In this podcast, Derek Donkin sits down with Athol Currie and Therese Bruwer to unpack the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) in avocado production. They discuss when and how PGRs should be applied, their effects on flowering, fruit set, and tree management, and what growers should consider for effective results.

Our latest SAAGA podcast episode is here, and it's all about pollination — one of the most important (and often overlooked) factors in avocado production. We chat to experts about how pollination works in avocado orchards, what can go wrong, and what you can do to improve your fruit set and boost yields. Join us[...]

In this introductory episode of a series on avocado nutrition, Kondi Munzhedzi speaks with experts about preparing effective fertiliser programs using leaf and soil analysis. The discussion highlights the role of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) in promoting healthy tree growth and boosting yields, with practical tips on interpreting results and applying nutrients effectively.

Kondi Munzhedzi (Subtrop) discussed the imporatance of Land Preparation with a team of specialists, Marnus Ferreira, Juan Brink, Stefano Faedda, and August Kruger, from Agri Technovati

Kondi Munzhedzi (Subtrop) discusses the characteristics of various avocado rootstocks with Dr Zelda van Rooyen (Westfalia) and Sakkie Froneman (The Fruit Farm Group SA) with a view to choosing the best rootstocks for different orchard conditions.

In the cooler avocado production regions, growers have the option to harvest their avocados way beyond minimum legal picking maturity in order to enter the local market at a time when supply is limited and prices are higher. This practice, known as “late hanging”, has it pros and cons. Derek Donkin discusses late hanging with[...]

Good flowering and fruit set are needed to ensure a good yield. In this podcast, a panel of experienced horticulturists discuss management practices to promote good flowering and fruit set.

As from January 2024, prochloraz will no longer be allowed for use in packhouses to control post harvest diseases in avocado fruit. Kondi Munzhedzi chats to Bram Snijder and Anita Boyum on orchard practices growers should implement to help prevent anthracnose and stem end rot.

Is loadshedding hampering your daily farming operations? Costing you time and money? Have you ever considered being totally unreliant on the national power supply grid? Avocado producers in Mpumalanga province have found a solution for keeping your lights on and saving you money. Listen to Mr. Ralph Hearne and his son Steven from Coysters farm[...]

Derek Donkin interviews Keith Elphinstone, Operations Manager at Westfalia Fruit Estates, and André Lutge, Senior Area Manager at Westfalia Fruit Estates, on the theory and practicalities of injecting trees in the Letaba district.

Derek Donkin interviews Professor Adelé McLeod from Stellenbosch University Department of Plant Pathology of on the use of phosphonates for Phytophthora Control.

Injecting trees for Phytophthora Control in KZN regions. Interview was done with Athol Currie, KZN Regional Manager for The Fruit Farm Group SA. He gave insight on the importance of the timing of injections, the point of injection and trunk injections.