An organic almond program, timed to peak demand.
A foundation nitrogen program built on CDFA FREP and UC Davis almond research: a dormant Phyta-Grow® Leafy Green Special base, then in-season Phytamin® Jumpstart delivered when the tree needs nitrogen most — bloom through June.
Almonds take up most of their nitrogen between bloom and June.
UC Davis research shows almond nitrogen demand peaks from bloom through mid-June, and most of the season’s uptake is complete by the end of June. In organic orchards, background nitrogen from soil organic matter, cover crops, and compost is substantial — but it mineralizes slowly and unpredictably, and rarely lines up with that peak. Phytamin® Jumpstart delivers nitrogen that is immediately plant-available, applied precisely when the tree is pulling it.
Where the nitrogen comes from.
A 2,000 lb/acre kernel crop removes roughly 136 lb N/acre (about 68 lb N per 1,000 lb of kernels, UC Davis). This program supplies a reliable, well-timed share of that demand; the organic system supplies the rest.
(2,000 lb kernel)
dormant base
in-season (3×)
soil OM
COFI program supplies ~102 lb N/acre · the organic system supplies the balance
Phyta-Grow® Leafy Green Special, then Phytamin® Jumpstart.
| Timing | Product | Rate | N supplied |
|---|---|---|---|
| November Dormant | Phyta-Grow® Leafy Green Special 7-1-2 Dry, banded / incorporated | 1,000 lb/acre | 70 lb N/acre |
| Bud swell | Phytamin® Jumpstart 4-1-1 Through irrigation | 30 gal/acre | ~10.7 lb N/acre |
| +30 days | Phytamin® Jumpstart 4-1-1 | 30 gal/acre | ~10.7 lb N/acre |
| +60 days | Phytamin® Jumpstart 4-1-1 | 30 gal/acre | ~10.7 lb N/acre |
| Program nitrogen from COFI products | ~102 lb N/acre | ||
Dormant
Dry, banded / incorporated
Through irrigation
Placed against the uptake curve.
1,000 lb
30 gal
30 gal
30 gal
The dormant Phyta-Grow® Leafy Green Special application builds a base over winter, mineralizing as soils warm. The three Phytamin® Jumpstart applications land inside the bloom-to-June window, when the tree pulls nitrogen fastest and immediate availability matters most.
Crop N demand and uptake timing: California Crop Fertilization Guidelines (CDFA FREP & UC Davis), Almond Nitrogen Uptake and Partitioning; P. Brown, UC Davis (~68 lb N per 1,000 lb kernel). Cover crop N contribution: UC ANR Solution Center for Nutrient Management (100–200 lb N/acre from terminated legume cover crops). Compost N release: T. Hartz, UC Davis (~5–10% first-year mineralization). Product rates and densities: Phytamin® and Phyta-Grow® CDFA-registered labels, California Organic Fertilizers.
Talk to a COFI agronomist
10585 Industrial Avenue · Hanford, CA 93230
800-269-5690 · info@organicag.com · organicag.com
THE ORGANIC AGRONOMIST
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