The period directly after fruiting is critical if we are to maximise yield the following season.
Plants exist to reproduce, and the fruit contains the all-important seed that represents this goal. The seed is wrapped in the most appealing nutrient package to ensure that it is attractive to the seed dispersers. The tree has just delivered all that it has to create this attractive package, but there has been a huge nutrient sacrifice involved.
Nutrient replenishment
What we do one season has a huge impact the following season. It is this period following harvest where nutrient replenishment is often ignored.
In fact, this can sometimes be the link to the alternate bearing phenomenon. If your orchard has just produced a large crop, it is common sense that nutrition will need to be topped up to avoid the likelihood of a smaller crop from a depleted orchard the next season.
The tree builds its reserves the season before and the benefits of feeding after fruiting can be profound.
Leaf test after harvest
You can fertigate or side-dress, but the most effective and productive response involves a leaf test after harvest and an appropriate foliar feeding program based on that data.
It is very simple. You ask the depleted tree what it needs and you supply those needs via the leaf (which is 12 to 15 times more efficient than soil delivery).
Contact NTS for a free Plant Therapy™ kit, so you can optimise your crop for this season and recharge your trees for next season.
Phone 07 5472 9900
www.nutri-tech.com.au
For more information see Tree Fruit Dec 2014
