ENZA JAZZ Apple Trees and the Path to the Export Market
29/11/2010
ENZA JAZZ Apple trees are remarkable machines. Regardless of the ever changing environment around them they carry out their role every year and deliver juicy JAZZ Apples for export to apple eaters aroud the world.
For the 2010/2011 New Zealand apple season we are following the life cycle of a JAZZ Apple tree. ENZA will track the different stages of growth from dormancy all the way through to fruit maturity and selection for packing. It is bound to be a tale of drama, of battling the elements and riding the highs and lows that are a part of striving to succeed in the tough business of growing up into a juicy apple.
Our tree is known as ’48 JAZZ’ and is on the Encore Orchard of A. R. Griffiths and Sons Orchards in New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay. As the season progresses we will zone in on one little apple and see how it copes over the season with the pressure to attain the recognition of being and export grade apple.
Week 6 - 20/9/10
This weeks cold and incredibly windy low pressure system has slowed our 48 Jazz bloom slightly, but the development on the tree is evident, as the flowers are just waiting to burst.
Honing in for a closer look at the buds we’ve been tracking, we find that they have continued to move, even in these most inclement conditions. Our tight clustered, 2 year old spur wood, continues to transition through "open cluster" on Monday, progressing toward "popcorn" stage by the Thursday.
"Open cluster"
"Popcorn"
Floral buds on 1 year old wood, have also progressed significantly. On Monday, we found that the center, or "king" blossom, had completely opened, while the remaining 4 blossoms continue moving through open cluster stage. By Thursday, our king flower shows signs of deterioration, indicating it has been pollinated and is soon to drop its petals. The surrounding blossoms in this cluster, have fully reached the popcorn stage and will likely open, over the coming 24 hours. With the prospect of sunshine and warm temperatures over the weekend, we look forward to seeing our 48 Jazz in full bloom, early next week!
"JAZZ Apple King Blossom Open"
"JAZZ Apple King Blossom Starts to Deteriorate"