The apple, the peach and the almond tree have in common that they are trees of the Rosaceae family, and their fruits are very popular. The Almond is a deciduous tree that produces almonds, a very appetizing dry fruit. Due to its use, it falls into the category of fruit tree, to improve its development and yield, it is pruned at different times. Here you will know, when almond trees are pruned and how it is done.
When are almond trees pruned?
The phytosanitary management of cultivated trees, whether for productive, fruit-bearing, ornamental, or medicinal use, is recommended due to the benefits this practice will bring, such as correcting their growth, curing diseases, and even boosting their yield. This is the case with the pruning of the almond tree ( Prunus dulcis ), a tree of the Rosaceae family, whose almonds are very delicious and popular among nut consumers worldwide.
Almond Management
When fruit trees are grown, such as oranges, apple trees, cocoa, tangerines and also almond trees, cultural practices have to be carried out to keep the plantation healthy and improve its yield. Some agro-cultural practices applied to almond trees, such as phytosanitary pruning, must be carried out throughout their cultivation, as it is essential to increase the quality of their fruit. Other cultural practices that are carried out are:
Variety Selection
The selection of the variety of almond tree that will be planted depends on the location of the land that will be used, especially how it affects the climatic conditions during the winter.
Mother plant or rootstock
To propagate the almond trees, the cultural practice of grafting is carried out, due to this, care must be taken in the choice of the mother plant or rootstock. It is usually grafted onto two types of mother plants or rootstocks, these being the free type and the hybrid. Depending on the time of year, farmers use the loam as a rootstock in the dry or dry season. Instead they use the hybrid rootstock in crops under irrigation or irrigation.
Place Guardians
When planting the almond tree in the hole and adding the soil to make it firm, it is suggested to tamp or compact the soil around the almond tree and water. Once this is done, a stake is placed to ensure that the trunk of the almond tree is straight.
pest management
The pests that most affect almond crops are the aphid, the almond caterpillar, the yellow spider, the green midge, mainly. To prevent these pests from damaging the almond crop, it is suggested to carry out periodic observations of the crop to detect the presence of some of these and to be able to control them in time.
Irrigation frequency
The application and frequency of irrigation in the almond crop depends on the age of the crop of this fruit tree. The irrigation frequency has to be high while the trees grow and a large number of roots develop and form. When the plant is already an adult, the irrigation frequency will decrease, although you have to be aware that this fruit tree requires a lot of water.
Fertilization
During the development of this tree in its early years, nitrogenous fertilizer has to be applied for the formation of foliage and the roots of the tree. Several applications are made each year. Once the first harvest is obtained, the number of kilograms or tons of the harvested fruit must be determined, with this information used as an indicator to determine the amount of nutrients extracted at the time of harvest.
Almond Pruning
Pruning is decisive for the management of this crop, with the realization of this cultural practice in different stages of this crop, its yield is regulated and therefore the kilograms of almond fruits during its harvest.
Tools and machinery used for pruning
To carry out the pruning of this fruit tree, there are different tools and machinery, they will be used depending on the size of the fruit tree and the type of pruning to be carried out. First of all, remember to disinfect before and after pruning. This will prevent the transmission of diseases from one plant to another and, also, better preserve the tools. What are these tools and machinery? They are named below.
Pruning shears, handsaw, pole for pruning at height, chainsaw, you have to be careful with their use and protect yourself with gloves and protective glasses. Stairs or scaffolding. strings Basic safety implements such as helmet and gloves.
Pruning benefits
Pruning is an agro-cultural activity, which consists of trimming the branches of the almond tree. If this activity is carried out carefully and correctly, pruning helps to increase the yield and formation of almond fruits.
- It helps the almond tree to have better lighting, aeration and absorption of phytosanitary products in treatments.
- It helps to have a correct distribution of fruits, in the most suitable areas of the plant.
- Increase the measurements and color of the fruits.
- Systematize the production of the almond tree and avoid abundant years or insufficiency in flowering and fruiting.
- Equalize the relationship between the organs of vegetation and production.
- Eliminate diseased, dry or unproductive branches, with this the aging of the tree is delayed and the spread of pests and diseases is controlled.
When are almond trees pruned?
Almendrón pruning is carried out at different stages of its development, while it is in its juvenile phase: at the time of planting, during the first year in the summer and winter, in the second year of planting in the winter season and then during the third year until the plant reaches adulthood.
The almond tree is a deciduous species, which loses its leaves between the autumn seasons until the following spring season. When the leaves are thrown away, it is the moment in which the pruning is carried out, as it is a moment in which the tree has an energy reserve. What has to be taken into consideration is the ambient temperature.
This means that if the crop is in a place with low temperatures and severe frosts, it is suggested to carry out pruning at the beginning of spring. If you live in a place with higher temperatures and where frost does not occur, you can prune at any time during the almond growing season. Other pruning will also be carried out on the almond tree, such as pruning of dry branches, pruning of green shoots that are carried out in summer.
how to prune
During the cultivation of the almond tree, different types of pruning are practiced depending on the moment it is carried out. Pruning is very common in the planting of fruit plants and almond trees, it does not escape this. The types of pruning are: formation pruning, fruiting pruning and restoration pruning. The different prunings are carried out during the winter season and in the period of the tree's vegetative state. The type of pruning to be carried out depends on the age and health and productive status of the almond tree.
Formation pruning
Training pruning is done when the tree has the least physiological activity, during the winter season, during the months of November to February. This pruning is carried out for four years. During this period of time, each year a training pruning is carried out on the almond tree, which will be different depending on the evolution of the tree.
This type of pruning is done to give a balanced structure to the branches of the almond tree. The first time the training pruning is done is when the tree reaches almost a meter in height and, from this first time it is done, the training pruning is done every year for the next four years. The purpose of this pruning is to ensure that the tree has a balanced architecture or size, with this pruning the aim is to concentrate the productive branches in the crown and towards the outside, without them competing with each other for light and water.
When carrying out the formation pruning the first year, the main branches are cut, that is, the upper 3 or 4 branches, at every 2 bud distances and the rest of the branches at a distance of one bud. The formation pruning that is carried out the second year leaves the main branches at 2/3 of their size and the other branches at 1 bud distance.
In the formation pruning of the second year, the internal branches are eliminated and also the branches that are at the base of the trunk. During the training pruning of the third and fourth year, the suckers and branches inside the almond tree are removed, at this age the rest of the tree should already be well formed.
First year
Whether you have grown the almond tree since it was a child or bought it at the nursery, the tree must proceed to prune the branch that is over a meter or so. Those branches chosen about 3 or 4 to be the main branches, will be pruned to 2 buds above a lower bud. The following branches that are below these main branches are cut to a bud. These branches are called tirasavias and will help the trunk to thicken.
After the winter season, while the almond tree is in its vegetative period, 4 vigorous shoots are selected and a clamp is placed 3 or 4 leaves from the shoot that emerged from the second bud. These branches will be pruned in the pruning of the following winter season.
Prune green during the summer
In the first summer of planting the almond tree, the green pruning of this tree is carried out. This is because not all the twigs that sprout during the spring season have to be preserved, we proceed to eliminate misplaced suckers and twigs. This pruning consists of making a small cut in the terminal or apical part of the shoots to stop their growth. This procedure helps the development of the main branches, in this way its structure is strengthened.
Second year
In the second year, the branches selected as main ones grow and early branches begin to emerge. The main branches are pruned to a height of 2/3 lengths. The other branches that remain below the pruning line, about 25 centimeters, are cut to a bud. The lower branches are left to form the secondary branches. In this second year, the tirasavias branches that were left are cut from the base.
Third year
This third year, the main branches are cut back to 2/3 of their length, and the branches that remain below 25 centimeters from the pruning line are cut to a bud. Those branches that go towards the inside of the tree are eliminated, to leave only those that go towards the outside. The lower branches are left, since they will form the secondary branches of the second level.
Fourth year
This fourth year the pruning consists of the elimination of suckers, which go inwards. In view that the main branches already grow little.
Fruiting pruning
To achieve greater productivity of the tree, fruiting pruning is carried out, with this pruning the aim is to balance the branches and new shoots to improve and increase the fruiting of the almond tree. This is achieved by establishing the secondary branches as productive. The fruiting pruning is carried out during 4 to 5 years of the crop, it consists of the elimination of suckers.
The balance of the productive branches is achieved through the elimination of suckers, eradicating dry branches, cutting elongated branches, eliminating unproductive and diseased branches. As the almond plantation ages, the planted trees will be less productive.
This is due to the life cycle of the trees, given that once they reach their maximum production, the decreasing curve of fruit production begins. To achieve lengthening the production of the almond tree. It is suggested to carry out light thinning pruning every three years, this will stimulate the production of new shoots and keep the secondary branches productive.
Restoration pruning
This pruning is carried out on almond trees, once they are bony adults with several years of production, their productivity and fruit sizes begin to decrease. Also, this pruning is done when you want to heal a tree from a plague attack or plant disease. To strengthen these trees, severe pruning is carried out in order to restore their vigor. This pruning is called restoration or regeneration.
Although restoration or regeneration pruning is done to increase the vigor of the plant, it is suggested to apply this pruning, if there is no other solution. This due to the age and phytosanitary conditions of the tree, sometimes the almond tree does not respond well to this restoration pruning. Some producers and agro technicians do not recommend practicing this type of pruning on those branches that have a diameter greater than 10 centimeters, so they prefer to replace the fruit tree.
When restoration or regeneration pruning is done, the main branches are cut about 50 centimeters from their source, making sure that no secondary branch remains. The objective of applying this pruning is to bring the tree back to the time and physiological conditions as similar as possible to when the first training pruning was carried out. So if the tree survives this pruning, it will renew properly and be more vigorous.
Remember that at the time of finishing the pruning of thick branches, apply waterproofing and fungicide in the wound to prevent fungi from entering the tree. Likewise, you have to keep track of the healing of the wounds caused by pruning. If you observe any symptoms of possible disease in your fruit tree, such as damage caused by fungi, it is suggested to apply a homemade fungicide.
To avoid the presence of fungi due to pruning, since the wounds are the weak points, you can apply homemade fungicide preventively and also clean the pruning shears, the blade of the pruning rod, the handsaw. and the rest of the tool kit for horticulture and gardening, to keep it disinfected and sharp at all times to make clean and healthy cuts.
Specific pruning for the guara variety
In case you have any concerns about how the pruning of the guara variety is carried out, which is a very popular variety of almond tree. The same pruning that has already been explained will be practiced, with some other variant.
Almond Characteristics
The almond tree, scientifically known as Prunus dulcis , is a medium-sized tree, reaching between 5 and 10 meters in height. When young, its crown is very open and upright, with small, straight, and obliquely ascending main branches. As the tree matures, its crown becomes more rounded, wider, lower, and takes on a shrub-like appearance.
Its trunk is twisted and inclined; the color of the bark is dark gray or brownish black, with a rough, fissured, irregular texture when the tree is an adult. Its shoots are erect and smooth. Bright green in color and then transform by becoming covered with small spines.
Its leaves vary in size between 4 to 12 centimeters long and between 1,5 to 4 centimeters wide, with an oval or lanceolate shape, with a jagged edge and folded in a V in the lower half. They are smooth and do not have pubescence, dark green or yellowish. Its flowers are hermaphrodite, large, they are born between the months of January to May, before the new leaves emerge. They are white or also intense pink. The fruit is the almond, it is elongated and dry oval.
Almond cultivation
It is a tree that is cultivated in the countries of the Mediterranean region, which adapts to different environmental conditions. How high temperatures in summer and low temperatures in winter even overcome long days of drought. It is a tree that grows in very poor and dry soils. If the environmental conditions are appropriate for its cultivation, its productive yield increases.
The almonds
Its fruit is a drupe, known by the name of Almond, about 4 centimeters long; ovoid shape, light green, velvety texture with pubescence, dehiscent. When the mesocarp (which is a slightly fleshy layer) matures, it opens through the ventral suture, and the shell can be seen. Even when it is a drupe, it does not thicken like other fruits of this type.
Properties
Almonds can be sweet or bitter, the ones that are consumed are sweet almonds that are not toxic like bitter almonds. This fruit has many nutritional properties, it is made up of 50% of its fats, 80% is oleic acid; between 15 to 20% is Omega 6 (polyunsaturated fat). Contains a small amount of Omega 3 and a little saturated fat.
Benefits
Almonds are a delicious dry fruit, which, consumed frequently, helps reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. This is due to the benefits of fatty acids that keep cholesterol and triglyceride levels under control and regulate blood pressure. It helps diet regimens, since it does not make you fat; prevents poisoning from alcohol consumption, controls type II diabetes and thus also constipation. It is an antioxidant that prevents diseases such as cancer and degenerative diseases of various organs.
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