Here comes the heat. Unfortunately, the pistachio crop is way off this year. Very likely less than 1 billion pounds. The current estimate for almonds as of this writing is 2.6 billion pounds, so it will be fine. Walnuts have been thrown some mean pitches the last few years at bat. I am sure you all have been backing off on some of your fertility. That typically means N and K in traditional farming practices, the most studied nutrients for our crop.

But what else do the trees need? It is important to remember we are always growing two crops. Home runs do not happen because we got two things right, we need to get most of them right. Do not lose yield for next year because you treated the other nutrients and orchard health like the N and K inputs you may be reducing.

“We are always growing two crops. Do not lose next year’s yield by cutting back too hard this year.”

Do Not Overcorrect on Nitrogen
Nitrogen is responsible for protein synthesis and often causes that rank vegetative growth if we either overapply or do not have the mouths to feed in a traditional huge crop. This can cause a few things in an off year, more pruning and shredding expenses and wasted money, to name a few. How do your May tissues look? If you are well into sufficiency levels, back off a bit. You do not have to be draconian in your cuts; just reduce the gallons each set and check the next tissues. I bet you are just fine. Remember, it is not how much, but how balanced. If N is way out of whack, P, K, Ca, Mg and others all have to come up to reach optimal growth and production.

Phosphorus Still Drives Late-Season Energy
Phosphorus is still a limiting factor and a major player in root development. We tend to not meet this demand and the trees run out of energy in the late summer. Keep it up with orthophosphate shots more often and even in your foliars. You will thank me at bloom next year. We tend to chase zinc all year, and higher levels can reduce P absorption. High aluminum in your soil will do the same. Adjust accordingly. Soil biology can remediate high aluminum as well. Keep the soils healthy with active biology. Yeast-fermented products can make dramatic improvements to high aluminum soils. Your P levels should reflect that if you are diligent.

Potassium and Stress Go Hand in Hand
Potassium can be very influential in how your trees handle the stress of summer. Keep it coming. Sodic soils will limit K absorption even more than just saline soils. Watch your K to Na ratios and try to remediate sodium being higher than K. If it is, add more K to your foliar applications. High ECs pull harder on soil water than the roots can, and often we see water stress symptoms. Potassium absorbed in the tissues can offset this and allow stomata to function properly, even in high-heat environments like Central California summers. I also recommend heat stress products like solar protection blends. We wear sunscreen when we go out in the sunshine, your trees can use a little as well. If your carbonates are high in the soil, calcium carbonate may not be the answer. High-clay soils may not need that extra bump of kaolin clay on the ground. Polymers may work well if the tree can still breathe. Some do not respond as well. Ask the questions of your PCA before you just blindly apply. Seaweed products and silica can be great tools to help mitigate heat stress. Ask your advisor which one has the right chemistry for your application.

“Reducing inputs in an off year makes sense, but nutrient balance — not volume — is what ultimately protects long-term productivity.”

Calcium Is the Weak Link in Orchard Nutrition
Calcium is still the weakest link for me. We need it as much as nitrogen and yet most do not apply as much as the tree demands. Cells are constantly dividing, repairing and building structure. Help them out with adequate calcium. Think of this as the mortar for a brick wall. You may have the bricks to build something, but that structure is weak if it does not stick together. This is where I really like sap sampling. Calcium is nonmobile in a plant. When it is used, it stays there. Ifå your younger tissue is lacking but the older tissues had enough, you ran out early from what the soil gave you. Make a quick adjustment with a foliar. If the older tissues are insufficient and the new growth is showing enough, you did not have enough early and you can keep adding a constant supply to keep next year’s buds from suffering.

It is a constant struggle to get things right. Mother Nature is a pretty good pitcher with a mean curveball. Even the mighty Casey struck out. But with proper due diligence and fortitude, we will not lose two seasons in a row. Check the lineup and batting averages. Move things around if things are not producing perfectly at that moment. Then step in and take a good swing. Dialing in all your effort, practice and training will keep you in the game.

Publisher’s Take

The Big Picture: What to do Next

1. Balance matters more than volume
   Cutting back on nitrogen is fine in a lighter crop year, but nutrient balance across P, K and calcium is critical to avoid sacrificing next year’s yield.
2. Do not neglect phosphorus and calcium
   Phosphorus supports late-season energy and root function, while calcium drives structure and bud health. Both are commonly underapplied and can limit performance.
3. Manage stress before it shows up
   Potassium, heat mitigation products and soil condition all play a role in helping trees handle summer stress. Monitor ratios like K to Na and adjust proactively.