Blue Diamond Almonds Bloom Report for February 11, 2015

Northern Region

Partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures graced the Sacramento Valley on Monday, providing strong support for the rapidly developing bloom. Morning low temperatures were reported in the low 50’s while daytime highs reached into the mid 60’s. Scattered showers were reported in the southern areas of the region as the clouds built in intensity, with trace amounts to a few hundredths of an inch of precipitation reported. Observers noted that the bees were able to put in 8 hours of very good activity in the northern areas of the region and 5 to 6 hours of good activity in between shower events farther to the south.

The bloom has made very rapid progression over the past few days, as the comparatively warm temperatures the region has experienced have conspired to push bud development strongly ahead. With the exception of the late-blooming Padre, all varieties in the region are now displaying a measurable percentage of their flowers for pollination. The early-blooming Sonora continues to lead the Nonpareil, as do the California type varieties, as well as the Peerless and Monterey. While observers are reporting that the Carmel is generally trailing the Nonpareil, this important pollenizer variety is now also moving into bloom and is exhibiting sufficient overlap with its associated Nonpareil.

Growers who were able to enter their orchards have begun sending equipment into the fields to begin disease preventive treatments. Others with more poorly drained soils are being forced to wait for better conditions to initiate treatments to their disease susceptible plantings, or call on aircraft to complete the job. Observers have noted that many growers were opting to delay treatments until later in the bloom period, due to the rapid progression of bud development.

Central Region

Clear skies at sunrise gave way to partly cloudy conditions as the day progressed, providing strong support for the developing buds. The last remnants of the weekend’s storm dissipated late Sunday night, allowing morning low temperatures to dip to slightly lower values than reported over the weekend. Morning lows were reported in the lower 50’s while daytime highs rose to as his as 70 degrees. While partly cloudy skies covered the region during the day, light breezes and warm temperatures provided ample support for the bee’s efforts, allowing them to put in 7 to 8 hours of very good activity on the small amount of available bloom.

Bud development is progressing at a rapid pace thanks to the warm conditions. Advanced plantings of the early blooming Sonora variety are presenting close to 45% of their flowers for pollination, while younger more vigorous plantings are lagging well behind. All varieties are developing rapidly, with generally good overlap between varieties within any given orchard. However, observers have noted a high degree of variability from orchard to orchard.

Growers with water available have begun irrigation in the southern areas of the region that failed to receive significant rainfall over the weekend. Where rainfall was received, growers are preparing machinery need to complete disease preventing fungicide treats in the coming days. Some have also begun mowing vegetation within the fields in order maintain warmer orchard temperatures should the threat of frost materialize.

Southern Region

Clear skies and bright sunshine warmed the southern San Joaquin Valley Monday, helping to spur on bud development. While the lack of cloud cover allowed morning minimum temperatures to dip below the previous day’s readings, temperatures rose quickly after sunrise leading to warmer high readings in the afternoon. Morning lows were reported in the low 50’s for all areas with highs reaching into the low to mid 70’s. Winds hovering around 5 miles per hour made for a pleasant day in the south valley. The combination of clear skies, sunshine, and low wind speeds made for very good flying conditions for the bees, encouraging them to emerged early and work late in their search for pollen. Observers noted that bees put in approximately nine hours of very good activity, in the increasing amount of available bloom.

Bloom is progressing at relatively rapid pace. Observers noted that advanced plantings of the early blooming Sonora variety are now presenting as much as 50% of their flowers for pollination.

While the majority of the buds in the Nonpareil variety are still in the green tip stage, observers are reporting strong development and this major cultivar is now displaying a measurable percentage of open flowers. Fritz, Aldrich and Monterey are all exhibiting good overlap with their associated Nonpareil, while the Carmel continues to lag behind the Nonpareil in most cases.

Irrigation has begun on some plantings in the drier areas of south valley to ensure the trees have enough moisture to sustain the bloom and the resulting nutlets. Growers are preparing their equipment in anticipation of fungicide treatments that may be need on susceptible varieties later in the bloom period.