Growing Better Fruit Trees (Apple, Pear, Peach, Cherry)
Improve Fruit Quality
Bitter Pit, cracking and other physiological disorders are a common occurrence in fruit crops. They are caused by poor cell division when the fruit is developing (when 0-4 mm in size). Following this stage the cells size, and as the size increases the problems become visible.Foliar calcium sprays can help as they increase cell wall thickness allowing the fruit to reach a larger size before the problem becomes visible. However the best approach is to combine calcium application with a growth stimulant that Plant Impact’s CaT technology provides to increase cell division. The product InCa contains both these and can be applied when the fruit is small to reduce disorders such as Bitter Pit in apples and Cork Spot in pears.
Set more flowers
Flowering causes a major change in the hormone balance of the tree. If the plant encounters stress conditions during this time the plant will abort flowers. Speedo Balance can prevent flower abortion by maintaining a favourable balance during flowering – this will result in higher set and retention of flowers.Hold more fruit
When fruit is developing the quality is adversely affected if conditions lead to rapid shoot growth. This rapid shoot development acts as a sink for food, and ‘robs’ the fruit of food leading to uneven sizing, and fruit abortion. InCa and Speedo Balance encourage the sugars made in the leaves to move to the fruit, and boosts root growth, which discourages shoot proliferation. This results in larger, more evenly sized fruit and can reduce fruit drop.Improving growth during hot and cold temperatures
During cool or hot temperatures the crops ability to synthesise growth hormones declines disproportionately to give a slow-down in development, and often a quality reduction. Normal balance can be restored by application of InCa to give improved growth and quality during temperature extremes.Extend Shelf Life
Shelf life of fruit is controlled by ethylene, which encourages the breakdown of compounds that bind together the cells in the fruit, and weakens cell walls. Fruit shelf life is usually controlled post harvest by limiting ethylene production using chilling, or controlled atmosphere storage.Another approach is to grow the fruit to be less susceptible to the effects of ethylene. This can only be achieved pre-harvest during the growing season. It is during the growing season that the crops shelf-life is determined.
By loading the fruits cells with calcium using InCa the cells in the fruit become less susceptible to ethylene following harvest – thus increasing shelf-life and improving other quality aspects.
Grow Healthy Roots
If plants are growing on salty or high sodium soils, or trees are subject to soil-borne disease such as Phytophera then it is likely that the crop is experiencing root decline. The root system can be reinvigorated using PiNT Calcium which will improve root growth and health, and suppress sodium uptake.Rates and Recommendations for Fruit Trees:
PiNT CalciumSoil application – Up to 300l/Ha/season split into applications of 10-30L.
Foliar application – 5-10L/Ha or 1% spray solution (spray to run off).
Timing: For General use 30 day intervals from flowering, until harvest. For root disorders - soil apply 25-50 litres as early in the season as possible. Can be applied during dormant period.
PiNT Potassium
Soil application – Up to 100l/Ha/season split into applications of 10-30L.
Foliar application – 5-10L/Ha or 1% spray solution (spray to run off).
Timing: 30 day intervals from small fruit until harvest.
Speedo Balance
Application Rate – 2 L/Ha.
Timing: Apply when plants are growing aggressively. Repeat after 14 days if necessary.
Speedo Saxon
Application Rate – Foliar spray 2L/Ha in minimum 100 litres of water. Alternatively use a 0.5% spray solution and spray until run-off.
Timing: Apply at flowering, and again when fruit is 1-5 mm to hold and bulk more fruit.
InCa
General Application Rate – 1L/Ha either as a foliar spray (minimum 100L water spray volume) or through drip irrigation or fertigation systems. Use 6-8 times throughout the season.
General Timing: For temperature stress - apply at 20 day intervals during periods of extreme high and or low temperatures.
Specific Timings and Benefits:
Pink Bud - To protect bud from cold and frost and to aid better set.
Petal fall - To protect bud from cold and frost and to aid better set.
2 weeks after fruit set - To protect fruitlets from cold and frost and to maximise dry matter production.
4 weeks after fruit set - To protect fruitlets from thinning and to maximise dry
matter production.
Mid season - Two sprays to protect fruit and tree from stress and to
maximise dry matter/sugar production.
Pre harvest - Two sprays to protect fruit and tree from stress and to
maximise fruit quality for harvest/storage.
