The essentials of orchard planning

Planting a new orchard requires significant upfront capital. It is also a long-term commitment that may only give you a return on investment after at least three years. Magda du Toit spoke to farmers to learn more.

- Magda du Toit

Planning a new orchard requires sufficient time and resources before committing to such as big investment.

A comprehensive business plan that takes many factors into consideration is needed before a new orchard can be planted.

Research should be the first step and should cover topics like variety selection, environmental challenges, advantages and disadvantages of using trellises, the availability and quality of water, optimum planting density and spacing, and pest and disease prevalence in the area.

The main purpose of the plan is to eliminate surprises and ensure not only an income but a proper return on this major investment, too.

Many things can go wrong when establishing a new orchard, says Carl Fourie, production manager for Letsitele citrus at Mahela Group. "Certain setbacks can mean that the orchard never reaches its full potential in terms of yield and quality. It can even result in an orchard not reaching its full lifespan or replanting.

"To correct mistakes or compensate for inadequacies may mean production practices will have to be adapted at a meaningful additional cost.

"Once the trees are in the ground, they may be there for quite some time, so proper planning with careful consideration of all production and environmental aspects is needed.

"Most fruit trees require between six and eight hours of sunlight for good growth and fruit ripening, so aspects like soil type and how much sun the area will receive during the growing season will have an impact," Fourie points out.

Pitfalls of establishing an orchard include:

• Incorrect choice of cultivar for a particular area; Incorrect layout of the orchard;

•Inadequate soil preparation;

• Incorrect choice of rootstock; and Incorrect planting of trees, resulting in poor establishment.