ither 6 m X 6 m (normal farmers planting system), 4.0 m x 4.0 m (Medium-high density system), and 3.5 m X 3.5 m – 2.5 m (under high-density planting system). Every 3rd row
should be pollinizer row. Before planting, pits of 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft should dig up a size during
the month of September to October. The almond plants should be planted from Feb to
March in the center of the pit, provided by the desired bamboo supports to protect the
almond trees from winds and to grow straight
The critical stages of an almond plantation which are most sensitive to water shortages
are flowering(Feb – March) and fruit development (April-May-June). Therefore, watering
must be provided during these stages for getting a higher yield of quality almond nuts.
The drip irrigation watering method found very efficient in almond farming, try to adopt
drip irrigation for better water managemen.
A high-density almond plantation is a modern approach to almond farming that aims to
maximize land utilization while increasing overall yield. In this method, almond trees are
planted at a closer spacing compared to traditional orchards. More trees can be planted
per acre by utilizing techniques such as double-row planting and hedge-row systems,
resulting in higher production capacity.
The closer spacing promotes healthy resource competition, leading to vigorous growth
and improved fruit production. With high-density almond plantations, farmers can
achieve greater efficiency, optimize their land use, and ultimately boost their almond
yields for a more productive and profitable farming operation
. Increased Yield: High-density planting allows for more almond trees per acre,
resulting in higher yield. The close spacing promotes competition among the trees,
improving pollination, fruit set, and increased production.
. Efficient Land Use: Farmers can maximize their land’s potential by utilizing space
more effectively and cultivating more almond trees. This is especially valuable in
regions where land availability is limited or expensive.
. Enhanced Resource Utilization: High-density plantations enable efficient use of
resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients. The close spacing allows for better
light interception, optimizing photosynthesis and tree growth. Additionally, irrigation
and fertilization practices can be more precisely targeted to individual trees.
. Early Production: Due to the higher tree density, high-density almond plantations
can reach productive stages earlier than traditional orchards. This means farmers can
start harvesting and generating income sooner.
. Ease of Management: With trees in close proximity, orchard management tasks like
pruning, pest control, and harvesting become more efficient and streamlined.
. Improved Pollination: The proximity of almond trees in high-density plantations
enhances cross-pollination, leading to better fruit sets and more uniform nut
development.
. Potential for Higher Profits: Increased yield, efficient resource utilization, and early
production can increase profits for almond farmers in high-density plantations.
.
Plantation and Spacing: Almond trees should be planted square or hexagonal, with spacing ranging from 2.5 to 6 meters, depending on the desired density. Planting pits should be prepared before planting season, and pollinizer cultivars should be strategically placed for effective cross-pollination
Today, we learn the topic of Almond farming techniques, ideas, and tips. The commercial
cultivation of almonds in India is protable. Now, let us discuss a step by step guide for
growing almonds, almond plant care, and harvesting procedure.Definition of almond:
The almond is a medium-sized tree of the rose family. It resembles the peach, plum, and
apricot. Just like the peach, the almond contains the edible seed in a hard outer shell.
When reaching maturity, Almond hull splits open, the almond nut can be easily
separated from the hard shell once it is dried. There are two types of almond available a)
Sweet almond b) Bitter almond. Almonds are used for various purposes like in sweets,
milk, nuts used in the food and used in producing oils. Almond cultivation in India is
restricted to selected hilly areas of are Kashmir region, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar
Pradesh.
Almonds are the and most nutritious and healthiest nuts of all, considered a well-
balanced cholesterol free food, it also called the king of nuts in India. Some of the health
benets of almonds are given below.
Almond requires climate having slightly hot summer temperature ranging from 30 C – 35
C and cool winters for plant growth and kernel lling. Unopened blossoms shall
withstand cold up to – 2.2 C, but blossoms at petal fall stage are damaged at 0.50 C to –
1.1 C. The blossoms can withstand temperature from – 2.2 C to – 3.3 C for a short time but if
low temperature continuous for long hours they get damaged easily.s preparation for almond plantation:
Almonds grow in a wide range of soils and the ideal PH range of soil is 7.0-8.5. Almond
cultivation is best suitable for loamy, deep and well-drained soils. Almond trees do not
thrive well in heavy or poorly drained soils but can be grown in average soils
supplemented with Farm Yard Manure and with regular assured irrigation.
The grafted/budded almond plants should be planted in a square system at a distance of
either 6 m X 6 m (normal farmers planting system), 4.0 m x 4.0 m (Medium-high density
system), and 3.5 m X 3.5 m – 2.5 m (under high-density planting system). Every 3rd row
should be pollinizer row. Before planting, pits of 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft should dig up a size during
the month of September to October. The almond plants should be planted from Feb to
March in the center of the pit, provided by the desired bamboo supports to protect the
almond trees from winds and to grow straight
anting time, head back the tree to 1 meter above the ground level.
2) First dormant pruning:- 3 primary scaffold branches are retained along with few
temporary branches below the trunk, removing only those branches which compete
strongly with primary scaffolds and the Almond tree is trained to a shape of modied
leader system.1-year-old wood is pruned every year in December – January when Almond
tree is completely dormant and they produce most of the fruit on short spurs which stay
fruitful for about ve years.
Therefore, pruning should be done in such a manner that 1/5 the fruiting wood is
replaced every year. Prune in such a way that new wood with new spur growth is
constantly replacing spur that is no longer fruitful or useful. To meet or achieve this, only
prune or remove older tree branches that are 1.2 cm to 3.7 cm in diameter. Thin out very
little of the smaller wood, except to remove unwanted suckers or water sprouts. The
success of pruning in almond plantation can be judged in part by the length of new
shoots over the entire tree every year if other factors are not impacting the growth.seed production of turnip, knoll khol, mustard and bulb production of onion and garlic,
and aromatic plants and medicinal plants like lavendine, lavender. Besides getting some
extra income, the growing of legumes like pulses and pea will increase the soil fertility,
turnips seed production and mustard augmenting to pollination by attracting bees, and
growing some medicinal and aromatic trees like garlic, lavender, lavendine, etc are acting
as a repellent to ant pests, insects and diseases
n general, Almond trees are not self-pollinating so therefore it is necessary to provide
every 3rd row in each farm with pollinizer variety (33 percent pollinizer) so that their
bloom should coincide with each other. The varieties which are generally used for
commercial almond cultivation as pollinizer like, Jordanalo IXL, Waris, and Ne-Plus-Ultra.
In addition, to this, placement of 4 to 6 beehives are found highly benecial and can
increase the fruit set and almond yield by 12 to15 %
The almond tree is a heavy feeder. Therefore, it requires and recommended a good
amount of manures and fertilizers. It is best to apply well rotten Farm Yard Manure (FYM)
in each tree at a rate of 20 to 25 kg/tree during winter fall (Dec to Jan). Fertilizers doses
should be applied on the basis of leaf nutrient analysis and soil test. However, usually, the
following recommendations may be adopted depending upon the age of the almond
tree. Urea should be applied in 2 to 3 split doses. The rst half dose should be applied
along with DAP (full) and MOP (full) at fortnight before expected to bloom, a second dose
(1/4th) of Urea should be applied about three weeks after fruit set and 3rd dose of Urea
(1/4th) should be applied in May – June. Foliar spray of urea about 1.5 to 2 % may also be
given for promoting fruiting bud formation and subsequent growth in the next season.Water requirement for almond trees:
The critical stages of an almond plantation which are most sensitive to water shortages
are owering(Feb – March) and fruit development (April-May-June). Therefore, watering
must be provided during these stages for getting a higher yield of quality almond nuts.
The drip irrigation watering method found very efcient in almond farming, try to adopt
drip irrigation for better water management.At the end of July, it begins to split open and between mid to late August the splits widen
which exposes the shell and this allows the nut to dry. Therefore, more than 50% split
stage; the nuts are normally harvested by manual plucking. Make sure it’s dry for
harvesting, rain may damage nuts quality. Harvesting is done knocking the branches
with sticks or manually but care to be taken to save the fruiting wood and branches while
knocking the branches with sticks. Later on, the almond hull is removed manually.
