Wise Words

Hayward flowering is nearly here, just as cooler, wetter weather potentially on the way... Hayward is a much tougher pollination job than Gold3, potentially requiring around 40 bee visits per flower compared with just 6–7 for Gold3. Hive condition, bee behaviour and pollen availability all play a part. The good news? Hayward flowers remain receptive to pollen for about a week, giving us a little more wiggle room when the weather doesn't cooperate. But don't leave it to chance. Pollination pro...

Pollination is one of the biggest drivers of performance, and under covers it can be particularly challenging. In this Wise Words podcast, we discuss how to support bee activity in covered Gold3 orchards, when supplemental pollination may be needed, how to monitor bee numbers, and why pollination assessments can help maximise fruit size, quality and yield.

Variable budbreak is once again dominating conversations in Gold3 kiwifruit orchards this spring. In this episode of Wise Words, we explore why there's rarely a single cause, what we currently know about the factors influencing budbreak, and how growers can respond to reduced flower numbers to set themselves up for the best possible outcome this season and next.

As spring growth gets underway, now is the time to be monitoring orchards for Psa. In this episode, we discuss the symptoms growers should be looking for, why spring conditions can increase risk, and the practical steps that help minimise infection. We also touch on Psa biology, the Psa risk model, and why protecting vines before infection events remains the key to successful control.

In this episode, we share key takeaways from the Kiwi Pollen Field Day, including insights on pollen quality, viability testing, application techniques, and the pollination work Shane presented from last season's Hayward orchard assessments. It's a practical discussion on what growers can do to better understand and manage pollination performance in their orchards.