October 2008

The Daley News

How quickly the seasons change here in the sub tropics, no sooner have the frosts finished, than the storms have begun,  the sun is high in the sky and summer is on its way.  Speaking of the storm season, it began with a direct hit with large hail stones that made us thankful for our hail netting.  The storm was mid afternoon on a Saturday and the hail was still frozen and weighing the nets down to the ground when all the staff arrived for work on Monday morning.  The nets saved us from any serious damage and the twins have been busy repairing them and replacing the damaged poles, so apart from a few squashed trees all is well.  Spring is a great time here at the nursery, there are lots of people busily working to make our fruit trees and in every corner of the nursery there is a hive of activity.  The orchard is also waking up and beginning to flourish in the suns warmth.  The stone fruits are being eaten by whoever wanders by the trees and the first of the plums are almost ready to be picked. Mulberries and blueberries are covered in fruits and the avocados are flowering. It is also the time of the year when the citrus are in full bloom filling the poly houses with their delicious, fresh aroma.

Ripening Peach from Tree

A Single Citrus Blossom

A bunch of citrus Blossoms

Dwarf Black Mulberries Close up

Greg took the opportunity in the cooler and quieter months to escape from frosty Kyogle and join up with Paul in the tropics.  Paul had cycled from Kyogle to the Atherton tablelands where he spent a couple of months exploring the forests and living with the tree kangaroos.  Greg added a fruity flavour to the duo and they headed up to Cape Tribulation to relish in the tropical flavours of the Cape Trib Exotic Fruit Farm. Situated in tropical forested surrounds where the rainforest meets the reef, the Exotic Fruit Farm grows a enormous array of mouth watering tropical fruits, they open their doors at 2pm every day for fruit tasting and as these fruits are picked straight off the trees you will not taste anything better.  Trish was heading the tour and Greg was amazed at her knowledge and presentation of tropical fruits, even in the middle of winter they had the chance to sample red pitaya, carambola or star fruit trees , pummelo, canistel, breadfruit, sapodilla and Pauls favourite the soursop. In any season of the year there are at least 10 different tropical fruits available to try. The orchard on the farm has over 2000 fruit trees with over 150 different species of exotic tropic fruit collected from around the world. The farm is certified organic and runs on permaculture principles. The list of things to enjoy while you are there if you take advantage of the bed and breakfast is very tempting, and speaking of breakfast, I have just made myself very hungry by perusing their sumptuous menu, freshly picked in season tropical fruits followed by delicious and healthy, home made and where possible, home grown produce. The Cape Trib Fruit Farm is eco-certified for both the B&B and the fruit tasting.

Fruit Fly Season

It is that dreaded time of the year when the fruit is looking large and luscious and if you have not taken precautions to control fruit fly you risk biting into a rotten maggot infested mess.   There is nothing more disappointing.  I set my wild may and male eco naturalue trap a few weeks ago at the first hint of spring and they are already catching a large number of fruit flies. Kyogle is a week or so behind my orchard so I set the traps here at the beginning of September and will be monitoring the number of flies that we catch in them each week. Greg will be spraying eco naturalure around the orchard on a weekly basis. So far I have picked a handful of Flordaprince peaches which are the first to come off and these have not been stung.  I have set 4 traps this year including one designed by Denis Pelham of Wauchope which featured in the June 08 Gardening Australia magazine, Denis kindly sent us the black and yellow design,  instructions and materials needed construct and set the trap. I will bring you all the results later in the season.

If spring is the only chance you have to get out in the garden, it is the most important time of the year in the orchard so take the opportunity when you get it. What you do now will set you up for the rest of the year, the most important jobs are giving your trees a long deep drink, especially if you are in the areas of Australia where spring is the dry season.  Fertilizing and feedling your trees as the weather begins to warm up in also vital to the health and growth of your fruit trees. Makes sure your fruit trees are free of weeds and then once you have watered and fertilized them surround them with a thick layer of an organic mulch that will break down and feed your soil as it does.  As the temperature begin to rise and the trees push new growth, the pests will also begin to appear.  Be vigilant about fruit fly control and keep your eyes out for heavy infestations of aphids, scale and other nasty bugs, where necessary a regular spray of eco oil will keep most at bay.

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