WSU Tree Fruit: Fall Nutrient Management for Tree Fruit
Why apply nutrients in the Fall? Plants need light, carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and minerals for their development, growth, and for producing quality fruit (Marschner 2002). Most nutrient uptake occurs through the roots, between bloom and the rapid vegetative growth phase. In most perennial tree fruit, however, initial Spring growth and early fruit development rely mainly on reserves accumulated the previous season (Weinbaum et al., 1984). There is evidence that Fall a
