Blue Diamond Almonds Bloom Report for February 18, 2016

This report covers conditions and observations made on Thursday, February 18, 2016.

Northern Region –

Cloudy, stormy weather blanketed the Sacramento Valley on Thursday. Overnight lows in the mid 40s slowly gave way to highs in the low 60s. Intermittent showers and high winds brought in excess of 0.5 inches of rain. Bees were only able to work for a few hours in the southern half of the valley and none in the north.

Bloom is plummeting in the northern region, as the recent storm system is blowing petals off of trees rapidly. Just under half of the flowers on the early blooming Sonora have lost all of their petals while 40% of the flowers have begun to shed. Half of the Nonpareil and California-type pollinizer flowers are losing their petals due to the high winds. Monterey and Carmel are a day behind and still have half of their flowers presenting for pollination. The later blooming Butte and Padre varieties will reach maximum number of flowers presenting for pollination in the next couple of days.

Wet weather kept growers out their orchards. Planting of new orchards has stopped until soil dries out enough to work.

Northern Region
Date	2/18/2016
Temperature
High	Low
60	45
Wind Speed	10 to 20 mph
Clouds	Overcast
Bee Activity	0-4 Hours / Poor

Bloom Stages
Percentages	Dormant	Green Tip	Pink Bud	Popcorn	Bloom	Petal Fall	Jacket	Nutlet	Total
Sonora					15	40	45		100
Nonpareil				8	45	32	15		100
California				2	40	36	22		100
Carmel				5	65	24	6		100
Peerless					5	45	50		100
Monterey				10	50	25	15		100
Butte				15	70	15			100
Padre			3	22	65	10			100

 

Central Region –

Sunshine and slightly cooler temperatures covered the Northern San Joaquin Valley on Thursday. Overnight temperatures in the low 40s gave way to daytime highs in the low 60s. An early morning storm and daytime showers resulted in .5 to .75 inches of rain throughout the region. By early afternoon, dark clouds gave way to clear skies and allowed bees an opportunity for 3 to 4 hours of fair activity.

Petal fall is now well underway in the central region. As early blooming varieties reached or neared peak bloom, the high winds and rain associated with yesterday’s storm increased the rate at which flowers lost their petals. Due to the rapid progression of bloom and the results of the latest storm, Nonpareil, Monterey, and California-type pollenizers have all reached their peak bloom and are heading into the jacket stage.

With weekend temperatures forecasted in the mid 60s and low 70s, rapid bloom progression is expected to continue in the Carmel, Butte and Padre varieties, with earlier varieties progressing into and through the jacket stage.

Rain kept most equipment out of the fields. Growers without access to well water received welcome soil moisture and those who had been watering were able to turn their irrigation systems off.

Central Region
Date	2/18/2016
Temperature
High	Low
62	42
Wind Speed	15 to 20 mph
Clouds	Overcast
Bee Activity	3 – 6 Hours/ Fair to Good

Bloom Stages
Percentages	Dormant	Green Tip	Pink Bud	Popcorn	Bloom	Petal Fall	Jacket	Nutlet	Total
Sonora					55	40	5		100
Nonpareil				4	74	20	2		100
California				12	68	20			100
Carmel			2	20	70	8			100
Monterey				14	74	12			100
Butte			4	26	67	3			100
Padre			10	34	54	2			100

 

Southern Region –

Weather in the southern region remained relatively warm for this time of year. Daytime temperatures reached the mid 60s with morning lows dipping into the low 40s.  The storm that passed through the northern and central regions left less rainfall in the south. Madera and Fresno counties received between 0.25” and 0.5” of rain, while most of Tulare and Kern counties received only an occasional daytime sprinkle.

Petal fall can now be seen in most orchards, due in part to the recent winds and rain. The early blooming Sonora variety has reached full bloom, and Nonpareil, Aldrich and Fritz are nearing peak bloom as well. Weather forecasts for the coming weekend call for temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. These temperatures are expected to push Nonpareil and its California-type pollenizers through peak bloom and into the jacket stage. Butte and Padre can approach peak bloom with these temperatures as well.

General orchard maintenance activities continue throughout the region. Growers with access to well water continue irrigation in areas that did not receive rain.

Southern Region
Date	2/18/2016
Temperature
High	Low
64	42
Wind Speed	5 to 10 mph
Clouds	Partly Cloudy
Bee Activity	6 – 8  Hours/ Moderate

Bloom Stages
Percentages	Dormant	Green Tip	Pink Bud	Popcorn	Bloom	Petal Fall	Jacket	Nutlet	Total
Sonora				4	83	13			100
Nonpareil			2	13	82	3			100
California			2	7	86	5			100
Carmel			3	21	75	1			100
Monterey			4	15	80	1			100
Butte			25	30	45				100
Padre			40	28	32				100