Most growers concentrate their nutrition programs during fruit fill and ripening—when size, flavour, and colour are easy to see.
But agronomic research shows that the real foundation for yield and fruit quality is laid much earlier—during bud initiation, early cell division, and even in the postharvest period of the previous season.
This brief, often overlooked window plays a critical role in:
- Determining the number of fruit buds the plant will set
- Building the strength and uniformity of those buds
- And preparing the crop to better resist frost, disease, and environmental stress later in the season.
Why bud initiation timing matters
Bud initiation doesn’t happen at harvest — it begins in the current growing season or even during early dormancy or postharvest period depending on the crop.
- In blueberries, buds start forming in autumn, just before dormancy.
- In strawberries, initiation occurs during the dormant period.
- In fruit and nut trees, it can overlap with current fruit development — making energy and nutrient balance even more critical.
Failing to support plants nutritionally during this time can lead to:
- Fewer or weaker buds
- Poor uniformity and delayed bloom
- Higher susceptibility to frost and disease
- Alternate or biennial bearing — a heavy crop one year, followed by a light one the next
Proper nutrient management can even condense harvest time by up to 30%, improving efficiency and consistency across the orchard or field.
The nutrient balancing act
Research highlights several critical nutrient relationships during bud formation:
- Zinc (Zn): Enhances spur leaf size and photosynthesis — leading to higher Brix and fruit size.
- Manganese (Mn): Supports pollen tube strength and regulates potassium uptake.
- Boron (B): Works with Mn to stabilise hormone balance and improve pollination success.
- Calcium (Ca) & Potassium (K): Must be managed carefully; too much K during early spring or pre-dormancy can suppress Ca uptake and weaken cell walls, reducing fruit size and frost tolerance.
Simply put — nutrient timing and balance determine not only how many buds form but how strong and productive they’ll be.
Meeting the Challenge
Here’s where Kendon PFF Gold fits in as a practical solution.
Formulated specifically for the pre-fruit filling and bud initiation stages, PFF Gold provides a balanced NPK profile with EDTA-chelated trace elements — including Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, plus B and Mo — designed for rapid uptake through both leaves and roots.
This combination directly supports:
- Reproductive bud formation and uniformity
- Stronger cell division and nutrient transport
- Improved sugar metabolism (Brix)
- Better resilience to disease and environmental stress
In field trials, PFF Gold applications during early growth and pre-fruit filling have shown:
- Up to 150% increase in stolon production in strawberries compared to untreated
- Reduced disease incidence (powdery mildew↓78%, leaf blight ↓93%)
- Higher leaf Brix by 3–4°Bx
- Up to 90% increase in marketable yield compared to untreated
While exact results depend on crop, climate, and soil, the consistent outcome is clear — plants are stronger, earlier, and more uniform going into fruit fill.
Strategic timing
For the best outcomes, align applications of PFF Gold with the key nutrient management phases identified in agronomic studies:
- 2–3 weeks before bud initiation – prime the plant with balanced nutrition.
- During bud initiation and early cell division – maintain nutrient flow and sugar balance.
- Post-fruit set / pre-dormancy – follow up with Ca-focused nutrition to sustain energy reserves.
This ensures both current yield performance and next season’s bud quality — avoiding the common trade-off between the two.
The takeaway
- trong harvests don’t start at fruit fill – They’re built months earlier, when buds first begin to form.
- By managing nutrients proactively and maintaining the right balance of Ca, K, Zn, Mn, and B, growers can secure both high current yields and a healthy bud bank for the following season.
- And that’s where Kendon PFF Gold delivers measurable, field-proven support — helping crops build strength, uniformity, and resilience from the very start.
Have questions or need more details? Reach out to us on our contact form or (03) 9497 2822 — we’re always happy to help.
Or simply go to PFF Gold product page to access product specs, label information, and to request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).