Early season nutrition planning is already top of mind for many California tree crop growers as almonds and pistachios begin moving toward bloom. In this episode of the Agronomic Minute, Dylan Rogers, Sales Account Manager for AgroLiquid, shared timely reminders about what’s already happening inside the orchard, and what growers can realistically influence at this stage.
Rogers explained that as trees “start waking up,” it’s important to remember they’re running on stored nutrition carried over from last season. “The trees are working off stored nutrition solely from last year,” he said, noting that post-harvest applications and in-season fertility programs from the previous year play a key role in bloom development.
In fact, Rogers emphasized that much of the crop potential has already been determined. “Those buds already know that they’re going to be vegetative or fruiting,” he said. Because of that, growers shouldn’t expect to dramatically change bloom outcomes at the last minute, but they can still focus on what matters most right now: preparation.
One of the biggest action items for this time of year is dialing in bloom spray programs and having a clear game plan ready to go. “Pinning down your bloom spray programs… and getting all those ducks in a row” can help ensure growers are ready to respond quickly when bloom sprays become necessary.
Rogers also noted that weather conditions are off to a strong start. With good rainfall and moisture, some orchards may see benefits in soil cleanup, especially in areas dealing with salinity. “We’ve had some good rain to push some of those salts out of the root system,” he said.
For more information on early season fertility strategies, visit AgroLiquid.com.