The MGS Forum
Plants for mediterranean gardens => Fruit and Vegetables => Topic started by: Kriticat on May 04, 2014, 11:51:45 AM
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I have 2 very healthy looking almond trees, last year the fruit all seemed to disappear before they were ripe, and I suspected theft (by bird, animal or reptile) however this year I am watching them shrivel up and drop off so that is probably what happened last year too
Could this be caused by too much water or not enough?
Any other ideas all gratefully received...
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How long have the trees been established? If they are young, say 2-5 yrs, it's unlikely they will be sufficiently established to produce a crop. However, water could be an issue - poorly drained soil in Winter would lead to root rots and subsequent incapacity to swell the kernels, insufficient water in Summer, especially on thin, rocky soils could also exert the same impact. That being said almonds are pretty tough, but they do prefer deep, well-drained soils. They grow very well here in commercial groves that are based on alkaline, somewhat sandy soils.
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Thanks Trevor,
One of them has been in for 5 years, and has been setting quite a good number of fruit for the last couple of years, they just don't survive
They are on an automatic watering system in the summer when we're not here, but the fruit has long gone by then. The ground is rocky, alkaline and well drained, and plenty of wild almonds grow hereabouts
We've had very little rain these last couple of winters so have been watering them, but certainly no sign of water logging. Wouldn't the whole tree look sick if it was suffering from root rot?
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Yes, the whole tree would look sick if the roots were damaged by rot. Are the trees known/ named varieties or seedlings? Do you look inside the shrivelled nuts? Is there actually any sign of the white nut 'meat' or is there just the brown outer husk of the kernel inside the nut case? There is a chance that the nuts weren't fertilised/ pollinated and so have not properly developed and eventually dried up and fallen off. Do you have a healthy bee population?
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try irrigating one tree and not the others...you may be just overwatering.
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Thanks Trevor,
No sign of any white meat inside the husk, hadn't considered pollination problem as we have a very happy, healthy bee population, but I'm now wondering whether they visit that part of the garden, although nothing else seems to have problems up there it is rockier and windier than most of our land
That's a good idea David, though the trees are so healthy looking I'm reluctant to change their 'diet' now, but I will try next year when they flower again.
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Please take a look at the pattern of "diseased " buds on your almonds..This may give you some clues regarding pollination or not.
For example I have noticed that olives tend to bear best on the SW corner of the tree. I assume this reflects bee activity however it is also the windiest corner but also the sunniest ( see TMG 62 pp58-62.).
keep looking especially at olives close by .. In the locality and you will find the answer, possibly by elimination.
Please do not jump to conclusions.
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Our neighbour's old almond tree this morning.