We have harvested Nene, Spotted Hiwa, Hanakapi'ai, Isa, and Panaewa this week. You can expect to see three of these varieties in your seasonal assortment!
This Week's Harvest! (9/20/20)
- Thread starter Pu'u O Hoku Ranch
- Start date
kasa_balavu
Yaqona Dina
Great drone shot... what a spectacular property.
Is that kava in the second field from the right, and bananas in the very far left of the photo?
Is that kava in the second field from the right, and bananas in the very far left of the photo?
Yes! @kasa_balavu
kasa_balavu
Yaqona Dina
You are very lucky to be able to grow kava in this way. Every attempt to grow kava like this (high-density monocroping) in Fiji fails... in a field like that one, you'd see dozens of gaps and spaces all over the field where kava dieback (CMV) has wreaked havoc.
The only way it works here is interplanted with other crops (old-school traditional farming methods).
The only way it works here is interplanted with other crops (old-school traditional farming methods).
Michael Nielsen
Kava Enthusiast
I don't think its monocroping, since biodynamic farming supports interplating with other crops.
kasa_balavu
Yaqona Dina
Sorry, I guess the term monocropping has changed. AFAIK it used to mean (or at least I learned of it as) just growing a single crop on a given patch of land. Literally mono (one/alone) crop.
The term seems to have acquired all the baggage associated with the type of large-scale commercial agriculture that uses hazardous chemicals to control pests and boost production.
This farm seems to employ biodynamic farming on the whole, but they could still have a single crop (like the kava seen in the photo) on a small portion of land, using biodynamic soil amendments, using mulch and cover crops instead of weedicide, etc.
Aloha @kasa_balavu we do both--Intercropping and rotating, sad to hear about the kava dieback!
Zaphod
Kava Lover
What is it about the other crops, planted in close proximity, that protect it from CMV?
Alia
'Awa Grower/Collector
The photo, to me, is nostalgic. If anyone has access to the Hawaiian 'Awa book, Pu'u O Hoku is "showcased" on page 75 with a section written by their former 'awa farm manager. Two pages devoted. Also when designing the Hawaiian 'Awa-- cutting to beverage poster, Puu O Hoku is paid tribute to (subliminal) by placing a photo of that former farm manager in photo 1.
kasa_balavu
Yaqona Dina
The main vector for the spread of CMV is aphids. When an aphid feeds on a kava plant infected with CMV, some of the virus can stick around in its mouthparts and be carried to the next plant it feeds on. If that next plant is also a CMV host, it can be infected with the virus.
In feeding again on a plant that didn't already have CMV, its mouthparts are cleaned of the virus. So any further feeding after that does not spread the virus until it feeds on another CMV-infected plant.
Basically, aphids normally only have the ability to spread the virus to the first plant it feeds on after feeding on an infected plant. So you want to make sure that you interplant your kava with plants that aren't CMV hosts, and when you do spot an infected plant, remove it immediately.
@Alia will know a more about this than I. AFAIK a lot of this information came from a brilliant plant pathologist in Hawaii, Scott Nelson.
Alia
'Awa Grower/Collector
Yes, Scot did some wonderful research on 'awa for so many years, as did Dr. Jeri Ooka.
Scot is retired and lives in Naples, Florida now.
Keeping kava plants in an active, healthy, growing cycle really helps with CMV.
I don't think it is totally a death warrant as long as good clean-up and fertilizer practices are followed.
Scot is retired and lives in Naples, Florida now.
Keeping kava plants in an active, healthy, growing cycle really helps with CMV.
I don't think it is totally a death warrant as long as good clean-up and fertilizer practices are followed.
kilakila
Kava keeps me going.
I ordered a second variety pack a week or so ago and just ordered bananas, honey and some other goodies! I am now so incredibly spoiled by fresh frozen kava from Pu'u O Hoku ranch. I had some regular medium grind yesterday and it just wasn't the same. I think I'll be sending in another order very soon!
Michael Nielsen
Kava Enthusiast
Are you looking for the delivery truck from fedex?
Michael Nielsen
Kava Enthusiast
I don't understand your question?
"We have harvested Nene, Spotted Hiwa, Hanakapi'ai, Isa, and Panaewa this week."
I am not able to deduct the origin from the photo but your comment prompts me to speculate somewha that it was Sandwich Islands or Hawai'i.
