Understanding the fundamentals of tree biology is essential in making sound orchard management and business decisions in the tree fruit and nut industry.  However, access to educational courses on basic fruit and nut tree biology, and how it relates to agronomic practices, is limited. Our course incorporates lecture, lab exercises, and field demonstrations to provide information on all aspects of basic plant biology and the relationship between plant biology and nuts and fruit orchard management.

Course Topics:

• Tree growth, development & pruning
• Dormancy, chilling & rest breaking
• Flowering, pollination & fruit set
• Fruit development & thinning
• Tree water relations & irrigation
• Plant nutrition & fertilization
• Root growth & rootstocks
• Tree fruit pests and pathogens
• Harvesting

Our course includes five days of instruction. Each day will have several hours of lectures with hands-on field demonstrations where applicable. The course is being offered for $1595.

Register Here

An optional four day field trip will be held the following week (March 20-March 23, 2023) for an additional fee. This field trip will provide a view of fruit and nut breeding, growing, and processing facilities throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. The $1000 fee includes four days of activities and discussion.

Register for the Field Trip Here

Registration is requested no later than March 1st, 2023.

More detailed information about the schedule and local lodging and transportation will be sent to registered participants closer to the beginning of the course.

Registration will be closed after March 1st, 2023.

For course content questions, please contact the Fruit & Nut Research and Information Center staff at fruitsandnuts@ucdavis.edu.

A limited number of scholarships are available for new and small-acreage Californian fruit-growers. Apply here.