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Despite planting his Rockit™ orchard in September 2021, just before Gisborne experienced numerous episodes of catastrophic rain, Sam Tietjen says his investment in drainage paid off. “We were able to get out there straight away, so it was worth it,” he says
Rockit™-ing through growing generations He has never grown Rockit™, or any other variety of apple, but Gisborne grower Sam Tietjen says these miniature fruit represent an exciting new development for his orchard. KRISTINE WALSH reports.
Growing up on a Gisborne orchard, Sam Tietjen learned a lot about grapes and even more about citrus. But for him, planting apples would break new ground. He has done it anyway. Sam is part of a group of Gisborne growers who are providing satellite orchards for the Hawke's Bay-based Rockit™ Global. Sam returned from overseas travels four years ago to take over Braemark Orchard, the 50-hectare vineyard and citrus operation his father, John, had operated for over 40 years. Just 25 years old at the time, he was mindful that John had recently pulled out nearly 10-ha of grapes so there was bare land to work with. “That's kind of why I came back… there was this land that needed working and Dad had done his time, so it was my turn to do some development and work on new varieties and growing systems,” he says. “Not long after my return we heard that Rockit™ was looking at diversifying into 18
The ORCHARDIST : JUNE 2022
Gisborne so we went down to check it out.” It was still early days, so Sam parked the idea but kept in touch with Rockit™ to keep the embers burning. When his neighbour planted a block of Rockit™ apples in 2020, the flames were reignited. “It just seemed like the time was right, especially with neighbours right there for the sharing of knowledge, staff and equipment if needed,” Sam says. “That gave us the confidence to go ahead.” Sam created more space by pulling out lemons to open up a nearly ten-hectare block on which to establish his apples, planting five hectares last year (11,500 trees) and with another three-and-a-half-hectares (7000 trees) due to go in this late winter or spring. There were some concerns, such as: would the fruit grow too large in the Gisborne climate? would it not get the chill factor required to colour up properly?
