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Almonds: Calendar of Operations

for Home Gardeners


Pamela M. Geisel is UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor in Environmental Horticulture for

Fresno County; Carolyn L. Unruh is UCCE staff writer for Fresno County; and Paul Vossen is


UCCE Farm Advisor in Fruits, Vegetables, and Marketing for Sonoma and Marin Counties.


University of California

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Publication 7257


Almonds are among the earliest-blooming among

fruit and nut trees. As such, they are susceptible to

spring frosts that can damage the blossoms or small,

developing, immature nuts. Almond trees are best

adapted to areas with less chance of spring frost and

with warm, dry summers where the fruit can prop-

erly mature and cure. Almond trees grow well in

most well-drained soils. Almost all almond varieties

require a pollenizer variety nearby that blooms at

the same time.


Winter Dormant Season

• Prune trees in December or January to shape the


trees and to promote growth of new fruiting wood.

Remove dead or diseased wood, overly vigorous

water sprouts from the center of the tree and suck-

ers from the base. On old, mature trees, prune out

older fruiting wood to stimulate new growth and

maintain fruitfulness.


• A dormant oil spray will help reduce European red

mite, brown almond mite, and San Jose scale if

these pests become a problem. In most cases this

treatment is not needed.


Spring Bloom Season

• If rain threatens, control blossom brown rot with


a fungicide spray at full bloom. If it is a wet

spring, an additional fungicide spray applied 3

to 5 weeks after petal fall will help control shot

hole, scab, and anthracnose diseases.


• Fertilize mature trees from February to March

with 4 pounds of ammonium sulfate.

Immediately follow a fertilizer application with

an irrigation in order to dissolve the fertilizer

and carry it into the root zone. This also helps

prevent the loss of nitrogen to the atmosphere.

From February through July, young trees benefit

from much smaller but more frequent applica-

tions of fertilizer prior to rain or irrigation.


• If you use drip irrigation, apply just the amount

of water needed to replace what is used by the

tree and lost from the soil through evaporation.


If you use sprinkler or flood irrigation, water

about every two weeks, and provide enough

water to wet the soil to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.

Water requirements will vary depending on

environmental conditions and your soil type .


Summer Growing Season

• Continue regular irrigations every one to two


weeks until rainfall and cooler weather arrive.

• Almonds are mature and can be harvested as


soon as their hulls split and nuts can be removed

easily from trees. The nuts are still green and

quite moist at this time. Nuts do not have to dry

on the tree before harvest. Almonds dry much

more quickly when they have been removed

from the tree and spread on the ground. To mini-

mize pest problems in the drying nuts, harvest

them as soon as possible after hull split. Separate

the hulls from the nuts and discard the hulls. Dry

the in-shell nuts in a protected location until the

shells are dry and brown and the kernels have a

nice crunch (about 5% moisture). Kernels can be

left in the shell or removed for storage. Freeze in-

shell nuts or shelled nutmeats for two weeks to

kill worms. Store in sealed plastic bags to prevent

re-infestation.


Autumn

• Prune out dead wood from October through


November while trees are still in leaf and dead

wood is easily visible.


• Clean up weeds or debris that may harbor insects

or plant pathogens.


• Control and remove winter weeds that are near

the tree trunk to reduce the chance of crown rot

or rodent damage.


• Remove and destroy all old nuts left on the trees

or the ground after harvest to reduce the number

of overwintering navel orangeworms, the major

almond worm pest.


http://ucanr.org
http://ucanr.org


For More Information


Cousult these UC IPM Pest Notes online at
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu:


Brown Rot

Shothole

Anthracnose

Scales

Spider Mites


You'll also find detailed information on many

aspects of fruit and nut tree care in these titles and in

other publications, slides sets, and videos from UC

ANR:


California Master Gardener Handbook, publication 3382

Drip Irrigation in the Home Landscape, publication

21579

Pests of the Garden and Small Farm, publication 3332

Pruning Fruit and Nut Trees, publication 21171

Sweet Cherries for the Home Grounds, publication 2951

The UC Guide to Solving Garden and Landscape

Problems, CD-ROM 3400


ORDERING


To order these products, visit our online catalog at
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu. You can also place

orders by mail, phone, or fax, or request a printed

catalog of publications, slide sets, and videos from


University of California

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Communication Services

6701 San Pablo Avenue, 2nd Floor

Oakland, California 94608-1239


Telephone: 800-994-8849 or 510-642-2431

FAX: 510-643-5470

E-mail inquiries: danrcs@ucdavis.edu

For a free catalog of other publications, telephone

(800) 994-8849.


Visit the ANR Communication Services website at
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu.


Publication 7257


© 2002 by the Regents of the University of

California,Division of Agriculture and Natural

Resources. All rights reserved.


2 • Almonds: Calendar of Operations for Home Gardeners


The University of California prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person employed by or seeking employment

with the University on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition (can-

cer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran

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University Policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws. Inquiries regarding the

University’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action/Staff Personnel Services Director, University of

California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 300 Lakeside Drive, 6thFloor, Oakland, CA 94612-3550; 510-987-0096. For informa-

tion on how to obtain this publication and other ANR CS products, call 800-994-8849.


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This publication has been anonymously peer reviewed for technical accuracy by University of

California scientists and other qualified professionals. This review process was managed by the

ANR Associate Editor for Pomology, Viticulture, and Subtropical Horticulture.


http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu
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mailto:danrcs@ucdavis.edu
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WARNING ON THE USE OF CHEMICALS

Carefully follow all precautions and safety recommendations given on the container label. Store all chemicals in

their original labeled containers in a locked cabinet or shed, away from foods or feeds, and out of the reach of chil-

dren, unauthorized persons, pets, and livestock.


Confine chemicals to the property being treated. Avoid drift onto neighboring properties, especially gardens con-

taining fruits and/or vegetables ready to be picked.


Mix and apply only the amount of pesticide you will need to complete the application. spray all the material

according to label directions. Do not dispose of unused material by pouring down the drain or toilet. Do not pour

on ground: soil or underground water supplies may be contaminated. follow label directions for disposing of con-

tainer. Never burn pesticide containers.


PHYTOTOXICITY: Certain chemicals may cause plant injury if used at the wrong stage of plant development or

when temperatures are too high. Injury may also result from excessive amounts or the wrong formulation or from

mixing incompatible materials. Inert ingredients, such as wetters, spreaders, emulsifiers, diluents, and solvents,

can cause plant injury. Since formulations are often changed by manufacturers, it is possible that plant injury may

occur, even though no injury was noted in previous seasons.


Funding for this publication was made possible through a grant from the Elvenia J. Slosson Fund.


Almonds: Calendar of Operations for Home Gardeners • 3


Introduction

Winter Dormant Season

Spring Bloom Season

Summer Growing Season

Autumn

For More Information

WARNING ON THE USE OF CHEMICALS


Text1: ISBN 978-1-60107-048-7

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