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Fruits, Nuts & Perennial Crop CalendarsAlmond Calendar: Bloom and Harvest
Almonds flower before almost any other commercial tree crop, so the year starts with a gamble on weather and bees. After bloom the calendar is slower, ending in hull split and harvest.
Key points
- Almonds bloom early and are exposed to frost and rain.
- Bees and compatible pollenizers are essential.
- Hull split signals that harvest is near.
- Water and pesticide rules are strict in many regions.
- Dry nuts well before storing them.
Why does almond bloom come so early?
Almonds break dormancy and flower very early, often while weather is still cold and unsettled. That timing exposes open flowers to frost and rain, both of which can cut the crop. The industry in California, where most United States almonds are grown, is built around managing this risk.
If you are planning a planting outside the main growing region, treat frost risk as the main question. Ask extension about local experience.
A grower in a cooler or wetter area must assess whether bloom and bee flight overlap with acceptable weather in most years. If not, almonds may not be a fit.
- Treat frost risk as the main question
- Ask extension about local bloom experience
- Plan for years with light crops
How does almond pollination work?
Most almond varieties need pollen from a different compatible variety, and bees carry it. Growers arrange for honey bee hives during bloom and plant pollenizer varieties that flower at the same time as the main variety.
Cold, wet or windy weather reduces bee flight and can limit pollination. Protecting bees means avoiding anything harmful during bloom, so check local rules and label directions before any application.
Bee activity depends on temperature, so a cold stretch during bloom can matter more than the number of hives.
- Match pollenizers to the main variety
- Arrange hives before bloom
- Protect bees from anything harmful during bloom
What chill and climate do almonds need?
Almonds need winter chilling and a long, warm, dry growing season. Mild winters with enough chill and dry summers suit them best. Hardiness zones describe winter minimums only, so ask extension about local chill, frost and rainfall patterns.
Rain at bloom encourages disease and limits bee flight, so many regions with wet springs are poor fits.
Do not rely on a general chill number found online. Ask extension for the chill estimate for your location and for varieties matched to it.
How are almonds irrigated and fed?
Almonds need steady water through the growing season, and water supply is a major limit in many regions. Water scheduling depends on soil, weather and tree stage, and local water rules may restrict use.
Feed according to soil and leaf tests and local advice. Nutrient management rules vary by state, and some regions have specific requirements for fertilizer and irrigation records.
Keep records of irrigation and fertilizer, since many regions require them. Record keeping also helps you spot problems.
- Keep irrigation and fertilizer records
- Check local water rules
- Use soil and leaf tests
What happens between bloom and harvest?
After bloom, nuts develop through spring and summer, with the hull and shell forming first and the kernel filling later. In late summer the hull splits open, which is the signal that maturity is near.
Hull split does not happen at the same moment across every nut or tree, so harvest timing is staged. Growers monitor split and plan the shake, sweep and pickup operations accordingly.
Watch the orchard weekly as summer ends. Walk several rows and check nuts in different parts of the canopy.
How is the almond crop harvested?
Large orchards use mechanical shaking, followed by drying on the ground, then sweeping and pickup. The nuts then go to a huller and sheller. Small growers hand harvest or use a pole, and dry the nuts in a protected, ventilated place.
Dry nuts to a safe moisture before storage to prevent mold. Ask extension for storage guidance, and follow food safety rules for any nuts you sell.
Do not leave harvested nuts piled in the field or in humid storage. Moisture and pests spoil them quickly.
- Dry nuts before storage
- Keep nuts off damp ground
- Follow food safety rules when selling
What pests, diseases and rules apply?
Navel orangeworm, blossom diseases and several other problems matter in almond regions, and sanitation, such as removing leftover nuts, helps. Water and pesticide rules are tightly regulated in many areas.
This guide gives no product names or rates. Follow your extension guide, apply labeled products as directed by a licensed applicator where required, observe pre-harvest intervals and protect bees during bloom.
Crop insurance and records are part of risk planning. Talk with a crop insurance agent and the USDA Risk Management Agency about what coverage exists for almonds in your county.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.