Why El Niño Is an Important Factor for Nut Growers To Consider Right Now

Harvest may be wrapping up, but the work your nut trees are doing isn’t over. After harvest, trees begin to rebuild and store nutrient reserves that can help support bud development, bloom, fruit set, and early growth in the spring. Leaves can remain active well into the fall, making the postharvest period an important opportunity to address verified nutritional needs before dormancy.

This year, that window may be especially important. A strong El Niño is expected this winter, increasing the potential for wetter conditions for nut growers in California and beyond. This doesn’t guarantee a wet winter, but saturated soils and repeated storms could make it harder to get equipment into orchards or make timely fertility applications ahead of spring growth.

Why is postharvest nutrition important?

Following harvest, trees continue moving nutrients into storage tissues before dormancy. Those reserves help fuel growth the following spring, often before root activity and soil conditions can fully meet crop demand.

Addressing nutrient deficiencies during the fall can also provide more flexibility if wet winter conditions limit application opportunities at the beginning of the next season.

How should growers approach fall fertility?

The best postharvest nutrition plan starts with data, not assumptions. Tissue, hull, and soil tests can help identify nutrient deficiencies, replacement needs following crop removal, and opportunities to improve nutrient management ahead of the next growing season. Because every orchard is different, growers should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach and instead make decisions based on crop, yield, orchard history, and current conditions.

For almonds, growers often evaluate nutrients such as zinc, boron, potassium, and nitrogen as part of their postharvest planning process. Nutrient needs and timing may differ in pistachios, walnuts, and other permanent crops.

For more, continue reading at wilburellisagribusiness.com.