The seasonal weather extremes: a grower's perspective

For those who live there it is ‘The Mainland’ for those in the North Island it is ‘down south’ often said with a shiver.

And the winter the South Island has just had, certainly produced some shivers.

At K&L Nurseries just south of Christchurch but only 4 metres above sea level night temperatures reached – 8.5 degrees causing burst pipes and frozen pumps. Imagine what it would be like inland and up a bit!!

Very often a cold winter means a dry winter and soil moisture levels are low causing real concern in parts of the South Island as we move into a predicted ‘El Nino’ weather system, with predominant westerly’s soaking the west coast and leaving the east coast dry & parched.

Those in the North Island are currently being soaked by the warm wet systems that are drifting across it; it is hard to believe that you can drive two wheel drive utes over any paddock in the Canterbury region.

Peonies are the main seasonal crop currently coming through with about 100mm of growth – maybe a little later than usual. Being an outdoor field crop much of it is not irrigated so soil moisture levels are of real concern.

Otherwise winter solar levels have been good and are strong now, replanting and some expansion is occurring.