Don’t Skip This Step: Post-Harvest Fertilizing Boosts Northwest Crop Production

As harvest gets underway for the permanent crops across the Northwest, one expert says this is a critical widow that could help boost production in 2026.

Dylan Rogers with AgroLiquid said post-harvest applications are vital for trees and vines when springtime rolls around.

“Say you had a bumper crop the previous year and you skipped your post-harvest application and springtime rolls around, that tree or vine is going to struggle because its reserves are gone,” Rogers said.  “Getting that post-harvest application on rebuilding those reserves, it’s going to be of huge benefit come next spring when stuff starts to wake up. You’ve got to get those reserves built back up.”

Now Is The Time To Prepare For Next Year

Rogers said cutting post-harvest nutrition may seem like smart budgeting in this challenging farm economy.  But he stressed, skipping this key step leads to weaker blooms, poor leaf-out and reduced fruit and nut sets; problems that compound across multiple seasons.

“It’s easy to look past that post, harvest nutrition, you’re down to the end of the season, you’ve got your crop off, the run is over. It’s time to take a breather,” Rogers said.  “It’s easy to miss that post-harvest application, but I can’t stress enough. That’s probably one of the most important applications you’ll make.”

Rogers offered this advice:  Apply specific recommendations for nitrogen, potassium and sulfur through irrigation systems as well as targeted foliar applications of zinc and boron.

By Glenn Vaagen

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