Carl and Hannah Lenne started growing fruit in 1889 in Ardmona, Northern Victoria.

Today, 115 years later, Carl and Hannah's granddaughter Margaret Plunkett, her husband Noel and son Andrew now manage the orchard.

In recent years, Plunkett Orchards has increased from its original size of 150 acres to 485 acres and produces an array of quality fruit including apples, pears, apricots, plums, nectarines and peaches. The delicious fruits grown at Plunkett Orchards are a mix of traditional and new varieties that are picked between November and May.

The different varieties include:

• Pears - Packham Triumph, William bon Cretian, Howell, Corella and Josephine.

• Apples - Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Rosy Glow, Gala, Sundowner and Lady William.

• Peaches - Yellow canning varieties (T204, T211, Taylor Queen) and red skin peaches (Rich Lady, Zee Lady).

• Plums - Black Amber, Amber Jewel, Tegan Blue, Angelino.

• Nectarines - Fire Pearl. Apricots - Francesco, Earlisun, Trevatt.

Orchard management is based on best management practices and knowledge that has been generated over 115 years.

Soil, water and crop management is focussed on the need to produce "clean-green" fruit, with many environmental initiatives activated across the orchard.  Crop protection is based on the IPM approach to minimise the use of chemicals and encourage the natural control of problem insects and mites.

Irrigation is computer controlled to optimise the amount water used, and organic matter is applied each year to improve soil structure and fertility. New plantings of fruit trees have been designed around existing native vegetation and Plunkett Orchards is committed to establishing additional corridors of native vegetation in and around the orchard.

Copyright © 2003 Plunkett Orchards. Revised: 07/07/04.