and Plant Sale
40 year Anniversary of Tree Crops: Special Event Auckland Branch First Annual Tree and Plant Sale Saturday 11 July 2015 Wet or Fine 10am to 1pm Venue: Auckland Botanic Gardens Manurewa In the covered courtyards. Everyone welcome: gardeners, lifestyle and small block holders, farmers, nurseries. You can buy and sell, look, talk trees and ask questions. Buyers Anything could turn up for sale on the day. First in – first [...]
Biosecurity and MPI involvement
At the (2015) conference the very informative and engaging Dr John Clearwater presented on beneficial bugs. Needless to say in question time there was quite a few divergent questions. What John stated was that Tree Croppers are a wonderful resource as ears and eyes on the ground noticing new bugs, and that the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) should highly value our ability to give feedback about new or invasive [...]
TreeCropper 81
TreeCropper Issue 81 Front cover: Gevuina flowers and nuts at Lyn and Steve Bentley’s property in Te Anau. The trees are cropping well, the problem is how to extract the nut. See page 8. 2 Editor's opinion 3 Thanks to members contributing to TreeCropper 4 President's report 5 Pips and pieces - classified advertising - Your letters 10 Gevuina - uses 12 Truffle 16 More than cider 18 Pinus [...]
TreeCropper 81 – References and Weblinks
References and weblinks from TreeCropper 81 […]
Chestnut
You've heard of that 'old chestnut' – perhaps we have defined it here: The Chestnut industry in New Zealand has been arduously nutted out many times over; but it always seems to relegate itself into the 'nearly made it' chest. This time - 2013 - there still remain international markets pleading for product. A leading tree propagator of great experience holds a bud grafting workshop featuring chestnuts. He has [...]
Nut Crops Summary – Grow Nuts Yourself
Written by Eric Cairnes, NZTCA - February 2000 So you've bought or are thinking of buying a rural block and perhaps earning some retirement income from growing something, preferably something you yourself like eating. What about nuts? They are high value, store well, are eary to transport, lend themselves to niche marketing and can be managed on a fairly small scale. Remember the in shell nuts you indulged in [...]
Walnut Blogletter 21
Walnut Blogletter 21 - Introduction A few random thoughts coming your way, mostly in response to emails. If you hear some walnut news or observe something interesting in your orchard, let us hear about it. We can all learn. If you have made or are selling walnut equipment that would be interesting too. All the best as you count down to the next walnut season. nick Enjoy: Blogletter 21, click [...]
NZTCA – Our official logo
Branches were asked to submit a proposed design for National Logo. Copy of any design was to be in the hands of Management Committee by 18 June 1982. Copy of their chosen logo was to be enclosed, together with suggested colours for use if required. Selection of a logo involved considerable thought and discussion- about 30 designs were considered. They (MC) tried to chose a design that was not too [...]
Ten agro-chemical firms own 73% of the commercial seed market
The source of our planet's food is under threat. Ten agro-chemical firms own 73% of the commercial seed market, and as many as 93% of seed varieties have gone extinct. In the US alone 85% of apple varieties have disappeared. Should tree croppers be concerned about this? But farmers are resisting, saving seeds in banks and barns across the world. Now they have devised a revolutionary project -- a global [...]
TreeCropper 80
TreeCropper Issue 80 Front Cover: Flowers and fruit (unripe in picture) are simultaneous on jaboticaba, which is obviously pollinated by bees in New Zealand. 2 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 3 Thanks to members contributing to TreeCropper 4 President's report Bill Rae 5 Your letters 10 Casimiroa - members’ reports continued 12 Pips and pieces - classified advertising 13 Jaboticaba 16 Jaboticaba - members’ reports 22 Biodynamics explained 24 Conference 2015 [...]
TreeCropper 80 – References and Weblinks
Page 6 Your letters From Jason Ross Food Forest George Street orchard New Forest Farm Beyond Organics Permaculture Orchard
TreeCropper 79
TreeCropper Issue 79 Front Cover: Casimiroas growing at Miranda, northern Waikato. 2 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 3 Thanks to members contributing to TreeCropper 4 President's report Bill Rae 5 Your letters: I rejoined - kawakawa leaves 6 Pips and pieces - your classified advertising Countrywide comments 8 David Colley on Eucalyptus 10 Michelle Derecourt on climate change 12 Rachel Rose on hügelhultur beds 14 Yangmei - a new crop [...]
The world’s smallest apple
The world's smallest apple at last nearly marketed... www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/10383718/The-worlds-smallest-apple
Walnut Blogletter 18 – May 2014
Not having put out a blogletter 18 for a while has been eating at my conscience, so with another season underway, I thought I would try and get the conversations going again. This will be a short letter, with the aim of eliciting your comments and stories, which is what most participants value. I find every season is a one-off, and leaves you quite unprepared for the next one. [...]
Walnut Blogletter 19 – June 2014
We follow up with another blogletter 19 so soon because Valda Muller informs me that their operation is about to air on Country Calendar sometime in June, probably the 21st. And I know you don't want to miss that. Her letter below...
Walnut
Walnut categories: The Walnut Industry Nut crops summary - Walnut, Chestnut and others. Walnut Blogletter launched in 2010 by Nick Nelson Parker
Food Act 2014 – Notice
The new Food Act - what does it mean for businesses 28 May 2014 In a few days time the Food Bill which was passed by Parliament this week will become the Food Act 2014. The new Act intends to make it easier and less costly for many food businesses, while ensuring the food produced is safe. The new Food Act aims to give food businesses the tools to manage [...]
TreeCropper 78
TreeCropper Issue 78 Front Cover: Pecan nuts forming at the property of Wendy and Dennis near Foxton. 2 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 3 President's report Bill Rae 4 Your letters: Buart nuts, Holm oak, Hemp concerns, Avocado seedlings, Dry lemons, Brix 8 Pips and pieces 10 NZTCA Management Committee – Profiles of new office-holders 12 NZTCA Conference 2014 reports – Water, the Elixir of Life Bonus: Peter Robinson on rainwater [...]
TreeCropper 77
TreeCropper Issue 77 March 2014 Front Cover: Photo by John Cowan — Winning photograph of the 2013 NZTCA Conference's photographic competition. The face is of one-year-old grandson Joseph... 1 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 2 President's report Murray Redpath 3 Your letters 6 Pips and pieces 8 Lucuma Tree - Pouteria Iucuma Frankincense Kathrina Muller John Dean 9 Blue Honeysuckle - Lonicera caeulea Kathrina Muller [...]
The first 10 years – by Roland Clark
The first 10 years of New Zealand Tree Crops Association, aspirations and observations
NZ Food Bill – Submissions by tree croppers
"Our members have expressed their disquiet at the barriers this Bill puts up to their way of life and their financial viability..." 20 February 2014 Food Bill - Submissions, extracts: "...A walk around a farmer’s market will provide insight into public interest in locally produced gourmet foods. Many of these items (jams, relishes, fruit vinegars, mustards, marinated mushrooms, damson gin etc) are currently on Schedule 2 and if these regulations [...]
TreeCropper 76
TreeCropper Issue 76 December 2013 TreeCropper 76 Front Cover: Christmas, summer and lots of fruit are coming! Feijoa flower petals are a colourful addition to summer salads. Their flavour is slightly sweet with hints of cinnamon and their texture is delightfully different.Pictured is Apollo flowering in my Waikato orchard. 1 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 2 President's report Murray Redpath 3 Your letters 4 Pips and [...]
Our Magazine – TreeCropper
by Maurice Denton In July 1975 the first “Journal of the New Zealand Tree Crops Association” appeared — editor David Ryde, with numerous line drawings by his wife Alison. It was a great success, with reports on the activities of our recently-formed Association and articles contributed by members about a wide range of tree cropping topics. Two issues appeared each year until 1981, when there were three. But, as the [...]
TreeCropper 75
TreeCropper 75 - September 2013 TreeCropper 75 Front Cover: Lonely in pink—My dwarf peach tree is in a pot and is covered in a mass of white blossoms each spring. But occasionally, amongst the white, is a perfect pink blossom. I sent this photo off to our N.I. vice-president Bill Rae for an explanation... 1 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 2 President's report Murray Redpath 3 Your [...]
Research Discussion Paper
RESEARCH DISCUSSION PAPER The Management committee has asked me to look into the need to promote the research side of the organisation. The research fund has not been widely used over the past few years and funds are available to branches for their use. Is it due to a shortage of ideas, an uncertainty as to whether a topic or project is worthy of the name research, a lack of [...]
Innovation Grant – Wellington Horowhenua
20th September, 2013 Wellington Horowhenua Branch NZTCA Branch Representatives Dear Jean and Robyn, At our last Management Committee meeting we unanimously voted to accept your Branch’s application for funds of $834 from the Branch Innovations Fund. Your project “Almond Cultivar & Management Trial” with the objective of optimising almond production is a very worthwhile one. When this money is spent, please send copies of the invoices to our Treasurer, enabling [...]
Research – Trials
Trials for tree croppers Pushing the boundaries and answering the unanswered is what NZTCA is all about. There are thousands of questions, each with different answers for different climates. Which is the best cultivar? Do organic practices produce more or less fruit than conventional? Which produce the most wholesome fruit, seedling or grafted trees? The questions are endless and the answers aren’t found in the lab, but by NZTCA [...]
Comments on the Research Discussion paper from Bill Rae
( – on behalf) MC (Management Committee) is concerned that the NZTCA should be doing more to promote research. The emphasis I think should be on encouragement of research. Little can be achieved without the enthusiasm, commitment and knowledge of branch members. […]
Walnut Blogletter 17 – August 2013
Hi, Nick ,Pauline, many thanks for sending this on, really enjoyed reading it . Ray, Elaine Brown Jeremy Bicknell also picked up on the Spanish paper on growing walnuts for timber, which developed into a discussion on this topic. That will be good to reproduce in a later blogletter. Hi Nick, Many thanks for latest blogletter. So interesting to hear about walnut growing in China and Jeffrey’s account of [...]
Walnut Blogletter 16 – August 2013 – from China
Another welcome interruption to our usual blogletter fare; Jeffrey Feint has just come back from an exciting trip to China, and has generously shared it with us. I think you will gain some worthwhile insights, and it does what any blogletter should do; generate more questions! Blogletter 16 - from China, click to open in PDF format... All the best nick
Hi-Cane® Season – Be Aware
Hydrogen cyanamide (Hi-Cane®, Dormex®, Breaker® etc) This information is from literature distributed by Nufarm NZ Limited. Copies may be available at your local FruitFed outlet. If you live or work near kiwifruit in July-August-September, or you are planning to try this chemical on other crops, then you and neighbours had better be intimate with this information. Do not expect local kiwifruit contractors to make it available to you, even [...]
Contact Walnut Blogletter Editor
Please fill in your details and message below for the Walnut blogletter editor, Nick Nelson-Parker.
Walnut Blogletter 15 – July 2013
This blogletter 15 is so overdue that you probably had thought you had heard the last of me. My only consolation has been that you may have been just as busy with your bumper harvest and probably have not had time to read a blogletter anyway. To break the log-jam, I am passing on this information compiled by David Whyte on Boron (link below). Yes, we are back on [...]
Restore poor grassland into productive mixed tree-cropping woodlands?
President’s Report Murray Redpath, NZTCA National President. Treecropper | June 2013 | Issue 74 | P2 Waikato hosted a wonderful conference, with workshops, speakers and field trips showing productive enterprises over a wide range of scales from back yards to large commercial orchards. It is wonderful watching our members share information, debate the different philosophies of how to grow a productive landscape, and enjoy themselves, the same things that have [...]
Tree Planting Animal Repellent
Tree Planting and Animals by Nick Ledgard Canterbury Branch Member NZTCA archives All planters of shelterbelts and woodlots are fully aware of the need to protect trees from stock. Most, like me, have learnt the hard way that there is no place for sub-standard fencing. Even just one breakthrough within the first 3-4 years can spell doom for most trees. But few of us succeed in isolating young plants from [...]
TreeCropper 74
[expand title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 74 - July 2013 Front Cover: Perfect persimmons — Geoff Peach of Holyoak Orchard showed the Conference 2013 Profitable Produce field trip though his packing shed. Destined for the demanding Japanese market, each persimmon is nurtured in covered orchards and inspected under microscopes before being carefully packed. 1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier 2President's reportMurray Redpath 4Your [...]
Basic Notes – Why this booklet was written
"Green Guide" introduction The Basic Notes booklet is available at no cost to members here (scroll to bottom of page and click on "Older crop guides can be viewed here") When we bought our piece of land we had ideas of growing something. But what? We read and researched and couldn't believe the numbers of books and other resources often needed just to find some basic information. So here is [...]
The Concept of Water Concentration
by Otto Muller In areas where the normal rainfall is only marginal and very often insufficient it is often possible to greatly increase success rate when planting tree or bushes by using techniques of water concentration. Water concentration means creating conditions where part of the rainfall in an area is encouraged to run off from an area where it is not essential into an area that essentially require all the [...]
The Walnut Industry
by Otto Muller The two major factors limiting the walnut industry are blight and frost. In Central Otago the area suitable for planting is limited to areas frost-free during the growing season of walnuts, while in Canterbury areas with lower rainfall are preferred because higher rainfall areas are more likely to have problems with blight. David McNeill is working on a rather ingenious project to find a solution to the [...]
Publish or Perish!
Concerning NZTCA - Publish or Perish! Guest editorial by founding member, the late J. Doug Davies. Thirty-one years on, there are several issues of concern to myself as an original founder of NZTCA. There have been a number of changes that, in my view, have had serious consequences for the establishment of tree crop industries in New Zealand: Our conferences have long been the ‘flagship’ of NZTCA. We must restore [...]
TreeCropper 73
TreeCropper Issue 73 March 2013 Front Cover: Crab apples can have high levels of phenolic compounds — the goodies our body needs to fight diseases. See story on page 6. Photograph taken at Guthrie Smith Arboretum at Tutira during the 2011 Hawkes Bay post-conference tour. 1 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 2 President's report Murray Redpath 3 Your letters 4 Pips and pieces 6 Apple [...]
Flowering Trees for Bees
Scientific name Casual name Flowering Posture Acer var Maple Spring 4.5-20m Aesculus var Horse Chestnut Spring - Summer 3-30m Agonis Willow Myrtle Late Spring 5m Backhousia citriodora Lemon Scented Myrtle Summer 12m Callistemon var Bottle Brush Spring - Autumn 3-9m Ceanothus var Californian Lilac Spring - Summer 1.5-3m Cercis var Judas Tree Spring - Summer 5-10m Eucalyptus var Eucalyptus/Gum Trees Spring - Winter 4.5-60m Eucalyptus ficifolia Flowering Gum Summer [...]
Flowering Shrubs for Bees
Scientific name Casual name Flowering Posture Abutilon var Chinese lantern Spring - Autumn 1-4.5m Banksia var Banksia Spring - Winter 90cm-1.5m Camellia var Camellia Winter - Summer 1.2-9m Caryopteris var Blue spiraea, Bluebeard Summer 1.5m Cassia Buttercup Tree Autumn - Winter 2m Chaenomeles var Japonica Winter - Spring 1-3m Chamaecytisus palmensis Tagasaste Winter - Spring 5m Chimonanthus praecox Wintersweet Winter 2.5-3m Choisya ternata Mexican Orange blossom Spring - Autumn [...]
Herbs for Bees
Scientific name Casual name Flowering Posture Achillea millefolium Yarrow, Milfoil Summer 1m Agastache Giant Mexican Mint Summer - Autumn 80cm Alliums Incl. Chives & Garlic Chives Summer 40cm Aloysia triphylla/ Lippia citriodora Lemon Verbena 1-3m Borago officinalis Borage, Starflower Spring - Autumn 80cm Chrysanthemum parthenium Feverfew Summer 1m Coriandrum sativum Coriander Summer 80cm Echinacea purpurea Echinacea Summer - Autumn 45-120cm Eruca sativa Rocket/arugula Continual 40cm Lavandula angustifolia Lavenders Summer 1m [...]
Garden Flowers for Bees
Scientific name Casual name Flowering Posture Ajuga Bugleweed Spring - Summer Ground cover Anthemis Marguerite Daisy Summer 70cm Antirrhinum majus Snapdragon Summer 30cm-60cm Armeria Thrift Summer 20cm Aster (Compositae) Michaelmas Daisy Summer 80cm Astilbe False Spiraea, Goat's Beard Summer 80cm Alyssum Alyssum Summer Ground cover Campanula Canterbury Bells Summer 1m Centaurea Perennial Cornflower Summer 60cm-2cm Cheiranthus/ Erysimum Perennial Wallflower Spring - Winter 30cm Corydalis Corydalis Spring - Autumn 40cm Dianthus [...]
Gymnosperms useful for pollen in spring
Scientific name Casual name Flowering Posture Agatha australis Kauri Spring 40m Dacrydiium cupressinum Rimu Spring 35m Podocarpus dacridioides Kahikatea Spring 50m Podocarpus ferrugineus Miro Spring 25m Podocarpus totara Totara Spring 30m
Nuts, Fruit and Berries for Bees
Scientific name Casual name Flowering Posture Actinidia chinensis Gold kiwifruit Early Spring Vine Actinidia deliciosa Green kiwifruit Late Spring Vine Actinidia arguta Arguta, kiwiberries Spring Vine Carya illinoensis Pecan (pollen) Late Spring 20m Casimiroa edulis & cvs Casimiroa All year 5m Castanea sativa Chestnut Spring - Summer 10m Corylus avellana Hazelnut Winter - Early Spring 4m Cydonia oblonga cvs Quince Spring 4m Cyphomandra batacea Tamarillo Summer 4m Citrus sp & [...]
Native Plants for Bees
Scientific name Casual name Flowering Posture Alectryon excelsus Titoki Early summer 20m Aristotelia serrata Makomako Spring 8m Arthropodium cirratum Rengarenga Lily Spring - Summer 60cm Astelia sp. Astelia Spring 1-2m Avecennia resinifera Manawa (Mangrove) Winter 3m Beilschmiedia tawa Tawa Spring 25m Brachyglotis repanda Rangiora Winter - Spring 7m Clematis paniculata Puawhanaga Spring Climber Cordyline australis Ti (Cabbage Tree) Spring 17m Corokia sp & var Corokia Late Spring 3m Dodonea [...]
Andean Walnut
Family - JUGLANDACEAE Botanical Name - Juglans neotropica Diels = J. honorei Dode Other Names - Tocte (fruit), Nogal (tree), Ecuador Walnut, Tropical Walnut, Cedro, Black or Nogul Cedar Introduction In 1977 on a trip to Ecuador Dick Endt of Landsendt Nursery saw the potential for growing Andean Walnut in New Zealand. The first trees were planted in the Auckland area at Oratia,then later at Great Barrier Island. Other older [...]
Tagasaste
Classification - Leguminosae Chamaecytisus proliferus var palmensis. Allied species are C. stenopetalus (yellow flowers) and C. Palida (white flowers) Before 1980 it was misnamed Cytisus proliferus in New Zealand. Also known as Tree Lucerne, False Tree Lucerne. Same family as gorse and broom, but infinitely more desirable. Introduction Endemic to the Canary Islands, tagasaste was introduced into New Zealand late last century as a hedging plant and has since [...]
Pistachio
Introduction Pistachio (Pistachio vera) nuts are a crop of great antiquity. They probably originated in Iran, Turkestan and Afghanistan. The major producers of pistachio nuts are Iran, Turkey and California in the USA. Less important producers are Australia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Greece and Italy. Orchard cultivation in America and Australia has a short history. Of 40,000 acres planted in California, about 90% have been planted since 1970. Australian interest [...]
Pecan
Classification : CARYA - Hickory - JUGLANDACEAE Pecan - Introduction Pecan is considered one of the most valuable nut species. The word 'pecan' means “a nut too hard to crack by hand”. Its scientific name, Carya illinoensis is from karyon (an ancient Greek name for nut) and a Latinised version of Illinois (meaning the nut that grew in the territory occupied by the Illinois Indian tribe). This member of [...]
Organic Tree Cropping
The Big Picture The term organic means the production of safe, wholesome food by natural means that are as sustainable as possible, and to leave the soil in an improved state of health. The return to such methods is partly a reaction to the use of toxic pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilisers, and also to the over-use and loss of natural fertility of soil. Because the term organic means [...]
Macadamia
Classification - Proteaceae Introduction - Macadamia Although Macadamia are native to the eastern subtropical coastal rainforest of Australia (23 – 29 degrees South latitude) until recently the main commercial plantings were all in Hawaii. They were used there for reforestation projects but were not satisfactory for this use. Many trees were planted as ornamentals and these formed the nucleus for the early orchard plantings until in 1936 the University [...]
Forage
A Guide to Tree Forage Crops Compiled by G Halliwell Advisory Services Division Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Gisborne, 1979. Foreword Over the past years I have received a number of queries concerning Tree Crops for Forage. These questions cover a diverse field. They range from providing a balanced diet for stock at certain times of the year, including the place of leaves in the diet of animals, through [...]
Bees & Trees
Bees are an important part of our ecology. They are the main pollinators of many fruit and vegetable species, thus increasing yields. They also provide us with honey, and some medicinal products such as propolis and royal jelly. This Fact Sheet deals with what bees need, how the trees supply these needs, and how bees assist pollination. What the bee needs Pollen is the source of protein, minerals, fats, vitamins [...]
Pine Nut
Classification: Pinaceae Other names for Pinus pinea Stone Pine, Edible Pinenut, Umbrella Pine Introduction Many species of pines bear edible pine nuts. These nuts are actually the kernels which are released when pine seeds are cracked open, and each cone usually has numerous seeds. Different pine species have different sized seeds, different ease of cracking and different flavours – the worst tasting strongly of turpentine. Pine nuts are very nutritious [...]
Almond
Family - ROSACEAE Botanical Name Prunis dulcis (formerly Prunus amygdalus var dulcis) Introduction The humble almond can be overlooked, but is a delicious treat, and compares well with all our other nuts. The almond is only a peach in disguise. A dry fleshed close relative of the peach, the flesh being replaced with a thin dry leathery hull. There are wild relatives of almonds growing over Central Asia, Asia Minor [...]
Walnut Blogletter 14 – January 2013
← Return to All Walnut Blogletters Before we get on to the main subject of this blogletter, prompted by the news reports of roundup resistant weeds, we need to air responses to the last blogletter. You may recall, that the subject was fertilizer application, quickly followed by this. A cautionary note about over fertilizing. The benefit of this blogletter has been to see how differently people approach their walnut growing. [...]
‘Roundup’ (glyphosate) resistance
[Says Nick, re: Roundup (glyphosate) resistance] Here is an article I read. I cannot remember where, possibly in the Rural News, and I have condensed it. […]
Walnut Blogletter 13 – December 2012
A cautionary note about over fertilizing. The benefit of this blogletter has been to see how differently people approach their walnut growing. I have been thinking about the possible responses to the fertilizer section of the last blogetter and have decided that a note of caution is in order before you start throwing around large amounts of fertilizer. […]
Competition
We need to keep an eye on the competition. Anna Brenmuhl sends us interesting walnut articles. I have picked out some comments; US (CA): Good demand for walnuts continues “Lots of market research shows that the health benefits of walnuts are important factors when it comes to choosing them,” said CEO of the California Walnut Commission, Dennis Balint. […]
Fertiliser, frosts…
Dear Nick You will no doubt have heard that in Central Otago we had another severe air frost at the beginning of November, a bit like having a hundred year event 2 years in a row. I was actually in Brisbane but on returning home noticed that many of our trees were badly burnt even up to a height of 4 – 5 metres, and even in areas with good [...]
Walnut Blogletter 12 – December 2012
Walnut Blogletter 12 – Introduction We cannot start without a comment about the season this time. Yep! Completely different again. But this time it looks as if the elements have been working for us. We seem to have plenty of nuts set on the trees, and that would be typical around the country from what I hear. Though the cold snap may have inflicted frost [...]
Hazel – Hazelnut Crop Guide
This fact sheet has been produced with the latest information available at the time of publication. In no way, however, can this sheet be considered the ultimate in information for New Zealand growing conditions: it is just a basic guide on the subject. If you have information to contribute, or feels that any of the information is misleading, then we ask you to contact us using the Comment facility at [...]
TreeCropper 72
[expand title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 72 December 2012 Front Cover: During the Nelson 2012 annual NZTCA conference, members visited the home farm of Robert Appleton (of Appletons Tree Nursery). In an arboretum grouped according to province, members stop to admire trees native to Georgia, USA. 1 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 2 President's report Murray Redpath 3 Management Committee [...]
Walnut Blogletter 11 – September 2012
Blight Control This is good topic for a blogletter, raised by Andy Philpott. We can all learn if you share your blight control experiences. Dear Nick & Pauline Enjoyed your comments on Copper Spraying and Walnut Blight – about 3 years ago I was overseas and left careful instructions for copper spraying with a guy who worked for me. I didn’t discover until about February that he had ignored my [...]
Management of Shelterbelts For Horticultural Crops
By R L Hathaway Soil Conservation Centre, Aokautere, Ministry of Works and Development, Palmerston North. Most growers agree that the provision of a well-designed shelter system is very important for the production of high quality horticultural crops in most parts of New Zealand. Considerable effort may be spent in determining the optimum design and species combination for the area and crop type to be protected, but of equal importance [...]
Shelter – The Case For Cloth
Inadequate shelter is costing kiwifruit growers tens of thousands of dollars a year in lost production, says Mr Rick Reid, marketing director of Savlon Reid Ltd. Research indicates that about 80% of all kiwifruit orchards have inadequate shelter he says, and this could be costing some orchardists up to $50,000 a year. Mr Reid believes poor shelter in many cases is the result of poor planning based on the old [...]
Tree Species for Horticultural Shelter
by R. L. Hathaway Soil Conservation Centre, Ministry of Works and Development Aokautere One of the major decisions to be made in developing a horticultural property is that of which tree species or species combination to plant for wind protection. For many growers, this is a difficult decision, despite the fact that considerable experience with trees for windbreak establishment has been gained over recent years in New Zealand. The main [...]
Bob Hathaway
Mr R. (Bob) L. Hathaway For some time since 1968 he had been the National Plant Materials Centre scientist in charge of the programme for introducing, breeding and selecting willows for soil conservation. Clones he has developed include the recently released fast-growing Salix matsudana x alba shelter selections "Tangoio", "Makara" and "Moutere". Mr Hathaway's other major responsibility was the selection of soil conservation species, mainly Eucalyptus, for seasonally dry hill [...]
The Big Mistakes
Growers establishing a shelterbelt often make one of these four mistakes, says National Plant Materials Centre* scientist, Bob Hathaway. • Inadequate weed control: This problem particularly affects the new horticulturalist or part-timers who haven't time for weed control. All new shelterbelts should be kept free from weeks for the first two years, either by cultivation or herbicides. Spraying with herbicides is the main method. • Irrigation not organised until trees [...]
Shelter Questions
Scientist Bob Hathaway says four questions are usually asked about planting shelterbelts. Answers to these form part of the series of articles Mr Hathaway has written about shelterbelts. • What are the best species to plant in my area and situation? Salt-laden or very strong winds are the main limitation on what to plant. Otherwise you can grow almost anything. The situation and crop chosen also influence choice. • What [...]
Summer Winds Taught Us Something
By Lynsey King - from 1983, timeless advice. Five summer months of strong salt-laden winds have taken their toll on shelter-belts. Scientist, Bob Hathaway has been studying the damage the winds have wrecked, particularly on poplar and willow shelter-belts in the Manawatu. Strong summer winds normally last only a month or so, but last summer's abnormal conditions has taught scientists several lessons. One lesson is that there are serious limitations [...]
Back To Basics On Shelter
First part of a series from Growing Today, July 1983 by R.L. Hathaway National Plant Materials Centre, Aukautere Provision of adequate shelter from wind is essential for the successful production of most horticultural crops in New Zealand. Good shelter not only results in improved yield and quality of crops; it often determines whether or not the crop can be grown at all. A large proportion of horticultural crops are grown [...]
TreeCropper 71
[expand title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 71 - September 2012 Front Cover: The beauty of the orchard in spring represented by the delicate flower of the Giant of Gascony quince. 1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier 2President's reportMurray Redpath 3Your letters 6Pips and pieces 8Neonicotinoids for bees 9Saffron - Threads of edible goldJulie Winder, Wairarapa Branch 13Feijoas/boron - trial reportRoy [...]
Walnut Blogletter 10 – July 2012
This blogletter is a bit different. With the objective of keeping in touch with other growers who are coping with different climates, this offering is mainly reactions to quite a difficult season, admittedly it would have been better as a true blog in real time. […]
Walnut Blogletter 9 – May 2012
Walnut harvest Did you get a crop this season? Reports I have had are that all the bad weather through the summer has had its toll. Everybody‘s harvest is lower than last year; ranging from 25% to 95% down. When spring began to unfold, or more descriptively wrap us in a continual blanket of fog and drizzle, I was expecting a 90% reduction in crop, [...]
Walnut Blogletter 8 – January 2012
With a new walnut harvest looming on the horizon, I thought I would put out another short blogletter to keep in touch and also to let you know of the visit by some members of the Walnut Industry Group to walnut orchards in the Eastern Bay of Plenty this Waitangi weekend 4-6th February. You are all welcome to all or part of it. There will be three fieldays; Doug and [...]
Walnut Blogletter 7 – July 2011
Walnut Blogletter 7 This blogletter is mainly Jeffrey Feint’s experiences. It is really enlightening when people share their thoughts so freely. Although I have responded to some of them individually, it would be really useful if a number of you could also express your opinions about what he has said. I have always found that until you are getting contradictory advice, you are not making much progress. Keep up the [...]
Walnut Blogletter 6 – June 2011
Walnut Blogletter 6 This blogletter will focus on systems and techniques to make harvesting more efficient. Again I am not purporting to define how it is to be done, but I am hoping to be a little provocative, so that some of you cannot resist telling me how it REALLY should be done. I had hoped to cover machinery that I know many of you are developing, but that will [...]
Walnut Blogletter 5 – May 2011
I have just come up for air at the end of a fairly intense walnut harvest. The wet weather concentrated the nut fall, which was a good thing, but it meant that we had to be extra conscientious about getting the nuts in off the wet ground. So top of the priority list is get this blogletter away as your contributions need to see the light of day. [...]
Walnut Blogletter 4 – January 2010
We will start this blogletter with some feedback from the last one… […]
Walnut blogletter 3 – September 2010
After the initial couple of blogletters, you must be wondering why the big gap. In the background I have been working on upgrading from a series of email newsletters to a true blog experience. At the end of this blogletter I cover how to tap into more information on Facebook. […]
Walnut Blogletter 2 – June 2010
Well thank you everyone for your response to the first walnut blogletter. It is interesting to see the range of interest in walnuts. Some people are just thinking about planting. One person has a 70 year old tree. Some have large orchards, up to 40 hectares, and then there is a reply like this; […]
Walnut Blogletter 1 (Introducing Nick)
May 2010 Perhaps I should start by introducing myself. My name is Nick Nelson Parker. In the late 1970's we started planting an experimental walnut orchard/forest. This photo was taken this spring in front of one of my 31 year old walnut trees being grown for timber. It is also one of my earlier selections for nut quality. We are now winding down nut gathering operations in the orchard, lifting [...]
TreeCropper 70
[expand title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 70 - June 2012 Front Cover: Jo Shephens, Plant and Food Research's Rubus breeder stood in for Ron Beatson, the hops breeder, who was away on the day the Nelson Conference field trip visited. The objectives for hop breeding is wider than boutique beers and aimed at the whole industry producing both alpha (bittering) and aroma hops. [...]
TreeCropper 69
[expand expanded="true" title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper 69 Front Cover: Ben Elms and the Central Otago Tree Growers Branch has initiated an Orchards in Schools project. Pictured here is Breagha Rennie (holding branch), then Pip Barrett, Ben Elms, Lily Roberts and Emilie Barnett at Hawea Flat School planting the first orchard of their project. Read Ben's report on page 32. (Thanks to Wanaka TV [...]
TreeCropper 68
[expand title="Click to expand cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 68 - December 2011 Front Cover: The 2011 Post-Conference tour was treated to wonderful morning tea on the lawn of the original homestead of Guthrie Smith Arboretum at Tutira. With views over the extensive plantings through to Lake Tutira, it a was an auspicious start to a wonderful tour. For a full report, see page 9. [...]
TreeCropper 67
TreeCropper Issue 67 - September 2011 Front Cover: Diana Bell presented a selection of heritage apples for tasting during the Hawkes Bay 2011 NZTCA Annual Conference. Sourced from Plant and Food Research's heritage orchard of what was ripe at the time and looked tempting, the varieties included Egremont Russet, Rhode Island Greening, Golden Harvest, Merton Russet, Captain Kidd Kay, Grimes Golden, Kitaika, Opalescent, Hetlina, Karmijin de Sonnaville and Freyberg. [...]
TreeCropper 66
[expand title="Click to expand cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 66 - June 2011 Front Cover: NZTCA members view a custom-made brush unit used to clean feijoas and a sorter which uses weight to size and direct feijoas into four different off-ramps and collection crates. This sorter was demonstrated during a field trip to Ray and Jean Hollis's Kapiti Gold Organics feijoa orchard in Te Horo during [...]
TreeCropper 65
[expand title="Click to expand cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 65 - March 2011 This issue was delayed in the Christchurch Earthquake 'Red Zone' for a few weeks. Front cover: Crispie™, a new pipfruit cultivar, is a typical European shape with a light yellow colour. Bred by Plant & Food Research at Riwaka Research Station (see page 8) and commercialised by Prevar™. Copyright © The New Zealand [...]
TreeCropper 64
[expand expanded="true" title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] Front cover: Native bee, Lasioglossum sp., in flowers of Bulbinella, a New Zealand native plant. (Photo by Chris Morse, © Landcare Research New Zealand Limited). 1 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 2 What to do with December's produce Lois Limmer 3 President's message Murray Redpath 4 Your letters 7 Pips and pieces 8 [...]
TreeCropper 63
[expand title="Click to expand cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 63 - September 2010 Front cover: Spring is heralded by the mass of blossom on a three-year-old Dans Early plum. Photo taken by Sheryn Clothier at her Waikato property in spring 2009. 1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier 2President's MessageMurray Redpath 3Pips and pieces; Your letters 6Reflections of a walnut researcherVernon Harrison 8Almond trial updateAnn [...]
TreeCropper 62
[expand title="Click to expand cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 62 - June 2010 Front cover: The Mandeville Meander 2010 Conference field visit took NZTCA members to the blackwood woodlot and sawmill of John and Robyn Fairweather - see more photos on page 32. Photo by David Colley. 1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier 3President's MessageMurray Redpath 4Granny Louisa apple Mary Browne 6Planting in clayReg Lewthwaite [...]
TreeCropper 61
[expand title="Click to expand cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 61 - March 2010 Front cover: Fred Davey demonstrates 'Lady Muck' during a NZTCA Conference 2009 field trip to Cobtree Farm. Originally designed as a alpaca and horse poo collector, it also picks up olives, and in this case, hazels. See other members' harvesting ideas on pages 32-37. 1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier 2President's MessageMurray Redpath [...]
TreeCropper 60
[expand expanded="true" title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] Front cover: Macadamia A4 in full flower at Torere Macadamias. Read Vanessa Hayes' update on the New Zealand Macadamia Industry on page 14. 1 Editor's opinion - Poisoning Paradise with 1080 Sheryn Clothier 3 President's Message Murray Redpath 4 Your letters - organics or mainstream reply; forest symbiotics and multi-tier farming 6 Cider making [...]
TreeCropper 59
TreeCropper Issue 59 - September 2009 Front cover: Flowers of the hazelnut, Tonda di Giffoni, encased in ice. It was midday in Clyde (June 2009) when this picture was taken, and still -2°C. But the styles can still be receptive - see page 24. 1 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 2 President's Message Murray Redpath 3 Your letters - animals in organic farming systems, using photosynthesis to [...]
TreeCropper 58
TreeCropper Issue 58 - June 2009 Front cover: Trevor Byron (front), Bruce Christensen (center using draw knife and shaving horse) and Eric Cairns (rear - foot operated lathe) demonstrate green wood-working techniques at NZTCA Conference 2009. Tool, chair, hurdle and trug making were just some of the skills demonstrated. The emphasis was for using local material and improvising on design. The splitting (riving) of green logs using a maul, [...]
TreeCropper 57
TreeCropper Issue 57 - March 2009 Front cover: A banana plant growing in an unheated greenhouse. 1 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 2 Message from the President Murray Redpath 3 Letters to the editor - Politics unavoidable, needless instrumentation, pine nut cracker? 4 Conference 2009 Kapiti Coast 7 Walnut blight Nick Nelson Parker 9 Bananas Roger and Janet Bodle, Sheryn Clothier 14 Persimmons incredible edibles 17 [...]
TreeCropper 56
[expand title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 56 - December 2008 Front cover: Selection of pine cones with edible nuts. Photograph by Eric Cairns. 1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier 2Message from the PresidentMurray Redpath 3Letters to the editor - Avocados and browsing, asimoyas, politics, avocado 'Bacon' 5Pine nutsincredible edibles 6Edible pinesLouis Trap, updated by Eric Cairnes 11Dwarfing trees by bark inversionGail Newcomb [...]
TreeCropper 55
[expand title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 55 - September 2008 Front cover: The fruit and seeds of a New Zealand-grown asimoya. Photo by Roy Hart. See article on page 20. 1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier 2Message from the PresidentMurray Redpath 3Letters to the editor, Management Committee notes 4Message board - Wanted: Recipes, lawyer, photographs; Bed Swap 5Diana Loader - life membership 6Leaf curl - curesYour suggestions for [...]
TreeCropper 54
[expand title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 54 - June 2008 Front cover: Tropicana, a red-fleshed apple. See page 23 for details. Photograph by Sarah Macmillan. 1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier 2Message from the PresidentMurray Redpath 3Message boardBed Swap, Recipes wanted, Photographs needed, Artist required 4 Letters to the editor NZTCA Conference 2008: 5 Jenny Lawrence wins Dr Don Mckenzie Award 6 [...]
TreeCropper 53
TreeCropper Issue 53 - March 2008 Front and back cover: The Dragon Fruit or pitaya - see story page 14 1 Editor's opinion Sheryn Clothier 2 Message from the president John Dean 3 Message board Conference 2008, Eastwoodhill trip, Bed Swap 4 Walnuts - converting to cash by Jenny and Malcolm Lawrence 7 Walnuts - today's market Jenny Lawrence 8 Phytolacca acinosa - the world's [...]
TreeCropper 52
[expand title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 52 - December 2007 Front cover:Photograph by Stephen Goodenough courtesy of 'A Cracker of a Nut' 1Editor's opinionSheryn Clothier 2Message from the presidentJohn Dean 3Message board 4Inbox 5Cropping carbonSheryn Clothier asks Larry Burrows 8Emissions Trading SchemeWebEd, from MAF information 10Simple beesAlfred Harris, Waikato Branch 13Almond - trial reportAnn Phillips 16Blueberriesincredible [...]
TreeCropper 51
[expand title="Click to expand/hide cover thumbnails and table of contents -"] TreeCropper Issue 51 - September 2007 Front cover: As seen during an NZTCA 2007 Conference field trip to the West Auckland property of Wade and Jenny Cornell, a banana flower setting fruit. The type of banana is generally called a "sugar-type banana" as compared with the tropical commercial "Cavendish type banana". The variety is either Misi, Luki or [...]
TreeCropper 50
TreeCropper Issue 50 - June 2007 Front cover: Peter Robinson walks the Waikato and Thames-Coromandel Branch through his chestnut crop in Hamilton. 2 President's report 3 National Committee 4 Mailbox / Tree Crop Bed Swap 5 Tree crops - back to the future 8 Feijoas 11 Book reviews 12 Chestnuts - 13 importing in NZ 19 in USA 20 [...]
TreeCropper 49
[-"] TreeCropper Issue 49 - March 2007 Front cover: The abundant fruit of the attractive mulberry tree are a favourite of NZTCA president John Dean. Find out more on page 26. 1 open opinion guest editorial - Tom Dinning 2 President's report 3 South Island Vice-President's report 4 North Island Vice-President's report 5 Conference 2007 update 6 Cynthia Lund profile 7 The [...]
Branch Innovations Fund
Research Purpose To encourage branches to establish innovative projects that help foster the objectives of NZTCA To enhance the overall profile of NZTCA as a leader in research and community support To provide funding support for branches wishing to establish projects to support local branches in two principal areas: Research and development. Branch projects may focus on the potential of "new" crops for the region, or on perspectives or issues [...]