Build strong buds post-harvest
It is not commonly understood how and when nutrients fulfil their purpose in prominent, healthy trees, leaves and ultimately the end product - the fruit.
Once the fruit has been harvested, the tree or vine is concerned with building it reserves for the following season. Factors such as the time of harvest, temperature, soil moisture, daylight hours, leaf health and weather conditions determine the ability to forage nutrient in the root zone as well as from the leaf. Taking the least line of resistance, mobile elements in the leaf are drawn back into the bud to build the essential reserves for next season´s demand. Whereas nutrients available in the soil are generally stored within the major storage organs such as the roots, particularly as the length of day and soil temperatures decline.
The heavier the crops load, the greater the demand placed upon the tree or vine up until harvest. Assisting in the accumulation of essential nutrient reserves for the next season is vital to build strong flower buds along with the early expansion of a healthy leaf canopy. Spring conditions are not always conducive to the rapid uptake and supply of critical nutrients to support flowering and early leaf expansion. The ability to target the flower buds with essential nutrient for both vines and pome fruit pre-flower is limited whilst with stonefruit there is no opportunity.
Nitrogen, Zinc, Boron and Magnesium are considered the most important post harvest nutrients with each having specific influence during flowering and early leaf expansion the following spring. Whether it is fruit or vines, attention to post harvest nutrition by both foliar and soil application is essential. This provides a safe and secure opportunity to get the nutrient balance correct pre-flower, overcoming adverse spring conditions. In view of this, Phosyn Plc meeting the need to fulfil optimum nutrient levels for next season has developed a new product.
This new product containing the correct balance of Zinc, Boron and Magnesium, with a small amount of Phosphorus, is now available to growers taking the guesswork out of applying a foliar mixture. Bud Builder, as the name implies, contains the correct balance of the three essential elements for the post harvest time slot to build strong buds for the next season. The addition of foliar Nitrogen with Bud Builder is recommended with the quantity adjusted to the variety and vigour expressed by the plant. Nitrogen is an essential element, which if applied and timed correctly, can promote fruiting without stimulating excessive and competing vegetative growth. Both foliar and soil application (fertigation most efficient) are the most effective and direct methods. Safe-N (35% N) is a unique controlled release Nitrogen product which is very rainfast and easy to foliar apply.
Author: Steve Howse, Australia
Published: July 2000