gardencalendar:AlmondPrunus dulcis dulcisAlmonds are the earliest-blooming of all deciduous fruit or
gardencalendar:AlmondPrunus dulcis dulcisAlmonds are the earliest-blooming of all deciduous fruit or nut trees. They should be grown only in regions where there is relative freedom from frosts during blooming period and early spring when nuts begin to form. Small, immature nuts are even more frost sensitive than blossoms. Almonds are best adapted to areas with warm, dry summers. These are needed for nuts to properly mature. Nuts will not reach maturity if summers are cool and humidity high. POLLINATIONWith a few exceptions such as ‘All-in-One’ and ‘Garden Prince’, almonds require cross-pollination with another variety to produce a crop. Suitable pollinizers for each variety are included in the variety chart. SOIL, NUTRIENT AND WATER REQUIREMENTSAlmonds do well in most soil as long as soil is well drained. They do not tolerate salty soils. Trees are quite drought resistant once established but produce better with regular watering. If trees make 8 to 15 inches of new growth each year, they do not need to be fertilized. If they are slow to grow, trees will respond to nitrogen applied at a rate of 1-½ pounds actual nitrogen per tree per year. PRUNINGPrune young almond trees to a vase shape. Nuts are borne on spurs that remain fruitful for about 5 years. If an abundant almond crop is your goal, prune with thinning cuts to replace branches that have spurs past their prime. Extensive pruning is not usually required. A few large cuts will normally do the job. HARVESTING AND STORAGEHarvest almonds after hulls have cracked open and are partially dried. Nuts can be knocked or shaken from tree. Allowing them to fall naturally takes weeks and risks rain damage.Remove hulls and place nuts in sun to dry for one to two days. When kernels rattle in their shells they are dried enough. A properly dried kernel will snap in two rather than bend. Almonds in the shell will keep up to six months stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Western Fruits, Nuts & Berries © 1981 -- source link
#almonds#almond tree