Following the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, onion growers in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, experienced a successful growing season without significant weather disturbances, leading to a well-established crop and above-average yields.
Chris Zuiderwijk from Bostock noted the technical challenges in cultivating onions, emphasizing the crop's vulnerability to weather conditions and the importance of weed control. Despite these challenges, Bostock's onion harvest exceeded the regional average yield of 75 tonnes per hectare.
Growers faced issues such as 'capping off' due to the region's clay soils and Stemphylium mold disease, although the impact was minimal this season. Agronomist Dereck Ferguson contrasted this year's favorable conditions with the previous year's challenges, including seedling losses due to wet weather and damage from a hailstorm and Cyclone Gabrielle. Despite encountering mildew and Stemphylium, as well as bolting due to cold snaps, the current season's crop quality is high, with ongoing harvesting expected to yield respectable returns.
James Kuperus of Onions NZ highlighted the resilience of growers and the significance of achieving a good market return for the high-quality crop amidst sluggish demand in key export markets.
Source: hortnz.co.nz