New Product - Crop Solutions Crop Covers

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1 Inside this issue: Crop Covers Pumpkin Spinach Iceberg Lettuce Sowing Guides Spring 2016 New Product - Crop Solutions Crop Covers In 2016 Seed and Field Services Ltd (SFS) was appointed the New Zealand Distributor for Crop Solutions (UK) Crop Covers. These covers include Insect netting of various mesh sizes, Bird and Hail netting and Fleece. In field work carried out with insect netting, as well as providing a physical barrier for insect pests, crop maturity has also been brought forward. This is due to the covers creating a micro climate where the effects of wind, rain and hail damage are minimised. The temperature underneath the covers is raised, aiding more rapid crop growth. KEY FACTS FLEECE Fleece is used mainly to control temperature for bring crop maturity forward It must be laid tight like a bedsheet and will stretch as the crop grows. It is best secured with soil or sandbags. Will last for 1 2 seasons dependent on conditions Both fungicides and herbicides can be sprayed through Fleece but the Fleece must be completely dry for it to work. Fleece thickness is measured by weight (grams per square metre). Standard roll sizes available ex SFS in Pukekohe is 12.25met wide x 250 met long with Fleece weights of 17,19 and 22 gm/sq metre. KEY FACTS INSECT NET Designed to protect fruit and vegetable crops from insect attack, but also gives protection from birds and rabbits. The net creates a micro climate by giving shelter to the crop, and protection from hail and mild frosts increases the temperature under the net by 1 2 degrees. Insect net is laid slack as it does not stretch allowance must be made for plant growth. For insect protection net is best secured with soil to create a complete seal, but can also be secured with sandbags or pegs. The nets can be left in place on the crop from sowing to harvest. It is possible to spray chemical treatments through the nets, as long as the nets are dry. Nets come in various mesh sizes. Standard sizes are 0.3mm, 0.6mm and 0.8mm. Roll sizes available ex SFS in Pukekohe are 3.65 and 13 metre widths with roll lengths of 50,100 and 200 metre. Visit our Website at

2 The following trials conducted on a crop of transplanted Butterhead lettuce in Hamilton demonstrates how the use of Fleece protects the crop from frost and with the increased temperature under the cover, growth is increased. UNCOVERED UNCOVERED COVERED Photo taken 03 June after frost The following temperatures were recorded from trials in Mangere in July, demonstrating how temperatures under both net and fleece were effected. COVERED Photo of same lettuce taken 27 June Surface temp Soil Temp Fleece Net Uncovered SFS has also imported machinery to roll and unroll the crop covers. On the 24th of May a successful demonstration day was held at the Pukekohe Indian Hall, attended by a number of growers. The MK1 Crop Solutions rolling/unrolling machine was put through its paces, demonstrating how quickly 2600 sq metres of 0.6mm insect net could be unrolled, re-rolled and wrapped for storage. This machine is currently on tour of the country for growers to trial.

3 Product Profiles Grey Pumpkin Atlas (E88 082) has been trialled over the past couple of seasons and after good results a small amount of commercial seed is available this year. Atlas produces attractive medium size fruit with a high shoulder and small seed cavity. This new variety in trials to date has shown very good storage potential compared to both Monarch and Sampson. Nelson Early maturing bush type pumpkin grown commercially for a number of seasons. Nelson has been used successfully for early season pumpkin production setting medium sized fruit that has good early internal colour. Nelson has superior flavour compared to other first early crown varieties. Sampson - The outstanding feature of this Hybrid pumpkin is it s bright orange attractive internal colour, which is evident even at harvesting. It has a small seed cavity with a high shoulder and produces a large heavy fruit. Ideal pumpkin for the cut segment market. Has shown impressive potential for storage over a number of seasons, and noticeably slower to pinking than most other varieties. Monarch long standing market standard that is still popular with many pumpkin growers. Very good main crop performer with superior sets of deep/blocky pumpkin. Good size uniformity, with average pumpkin weight generally 4 to 6 kg. Attractive external and internal colour. Filmcoating A thin polymer material is used with only a very slight weight build-up. Filmcoating bonds combinations of colour, fungicides and/or insecticides to the seed. The outer layer, containing the colour, encapsulates the seed and any chemicals, offering a very clean and dust free product, which contributes to the safety of the handler and the environment. Filmcoating does not change the seed size, but will change the count based on the build up. Filmcoating makes the seed flow more easily and aids in plantability. Crop Target Pest/Disease Chemical Active Ingredients Pumpkin/Squash Damping Off Diseases Apron XL Metalaxyl Carbenz Carbendazim Captan Flo Captan Argentine Stem Weevil, Grass Grub Beetle, Springtail, Lucerne Flea & Aphids. Gaucho 600FS Imidicloprid

4 Product Profiles Summer Spinach Kookabura RZ new introduction from Terranova seeds, trialled last summer with good success. Kookabura is a Semi Savoy spinach similar to Donkey with dark green thick leaves that look to suit both babyleaf and bunching production. DMR 1-13,15 Donkey RZ has been a traditional summer market standard for a number of seasons with robust semi savoy leaves with mid green colour. Consistently performs well in the mid summer heat. DMR 1 11, 13 Seminis SV2157VB outstanding recent introduction from Seminis seeds. SV2157VB is a semi savoy spinach with very dark green thick leaves. Performance was outstanding in the mid summer period with feedback from growers this variety consistently out yielded others. Also noticeable in SV2157VB ability to hold up in warm conditions or after periods of heavy rain. DMR 1-13, 15 Seminis SV3580VC grown commercially for the first time last season, SV3580VC is a exceptionally dark paddle shape leafed summer spinach with a slightly savoyed leaf. This variety shows good vigour through Spring and Autumn, but is adaptable enough to cope with the mid summer heat also. Has become a favourite with growers as a bunching spinach with its colour, and proven to be very versatile with babyleaf growers. DMR 1-13, 15 Seminis SV2146VB new variety to trial. Dark green summer spinach with a paddle shaped leaf with a slight savoy DMR 1-13, 15 Summer Iceberg Green Moon new mid summer Iceberg from Clause Pacific Green Moon in trials to date has shown outstanding ability to handle the mid summer heat. Green Moon produces a large frame with upright leaves, and attractive green well filled heads. Trials to date have shown exceptional uniformity giving high percentage first cuts. Green Moon harvests best from late January until mid April.Nas Resistant with DMR 16-26,28,31-32

5 Spring Brassica Sowing Suggestions Cauliflower Summerlove Nova Highfield - (Clubroot Resistant) Sow July to January Sow June to January Sow July to December Cabbage Green Cabbage Lambada Burlesque - Red Cabbage Red Baron Sow July to March Sow July to November Sow year round Broccoli Liberty Serenity Arcadia Sow July to January Spring Lettuce Sowing Suggestions Iceberg Albanas Casino Green Moon Sow from July to end of August Sow from August to January Sow from late November to end of December Grant Wilson Ph: gwilson@sfse.co.nz Phil Picot Ph: ppicot@sfse.co.nz Andrew Culley Ph: aculley@sfse.co.nz Hazim Arafeh Ph: hazim.arafeh@sfscl.co. nz Kenny Wilson Ph: kwilson@sfse.co.nz Visit our Website at