Ukrainian fruit producer FG "Gadz" has reported a yield exceeding 100 tonnes per hectare from one of its intensive apple orchards planted with the Red Delicious (Kingroot) variety group.
The 8-hectare block, located in western Ukraine, is planted with 8,000 trees per hectare. As of early November, the company has harvested 803 tonnes of apples, with several rows still to be harvested. This means the average yield has surpassed 100 tonnes per hectare, a strong result, especially for the Red Delicious group, which is known for being less productive than varieties like Golden Delicious or Red Jonaprince.
According to the company, achieving such yields required high-density planting and investment in trellis construction, while the orchard's nutrition and protection systems largely follow standard practices. The main differences include higher organic fertilizer application and more intensive irrigation.
Around 85% of the harvested fruit met the size requirements of 7+ cm in diameter, suitable for premium fresh markets.
Recently, the orchard was visited by growers from the Netherlands and Italy, who noted the technological level and efficiency of Ukrainian fruit production.
FG "Gadz" cultivates around 600 hectares of fruit orchards, including apples, pears, and plums, and operates a fruit nursery producing about 800,000 saplings annually. The enterprise also runs cold storage and a fruit-processing facility, manufacturing juices, purees, and dried fruit.
Source: agroportal.ua
