High density plantings - are now being establish with Satsuma mandarins. Tress are planted on a VERY CLOSE 3 x 6 foot pattern, with every 4th row open to allow machinery access. Tree crowding becomes apparent after 6-7 years, when complete rows are removed, and trees within the remaining rows also removed. The resulting spacing is 3x12 or 6x12. Successful transplanting of the 6-7 year old trees that have been removed is feasible with hydraulic machinery.
Reflective mulches
The use of white reflective mulches is now standard practice in satsuma orchards where it is used to improve uniformity of fruit coloring and increase Brix levels. It is an expensive practice. The most common material used is Du PontÂ’s Tyvek, which is laid under the tree canopy 3 months prior to harvest and removed just before or after picking.
One major problem for New Zealand citriculture is the low accumulation of annual heat units. These are necessary in order to obtain adequate sugar (Brix) levels . Orlando, Florida produces 3700 annual heat units, Riverside 1700, Valencia, Spain 1600, but in New Zealand annual heat units range from the low 700's to the high 800's.
Millet
