Grower's Corner: Fall Fertilization

Usually, nursery growers aren’t talking about putting out any extra fertilizer in the fall whentheir crops begin the process of shutting down and preparing for winter. There are a fewexceptions to this rule that I’m mentioning below that could be helpful in the performance of some of your crops that you grow.

• If crops haven’t been fed in a while, and you’d like to improve their nutrition by using a very short-term top dress in September-October  to get them better prepared for winter

• For varieties that have a fall flush and your regular fertilizer has planed out, a very short-term fertilizer might be appropriate to ensure that the flush is not stunted and that the new growth has good, normal color.

• Some fall-planted crops can benefit from a short-term, root-focused fertilizer to get them through the fall and prepare them for a good start in the following season.

These suggestions can make the difference in how the plants tolerate an early freeze, a hardfreeze, or an early spring freeze. Good nutrition makes a world of difference in the quality, pestprevention, and tolerance to many diseases. As the proverb states, ‘An ounce of prevention canprevent a pound of cure’.
Danny Dudoich, Grower Specialist