Post-harvest nutrition for fruit trees: preparing for the next growing season

What happens to the plant during the post-harvest period?

During the post-harvest period, plants maintain significant metabolic and physiological activity, continuing to absorb and mobilize nutrients. Since the fruit has already been harvested, these nutrients are no longer directed toward production and are instead stored in the roots, wood, and, in some species, also in the leaves.

The duration of this window varies by crop: in a cherry tree, it can last up to 120 days, while in kiwifruit it is reduced to just 20 to 30 days. In deciduous species, such as apple or peach trees, it is crucial to act before leaf senescence sets in, while the leaves remain active and functional. In evergreen crops, such as citrus and avocado trees, absorption continues for a longer period.

Why is this stage critical?

The post-harvest period is when the plant accumulates energy and protein reserves, restores its physiological balance, and repairs cellular damage caused by fruiting.

The post-harvest period is also important for root development and for preparing the plant for winter. Proper management contributes to uniform bud break and balanced floral differentiation.

When this stage is neglected, irregular flowering, delayed bud break, flower abortion, and increased susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stress can occur.

Key Nutrients in the Post-Harvest Period

Certain elements play a prominent role during this phase.

Potassium is the nutrient most depleted by harvest; it is essential for sugar transport, osmotic regulation, and cold tolerance, as it lowers the plant’s crystallization temperature.

Nitrogen may be necessary to restore nutritional balance, but it must be applied judiciously and accompanied by molybdenum, which participates in the nitrate reductase and nitrogenase enzyme systems—both fundamental for nitrate assimilation.

Boron promotes sugar transport, floral differentiation, and tissue lignification, and improves the absorption of phosphorus and potassium.

Phosphorus, in turn, contributes to the accumulation of energy reserves (ATP), participates in DNA and RNA synthesis, and stimulates root development.

Zinc is necessary for the synthesis of tryptophan, a precursor of indoleacetic acid (IAA), a hormone in the auxin family that regulates root and stem development.

Calcium and silicon, on the other hand, strengthen cell walls, increasing structural strength, protection against pathogenic fungi, and frost tolerance.

Amino Acids in Post-Harvest Recovery

Amino acids play a role in several important metabolic processes during this phase.

Glutamine and asparagine are involved in nitrogen transport and storage. Proline and glutamine contribute to osmotic regulation and the maintenance of cell turgor under stress conditions, such as drought or salinity.

Arginine and lysine, on the other hand, act as precursors to secondary metabolites (phenols, alkaloids, phytoalexins) that induce systemic acquired resistance (SAR/RAS) and activate pathogen-related proteins (PRs).

Taken together, these compounds contribute to nutrient uptake and assimilation and to the plant’s response to adverse conditions.

Root Development and Preparation for Winter

During the post-harvest period, many crops experience a new peak in root development. Creating conditions conducive to this growth helps increase root mass, promotes nutrient uptake, and enhances interactions between the rhizosphere and beneficial microorganisms.

Zinc plays an important role here through tryptophan synthesis and auxin regulation, while amino acids such as proline and glutamine support this process.

At the same time, calcium, silicon, and potassium help prepare the plant for low temperatures by strengthening tissue structure and cold tolerance.

Beyond Nutrition: Plant Health and Soil Management

Post-harvest success also depends on plant health protection and soil management practices.

At this stage, fungal infections and bacterial cankers are common in woody tissues; therefore, the preventive use of copper complexed with heptagluconic acid is an effective strategy, acting both through direct action and by inducing systemic defense responses.

Soil moisture must be carefully managed: under dry conditions, nutrient uptake is limited; therefore, in rain-fed crops, foliar application becomes essential.

In addition, incorporating pruning debris and leaves increases organic matter and returns nutrients to the system, while maintaining ground cover during the winter prevents erosion and promotes biodiversity.

Preparing Now for the Next Growing Season

Proper post-harvest nutrition ensures the replenishment of reserves, physiological recovery, uniform floral differentiation, greater resistance to frost and disease, and vigorous root development.

This phase should not be neglected, as doing so could compromise the plants’ productive performance and resilience in the following growing season.

Hubel Verde Recommendations

To support producers in this decisive stage, Hubel Verde recommends:

• Novamix Solid 2AA (B + Zn) – deficiency corrector.
• Micronova Mo Bo – corrector for molybdenum and boron deficiencies.
• Set-Bloom (P + K + B + Mo) – biostimulant and deficiency corrector.
• Sapur – root biostimulant.
• Heptacobre  – bioprotectant based on chelated copper.
• Codasil (Si + K) – bioprotector that strengthens cell walls and cold resistance.

If you need assistance in developing a post-harvest strategy tailored to your crop and farm conditions, the Hubel Verde team is available to provide on-site support.