Keigo Nakamura

Thank you for your usual treatment and cooperation,

Herewith I report you about my visit and investigation of bulbs and situations in Chile, which is lily bulb production country in Southern Hemisphere, from July 23rd to 29th.

○ Climate

We see major 3 points in Chile climate 06-07.

1. Rain in planting time
Relatively long rain continued in September, and some variety (lot) was planted later. After that, climate had been unstable till December, so we could see some delay of growth already in January. As a result, this delay influenced fewer enlargements until the end.

2. Cool summer
Weather recovered in January – February (mid-summer) and sunshine was good, but temperature stayed lower than normal year. Especially south area has more tendency, and temperature after summer was 3℃ lower for long time in some place. Cool summer is same in New Zealand.

3. Cool and dry autumn
From April to harvesting season was lass rain and very cold, said growers. Harvesting was started from June, and went smoothly in the suitable weather. Temperature stays low, and soil temperature didn’t go up by rain, so inside sprout is calm and no worry for sprouting risk.

・Los Angels area which is located most north (Sun harvest, part of Southern bulbs), is different climate from other area. It ‘s been hot summer, mild autumn and cold winter, which is plainly hot and cold normal year.

○Bulb and sprout condition

1. Bulb enlargement : Generally speaking, more south (cold), is less growth.
Depending on area, variety and planting time, growth is quite different. It’s hard to see detail condition until counting is done, but enlargement seems little small.

2. Firmness of bulb : very firm.
Low temperature from autumn to now makes good influence. But, I could see some bulb got damaged in harvesting and already scale is rotten. We have to face and solve it strictly.

3. Sprout development : Normal or little smaller
I took approx 50 sample and checked conditions. This trip is 3 weeks later than last years visit, but sprout development is same or just little less. Harvesting time in Chile is sometime rainy and risky to sprouting problem, but they could harvest in safe this year.

○ Growers situation

Sun harvest : When I visited, harvesting was already done. It’s warm area, but this years winter is cold and even it snow slightly once. They intend to finish building new warehouse which is 5000 ㎡ and located cloth to field in this year, so it’s will be better efficiency of post-harvesting next season. Office will be moved too.

Sone : This years acreage is decreased and rain fall in harvest season is less, so working in both field and warehouse looks relaxing. Also new washing place, which was set in field influences for efficient transportation. They are preparing tissue and scaling for future variety assortment, and acreage of next year will be increasing.

Southern Bulb : People worry that it’s impossible to manage big increased acreage which is more than 150ha of 07 crop, but actually each part of job is covered by team, and managed efficiently. Acreage out of Puyehue (office area) is increasing more, and enlargement in each area is different. New cooling storage (1320㎡) was built and in using, improved capacity problem of storage.

Sun & Breeze : It has been primitive by-hands production way for long time, but this year, they try to make it efficient with bigger harvesting machine and common washing line. Warehouse was extended and capacity of cooling storage too.

Chile Bollen : They also installed harvesting machine and new washing line to make efficiency.