Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Almond 'Mission' (Prunus dulcis 'Mission')— schedule & NPK

Also called Mission almond, Ne Plus Ultra almond.

More about almond 'mission'

About Almond 'Mission'

Prunus dulcis 'Mission' · also called Mission almond, Ne Plus Ultra almond · edible

'Mission' (also called Ne Plus Ultra-type) is a hardy, late-blooming, hard-shell almond widely used as a pollinator for 'Nonpareil'. Its small, plump kernels have a strong, full almond flavour. Self-sterile and reliably productive, it tolerates a touch more cold and frost than early varieties, but still needs full sun, free-draining soil, and warm summers.

Growth habit: Upright, vigorous deciduous tree with a fairly dense canopy; later-blooming than 'Nonpareil', with pink-flushed blossom.

Watch for — Brown rot and hull rot: Damp springs blight blossoms and twigs; hull rot strikes shoots in late summer. Sanitation, airflow, and careful irrigation/nitrogen timing at hull split manage both.

What fertiliser almond 'mission' actually wants — and why

Almond 'Mission' feeds in two distinct phases — balanced to build the plant, then high-potassium the moment flowering starts to set and fill a heavy crop.

For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for almond 'mission': match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.

How often to feed almond 'mission', and which months

Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For almond 'mission':

Feed in spring with nitrogen and potassium to support shoot growth and nut fill; avoid late-season nitrogen. A compost or straw mulch conserves moisture and supplies slow-release nutrients. So: a balanced feed or compost at planting, then a high-potash liquid every 1-2 weeks from first flower through harvest across the main season (spring through early autumn).

The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when almond 'mission' is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.

What strength to mix for almond 'mission'

Follow the crop-feed label rate for almond 'mission' — these are calibrated for hungry vegetables. Consistency through fruiting matters more than strength; erratic feeding causes problems like blossom-end rot.

Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water almond 'mission' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the almond 'mission' watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding almond 'mission'

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for almond 'mission':

Vigorous dark-green leafy growth but few flowers or fruit (excess nitrogen).
Lush foliage hiding the crop; soft growth prone to pests and disease.
Salt crust on the soil and scorched leaf edges in containers.

Signs you are under-feeding almond 'mission'

Pale, yellowing lower leaves and stunted growth.
Small fruit, poor set, and a quickly exhausted plant.
Blossom-end rot and weak cropping from erratic or insufficient feeding.

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full almond 'mission' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

In containers, fertiliser salts build up fast — water almond 'mission' thoroughly so excess drains from the base each time, and flush pots with plain water every few weeks to prevent a damaging salt build-up.

Organic vs synthetic feeds for almond 'mission'

Organic options

Garden compost or well-rotted manure dug in before planting, plus a liquid comfrey or seaweed feed once fruiting starts. UK: comfrey feed or organic Tomorite; US: Espoma Tomato-tone or Neptune's Harvest. Builds soil and feeds in one.

Synthetic / liquid feeds

A balanced feed at planting then a high-potash tomato feed in fruiting — UK: Growmore at planting then Tomorite (Levington) or Phostrogen; US: a balanced 10-10-10 then Miracle-Gro Tomato or a bloom booster.

Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.

Fertilising almond 'mission' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does almond 'mission' need?

Balanced (even N-P-K) at planting for roots and frame, then switch to a high-potassium ("high-potash") tomato-style feed once the first flowers open — potassium is what sizes and ripens fruit, not nitrogen. Almond 'Mission' feeds in two distinct phases — balanced to build the plant, then high-potassium the moment flowering starts to set and fill a heavy crop.

How often should I feed almond 'mission'?

Feed in spring with nitrogen and potassium to support shoot growth and nut fill; avoid late-season nitrogen. A compost or straw mulch conserves moisture and supplies slow-release nutrients. Feed in spring with nitrogen and potassium to support shoot growth and nut fill; avoid late-season nitrogen. A compost or straw mulch conserves moisture and supplies slow-release nutrients. So: a balanced feed or compost at planting, then a high-potash liquid every 1-2 weeks from first flower through harvest across the main season (spring through early autumn).

What strength of feed for almond 'mission'?

What does over-feeding almond 'mission' look like?

Vigorous dark-green leafy growth but few flowers or fruit (excess nitrogen). Lush foliage hiding the crop; soft growth prone to pests and disease. Salt crust on the soil and scorched leaf edges in containers. Staying on a high-nitrogen feed once almond 'mission' starts flowering is the classic error — you get a huge leafy plant and a disappointing crop. Switch to high-potash the moment flowers appear.

Should I flush the soil of almond 'mission'?