Blue Diamond Almonds Bloom Report for February 26, 2014

Overcast skies could be found throughout the almond-growing region in California on Wednesday as the first of two storms forecast to sweep across the state came on shore. Light, scattered showers began early in the morning, accompanied by winds of 5 to 15 mph. However, the intensity of both increased dramatically at the end of the day, with winds reaching 20 – 30 mph after sunset. Temperatures were quite stable during the day, with morning lows dipping only into the mid 40’s to lower 50’s and afternoon highs rising only into the upper 50’s to mid 60’s. Rainfall totals during the daylight hours ranged from a few hundredths of an inch to 0.2 inch. However, heavy rain was reported after sunset as the brunt of the storm hit the region, dropping up to 1.2 inches prior to midnight from thunderstorms that roamed through the valley. Bee activity was reported as generally poor through the entire region due to the impact of the storm.

In the northern region, Butte and Padre plantings were at or near their peak bloom. Butte is running on average slightly ahead of the Padre and has moved just beyond its peak bloom, while the Padre was hitting its peak as the storm arrived. While both held onto their petals tenaciously in the face of the increasing winds, the heavy rain and strongest winds that struck the region after sunset will no doubt have an impact on the degree of petal fall.

Previously peaked Nonpareil and the California type varieties, along with the Carmel and Monterey were all casting petals to the winds. However, observers also noted that some varieties, most notably the Carmel, were holding out surprisingly well against the winds during the daylight hours, but it remains to be seen how well they faired through the more violent conditions after sunset.

The storm’s arrival caught the late blooming Butte and Padre varieties in the central region at or near their peak bloom in many almond orchards around the area. The Butte leads the late blooming group, having on average moved just beyond its peak bloom, with many vigorous plantings still approaching their peak condition.  Meanwhile, the Padre is now at or near its peak bloom and no doubt will be forced into petal fall by the gusty winds and heavy overnight rain. Having previously reached their peak bloom, the balance of the region’s varieties were shedding petals aggressively on Wednesday, under pressure from the winds.

To the south, the bloom of the Nonpareil and California type varieties, as well as the Carmel and Monterey all declined sharply on Wednesday in the face of pressure from the stormy conditions impacting the southern San Joaquin Valley’s almond orchards. Observers reported a virtual cascade of petals dropping from the trees with the decline in the proportion of viable flowers available on these varieties and a corresponding increase in the proportion of flowers moving into the jacket stage. The late blooming Butte leads the Padre, with Butte having moved beyond its peak bloom and the Padre quickly reaching its zenith. While these late blooming types were presenting the greatest proportion of viable bloom in the region, observers noted much like their predecessors, they were also shedding petals even as the approached their peak.

Area:	North
Date:	2/26/14	Posted On:	2/27/14
Weather Data:
Temperature —>	High –>	59	Low–>	51
Wind Speed —>	Average –>	2 to 10	Peak Gust –>	15 During Day. Up to 30 after 6 pm
Rain —>	Inches –>	See Below	When –>
Clouds —>	OVC		Fog –>	None
Bee Activity –>	Virtually None…Very weak activity for a few hours in the morning
BLOOM STAGES
Percentages	Dormant	Green Tip	Pink Bud	Popcorn	Bloom	Petal Fall	Jacket	Nutlet	Total
Sonora					5	39	44	12	100
Nonpareil					47	34	14	5	100
California					28	42	26	4	100
Carmel					60	33	7		100
Peerless					1	35	64		100
Monterey					41	39	20		100
Butte				7	63	27	3		100
Padre				17	71	12			100

 

Area:	Central
Date:	2/26/14	Posted On:	2/27/14
Weather Data:
Temperature —>	High –>	65	Low –>	47
Wind Speed —>	Average –>	10 to 15	Peak Gust –>	25… Up to 35 > 6 pm
Rain —>	Inches –>	Tr to 0.8	When –>	Mainly after 6 pm
Clouds —>	BKN OVC am. OVC pm		Fog –>	None
Bee Activity –>	2 to 3 Hours Very Poor Activity in morning.
BLOOM STAGES
Percentages	Dormant	Green Tip	Pink Bud	Popcorn	Bloom	Petal Fall	Jacket	Nutlet	Total
Sonora					2	14	79	5	100
Nonpareil					28	27	45		100
California					40	23	37		100
Carmel					61	27	12		100
Monterey					45	29	26		100
Butte			1	13	72	12	2		100
Padre			4	18	66	10	2		100

Area:	South
Date:	2/26/14	Posted On:	2/27/14
Weather Data:
Temperature —>	High –>	65	Low –>	49
Wind Speed —>	Average –>	See Below	Peak Gust –>
Rain —>	Inches –>	See Below	When –>
Clouds —>	OVC		Fog –>	None
Bee Activity –>	2 to 3 Hours Poor Activity in North, 3 to 5 Hours Poor Activity in South
BLOOM STAGES
Percentages	Dormant	Green Tip	Pink Bud	Popcorn	Bloom	Petal Fall	Jacket	Nutlet	Total
Sonora					3	16	77	4	100
Nonpareil					18	47	35		100
California					22	39	38	1	100
Carmel					44	47	9		100
Monterey					38	50	12		100
Butte				2	75	20	3		100
Padre			3	12	79	6			100