Orchard Program

Our orchard program focuses on providing plants with adequate potassium, calcium, and trace minerals at the right times throughout the growing season to ensure good pollination and fruit fill. Our program incorporates flexible application timing to maximize plant N and K efficiency to promote orchard health and growth.

Our Recommendations:

Fall Fruit Pack

Most perennial fruit plants, whether they are apple trees, blueberries, or cane fruits, set buds for next year’s crop the previous fall. The Fall Fruit Pack is specially formulated to help fruit crops improve bud development and support plant health into the winter season. The potassium and micronutrient blend provides the plant with a fertile environment that can support heavy fruit production the following year. Our Fall Fruit Pack provides a complete approach to managing perennial fruiting crops.

Nitrogen

Overuse of nitrogen can lead to soft fruit and excessive growth. Our liquid and dry orchard fertilizers provide a balance of soluble and slow release nitrogen to ensure adequate growth without sacrificing fruit quality. We recommend the following application rates:

  • Apples/pears: As indicated by soil test results, apply up to 80 lbs total N in early spring depending on growth in the previous year and tissue tests. If excessive growth was seen the previous year, reduce N rates.
  • Cherry, peach, and stone fruits: Apply 40-90 lbs/ac total N post bloom.

Phosphorus

For best results, apply 15-30 lbs/ac of phosphorus per year.

Potassium

Apply rates equal to or greater than N to enhance fruit quality and winter hardiness. Potassium sulfate and K-Mag® are good sources of potassium; sulfur with K-Mag® also supplies soluble magnesium. Apply the bulk of the recommended amount in early spring and spread the remainder throughout the season.

Contact your Midwestern BioAg Sales Consultant to develop a customized plan that meets your soil, plant and economic requirements.

Application Rates

Apple & Pear
Early spring: 5-8-12 at 200 lbs/ac
Fall Fruit Pack: 0-0-7 at 300 lbs/ac
Fall: Bio-Cal® at 500 lbs/ac
Or
Early spring: 10-9-10 at 335 lbs/ac
Fall Fruit Pack: 0-0-7 at 300 lbs/ac
Fall: Bio-Cal® at 500 lbs/ac

Cherry
Early spring: 10-9-10 at 500 lbs/ac
Fall Fruit Pack: 0-0-7 at 300 lbs/ac

Peach & Other Stone Fruit
Early spring: 10-9-10 at 500 lbs/ac
Fall Fruit Pack: 0-0-7 at 300 lbs/ac