Fruit load in almond spurs define starch and total soluble carbohydrate concentration and therefore their survival and bloom probabilities in the next season

•Non-fruiting spurs had significantly more leaves and bigger individual leaves than fruiting spurs.•Fruiting spurs had significantly lower winter survival, return bloom and starch concentration than non-fruiting spurs.•Starch concentration was significantly affected by the number of fruits per spur, spur leaf area and current season spur growth.