Almond Orchard Establishment in Montenegro
Almond was studied in Montenegro decades ago: papers in the agricultural journal now published by the University of Montenegro dealt with growing almond on hilly karst land (1955), expanding it in the south of the country (1961) and its cultivars and types around Podgorica (1978); only their titles could be read. No recent source found names a commercial almond orchard, its municipality or its cultivars.
Spring cold falls sharply toward the coast. In station records for six years between 2016 and 2024, published by MONSTAT, Bar never fell below 0 °C from February to April, Podgorica fell below 0 °C in February in five of the six years but in March only in 2018 (-2.1 °C), and inland Nikšić fell below 0 °C in March in five of the six years, to -8.8 °C in 2018. No source read gives almond bloom dates in Montenegro.
No readable Montenegrin source names almond cultivars, rootstocks or spacing tested for orchards: the 1978 paper on cultivars around Podgorica is known by title only, and the trees sampled in Bar were studied as genotypes, not named cultivars. Test several cultivars on a small area first and record their bloom dates and frost damage. Before planting, plan rows, headlands and trunk height for shakers and catching frames, and drip lines for the hot summers.
Practical Tips for Almond Orchard Establishment
Test cultivars on a small area before planting at scale: no readable Montenegrin source names almond cultivars tested for orchards.
Favor sites with mild springs: in the years read, Bar stayed above 0 °C from February to April, while inland Nikšić fell to -8.8 °C in March 2018.
Avoid frost pockets and record each cultivar's bloom date and frost damage: no source read gives almond bloom dates in Montenegro.
Plan drip irrigation before planting: Podgorica reached 41.1 °C in July and August 2024, and no Montenegrin almond irrigation guidance was found.
On stony karst ground, clear or crush stone and rip compacted layers before planting, so that machines can work the orchard later.
Plan rows, headlands and tree form for the shaker, sweeper and harvester before planting, and check trunk clearance with OVE Europe.
Recommended Establishment Stages
Almond Orchard Care & Maintenance in Montenegro
Summers are hot, and much of the rain falls outside them: in 2023 Podgorica had 1,939 mm of rain but only 34 mm in July, and in 2024 it reached 41.1 °C in July and August, while Herceg Novi reached 40.0 °C and Bar 38.2 °C in July. No Montenegrin source on almond water needs or irrigation was found, so plan drip irrigation for young and bearing trees.
No Montenegrin guidance on almond pests or diseases was found. EPPO lists two organisms for which almond is a major host as present in Montenegro: Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni, which causes bacterial spot, and Prunus necrotic ringspot virus. The almond seed wasp and the peach twig borer are not listed for Montenegro, which does not prove they are absent.
Spring frost can reach orchards in some years: in March 2018 Podgorica fell to -2.1 °C and Herceg Novi, on the coast, to -1.3 °C, while Bar stayed above 0 °C. For care work, the ID DAVID ECOFEED spreads solid manure, the ID DAVID LAT&GO string mower controls weeds without herbicides, the Mañez Lozano Narrow Twister S6 sprays tall, dense canopies and the ID DAVID V1 disc pruner makes vertical and horizontal cuts.
Recommended Orchard Care & Maintenance Stages
Practical Tips for Almond Orchard Care & Maintenance
Irrigate through summer where water allows: Podgorica reached 41.1 °C in July and August 2024.
Watch frost forecasts at bloom, above all inland: in March 2018 Podgorica fell to -2.1 °C, Herceg Novi on the coast to -1.3 °C and Nikšić to -8.8 °C.
Watch for bacterial spot: EPPO lists Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni, a pathogen of almond and stone fruit, as present in Montenegro.
Plant healthy, virus-tested trees: EPPO lists Prunus necrotic ringspot virus, for which almond is a major host, as present in Montenegro.
Control weeds without herbicides with a string mower such as the ID DAVID LAT&GO, and keep the orchard floor level for harvest.
Spray tall, dense canopies evenly with a narrow trailed airblast sprayer such as the Mañez Lozano Narrow Twister S6.
Almond Harvesting in Montenegro
No Montenegrin source found describes when or how almonds are harvested in Montenegro. University of California guidance dates the start of hull split from the first split hulls in the top southwestern part of the tree and advises harvesting as soon as the nuts come off well. In orchards planted for machines on suitable ground, mechanized harvesting can bring the crop in on time, with less risk of nuts deteriorating while they wait.
Station records for seven years between 2008 and 2024, published by MONSTAT, show August mostly dry, but September and October often wet: Podgorica, Bar and Herceg Novi each had over 200 mm in September 2024 and in October 2010 and 2016, Bar had 199.3 mm on 9 rain days in September 2017, and August 2023 brought 170 to 261 mm to all three. With no Montenegrin source on harvest dates or ground drying, this guide shows prompt pickup, with hulling and drying at once, alongside catching frames.
Flory harvesting machinery is available in Montenegro through OVE Europe for both systems. On the ground, the VR700 Shaker, 34 Series Sweeper and 860 Harvester (or the smaller 490) work with the 1500 Conveyor Cart and ST14 Shuttle. Off the ground, the Flory COE C7 Shaker and L2 Receiver catch the almonds in a frame around the trunk, the Flory COE B8 Cart and VS25 Shuttle carry them, and the 4840 Field Elevator loads trailers in both systems.
Almond Harvest Workflow (Recommended Equipment)
Practical Tips for Almond Harvesting
Track hull split from the first split hulls in the top southwestern part of the tree, and shake once nuts come off well, as University of California guidance advises.
Pick up promptly after shaking: University of California guidance notes that ant damage to nuts increases the longer they lie on the ground.
Watch the forecast through September and October: Podgorica, Bar and Herceg Novi each had over 200 mm of rain in September 2024 and in October 2010 and 2016.
If rain wets almonds on the ground, do not stockpile them wet: University of California guidance warns of mold and concealed damage.
Where almonds must stay off the ground, use catching frames: the Flory COE C7 Shaker works with the L2 Receiver.
Use shakers and catching frames only in orchards planted for machines, never on yard or roadside trees, terraces or steep karst slopes.
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Almond Post-Harvest Handling & Processing in Montenegro
No Montenegrin source found describes almond hulling, drying, storage or cracking in Montenegro. University of California guidance warns that rain-wet nuts do not hull cleanly, and that nuts should not be stockpiled above 12% moisture in the hull, 6% in the kernel or 9% for the whole fruit. Promptly picked or frame-caught almonds therefore need hulling and drying in the shell before storage.
Montenegro's regulation on contaminants in food, in force since February 2025, transposes Regulation (EU) 2023/915 and sets the same aflatoxin limits for almonds: 8.0 µg/kg of B1 and 10.0 µg/kg in total for almonds placed on the market for the final consumer or used as an ingredient, and 12.0 and 15.0 µg/kg for almonds to be sorted first. Shelled almonds are exempt from Montenegro's fruit and vegetable marketing standards.
Montenegro imported more almonds than it exported in every year from 2015 to 2025. In 2025 it imported 213.5 t of shelled almonds, 89.4% of them by weight from the United States, and 6.7 t in shell, and exported 1.6 t of shelled almonds (UN Comtrade via WITS). Jessee, whose processing lines OVE Europe supplies, builds hulling, drying, in-shell cleaning and sizing, and shelling systems; its Airlegs nut cleaner was developed for the almond industry.
For general information only. Information may become outdated and does not replace site-specific professional advice. Consult a qualified agronomist and confirm equipment suitability with OVE before acting.
Practical Tips for Almond Post-Harvest Handling & Processing
Hull promptly picked or frame-caught almonds while the hulls are fresh, then dry the nuts in the shell before storage.
Never pick up or stockpile rain-wet almonds: University of California guidance warns that stockpiling wet nuts risks mold and concealed damage.
Dry hulled almonds until the kernels reach 6% moisture or less, the University of California limit for stockpiling.
Test lots for aflatoxins: Montenegro's limits for almonds sold to consumers are 8.0 µg/kg of B1 and 10.0 µg/kg in total, as in the EU.
Keep each lot separate by cultivar and orchard block, and store dried almonds in a dry, clean place.
Plan sales with imports in mind: Montenegro imported 213.5 t of shelled almonds in 2025, mostly from the United States.
Recommended Post-Harvest Handling & Processing Stages
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