Drought-like conditions in parts of the Waikato are causing a headache for some fruit and vegetable growers who are suffering with bone-dry soils and intense heat.

Although not as badly hit as the region's dairy farmers - who are taking the first steps toward asking the Government to declare another drought - growers are starting to feel the pinch from Waikato's dry spell, too.

Mike Roach, of Roach's Nursery, has about 1.4 hectares of vegetables planted at his property in Eureka, near Morrinsville.

"The veges are really suffering, we've only got half the crop we should have."

He said the nursery, which grows roses in winter, was restricted by the council as to the amount of water it could use and the area had not had decent rain for months.

Mr Roach grew eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, gherkins and courgettes, most destined for Waikato farmers' markets.

"In the morning they're standing up looking good, in the afternoon they're shrivelled up because of the lack of moisture."

Latest climate figures from Niwa showed that parts of Waikato received less than a fifth of their normal February rainfall last month.

Waikato, Waitomo and Taupo districts were particularly hard hit.

In isolated areas soil moisture deficits may be as severe as the 2013 drought, Niwa's February climate summary said.

Martin Reid, an apple grower and president of the Waikato Fruit Growers Association, said soil temperatures were drier now than at the same time last year.

He said although his royal gala crop - which he finished picking this week - was in superb condition, he was a little nervous about varieties like pink lady and pacific queen that ripened later.

"If I get no rain for two weeks, then possibly a third of my blocks are really going to be down in fruit size."

But some other producers - like those growing onions, or tomatoes in hothouses - have benefited from the fine weather.

"The dry weather has been ideal for our onion harvest," said Bharat Jivan, of the Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association.

Mr Jivan said the conditions meant some growers in north Waikato were harvesting onions early.

The sunny weather has been good for Frank van Rijen's 3.2ha of tomatoes under glass in Ohaupo, too.

Mr van Rijen said growers who relied on water drawn from glasshouse roofs were finding it more of a challenge, but he was managing fine.

According to Niwa's seasonal climate outlook, soil moisture levels and river flows are most likely to be below normal for the upper North Island, including Waikato, between March and May.

Source - http://www.stuff.co.nz/