Introduction

When it comes to planting almond trees, spacing is a crucial factor to consider. The distance between each tree can affect their growth, productivity, and overall health. Therefore, it's essential to determine the appropriate distance or spacing required for optimal yield and quality of almonds.

Factors Affecting Spacing of Almond Trees

Several factors can influence the tightness or looseness in which landowners should plant their almond trees. These factors that they need to consider include:

Almond Tree Variety: Different almond tree varieties have different needs for spacing. For example, semi-dwarf varieties like Nonpareil, Mission, and Monterey need 18-20 feet apart, while dwarf varieties like Padre or Sonora require 12-15 feet apart.

Growing Conditions: Almond trees require enough space to grow and thrive. Therefore, it's essential to consider the soil type, water availability, and drainage conditions of the planting site. Additionally, the plant spacing factor largely depends on the age and growth stages of the trees. Thus, newly planted trees need closer spacing compared to the old and established ones.

Yield Goals/ Harvesting System: The expected yield goals and the harvesting system can influence the spacing between trees. For instance, wide spacing allows for the use of mechanical harvesting equipment, while closer spacing is ideal for manual harvesting operations.

Management Practices: The pruning and training system used for the almond trees influence the spacing required between them. For example, a modified central leader system requires wider spacing, while a kniffin or spindle bush system may need closer spacing.

Other Factors: Other factors such as pest and disease control, tree vigor, and trellising system can influence the spacing of almond trees.

Recommended Spacing Requirements for Almond Trees

Based on the factors that affect plant spacing, it's recommended that growers space their almond trees between 18-25 feet apart in rows with spacing between the rows of 20-24 feet to allow adequate sunlight penetration and air movement, optimize the water requirements, and meet the space requirement for mechanical harvesting equipment. Almonds should be planted at a depth of 2-3 inches and watered well for the first couple of weeks after planting, then every 10-14 days for the first summer.

The rootstock, size of the trees, and the production system are also significant factors in establishing an orchard. For example, smaller trees on dwarfing rootstocks may be planted closer together than semi-dwarf or standard-sized trees. In contrast, wider spacing can be adopted for trees on standard rootstocks or in flood-irrigated orchards.

Conclusion

Almond growers should plan their orchards with the recommended spacing requirements based on various factors, including variety, growing conditions, yield goals, management practices, and other essential factors affecting plant spacing. Proper plant spacing ensures adequate sunlight, airflow, and efficient water and fertilizer management, resulting in healthy, productive, and high-quality almond trees.