By John Wood, Certis USA Regional Manager

With almond harvest complete and the remaining tree nut harvests ending soon, it is time to turn our attention to post-harvest protocols.

Irrigate with nutrient and pest management. A critical goal of post-harvest management is to get trees into optimal nutritional condition. They need to go into winter replenished so that they produce good crops next spring. We typically apply nutrients with fall irrigation.

During the period we call root flush, trees start to generate new roots that will store carbohydrates to ensure vigorous tree growth in the spring. As these roots grow, they attract nematodes to the root zone. Nematodes live and move within the water film in the soil. They then cause damage to the newly formed roots that need to absorb and store nutrients and carbohydrates over the winter. These attacks also make trees vulnerable to other pathogens.

Apply MeloCon^® WG as you deliver nutrients. It helps control nematodes for up to 30 days once it enters the soil profile. MeloCon is a biological nematicide that contains a naturally occurring fungus, Paecilomyces lilacinus. It is an especially effective parasite of all stages of development of common nematodes, especially the eggs and infectious juveniles. Apply MeloCon WG now and at post-bloom to affect the largest percentage of nematodes.

MeloCon can be tank-mixed with most fertilizers and pesticides. Because its active ingredient is a fungus, be certain of its compatibility when combining in a tank mix. A compatibility chart is available here on the MeloCon page at certisusa.com.

Evaluate your ant situation. A harvest sample will indicate any damage. Ideally, the treatments you applied in spring and summer controlled ant populations. However, if damage is or was present, consider treating earlier next year and more often, if necessary.

Finish weed surveys. Complete your surveys after the first fall rain. Survey results will identify remaining weeds that your weed control program missed. Free, crop-specific weed survey forms are available at ipm.ucanr.edu. Next, adjust your program for the upcoming year to control the weeds that survived.

Check for late-season Alternaria strikes in pistachio orchards. Conditions for the disease in some locations can be favorable, even this late. This is especially important in orchards with cover crops as they have more Alternaria blight than chemically or mechanically mowed orchards.

In the next issue, we’ll talk about using dormant sprays with copper and oil for disease control. Until next time.