Articles

Managing the orchard floor for optimal soil health

Summary of a presentation given by Charles Merfield, Biological Husbandry Unit (BHU), Lincoln University as part of the winter 2019 AGM/field day weekend

Originally published in the HGA newsletter, August 2019

Merf delivered a fascinating presentation on the key aspects of a healthy soil and how common orchard management practices can destroy soil health.

Overview

Merf’s key point was that it’s possible to achieve a healthy orchard and clear floor for harvesting while also maintaining biodiversity in the orchard floor, rather than using herbicides that kill soil microorganisms.

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Basic moisture monitoring after harvest

You can determine how much moisture your hazelnuts have lost by regularly measuring their weight. You need accurate digital scales. This method won’t tell you the absolute moisture level, just whether they are stabilised.

Weigh the sample when nuts are first harvested. Re-weigh regularly until the weight is the same for 3 measurements.

% moisture = (wet weight – dry weight)x 100
dry weight

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp caster sugar
  • 100g sweet cooking chocolate
  • 3Tbsp Hazelnut Oil

Method

Dry roast the hazelnuts in the oven at 180’C for 15 minutes or until the flesh of the nuts are lightly golden. Remove the skins by rubbing in a teatowel or between the hands. While still hot, put the nuts into the food processor and finely chop.

Melt the chocolate in a sauce pan and add the hazelnut oil, taking care not to overheat the mixture. Add to the nut mixture and process until smooth.

Orchard visit: Nelson, Catherine & Matt Collett, Ellesmere

February 2019

Like Sally and Joe, the Colletts’ orchard is close to Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, and so it can get very wet which means they have put in open drains and a swale to help drain their property. One flood took half the harvest into the lake.

Continue reading Orchard visit: Nelson, Catherine & Matt Collett, Ellesmere

Orchard visit: Michael & Jenny Petherick, West Melton

February 2019

Jenny and Michael have owned their orchard for nearly three years. It was previously owned by Selwyn Manning, and was originally planned by Stephen Brailsford. Since taking on the orchard, Jenny and Michael have increased harvest from 0.7 to 2.4 tonnes.

Continue reading Orchard visit: Michael & Jenny Petherick, West Melton