Soft-Shell Almond - 20 cm - Apice Piante

Suitable for temperate and warm climates; it is sensitive to frost during flowering although the best varieties bloom later than older cultivars. Requires dry, calcareous soils. Self-sterile, it needs pollinators from other varieties. The fruit can be harvested green for immediate consumption or for drying.

Ripens in the last decade of September

Growing Tips

Receiving and Planting

Position the plant in worked soil with a deep plowing of 70 cm or work the soil to make it soft and airy by creating a hole measuring 50 x 50 x 50 cm. Potted plants provide excellent results allowing planting in any season, even during fruiting as the root system is not damaged.

Fertilization

At the end of winter, after the buds have swollen, use an organic fertilizer supplemented with nitrogen such as ammonium nitrate; for more demanding species and for plants that tend to yellow, add chelated iron and micronutrients. It is good practice to fertilize with small doses even at the end of summer. After distribution, the fertilizer should be lightly incorporated into the soil.

Maintenance

Water well, especially during dry periods and the first few years after planting. Cultivate the soil at the base of the trees at least once a year to control the growth of weeds that can compete with the tree's root system.

Treatments

Winter treatments are particularly important during the vegetative rest period and at the swelling of the buds. At the start of the growing season, especially monitor for aphid infestations. Always during winter, wounds on the trunk and branches should be protected with sealant. For all treatments, strictly follow the instructions on the packaging.