Bloom has peaked in Nonpareil and California type pollinizers amid cold temperatures this weekend that minimized bee flight in the central and southern regions. Sunday was the most productive day for bees as they were able to average 4 to 6 hours of good flight time. However, as Nonpareil and California bloom peaked on Friday and Saturday in the southern region, bees barely left their box only averaging one hour or less on Friday and Saturday. Conditions were slightly better in the northern and central regions as bees were able to average 2 to 4 hours of flight time on Friday and Saturday. The northern region remains 4 to 5 days ahead of the rest of the state. Over 50% of flowers in all varieties except Butte and Padre have started to lose their petals.
Butte and Padre are approaching peak bloom in the central region with Butte at over 50% open flowers and Padre approaching 40% open flowers. The southern region is a day or two behind the central, while the north has peaked in the Butte and Padre with over two thirds of its flowers open and intact.
Saturday saw frigid overnight conditions again in all regions as temperatures ranged from the mid 20s in the coldest areas, to low 30s in the warmest. Once again, growers with water irrigated to try and warm their orchards and save their crop. It is too early to know how extensive the damage is. With rain in the forecast, growers also began making applications to treat for potential bloom diseases.
By Brian Noeller
Photos by Mel Machado, Jereme Fromm, Ernie Reichmuth, Dennis Meinberg and Matthew Willson
Northern Conditions and Bloom Status
| Variety | Dormant | Green Tip | Pink Bud | Popcorn | Bloom | Petal Fall | Jacket | Out of Jacket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonora | % | % | % | % | 29% | 26% | 45% | % |
| Nonpareil | % | % | % | % | 47% | 28% | 25% | % |
| California | % | % | % | 1% | 43% | 32% | 24% | % |
| Carmel | % | % | 1% | 10% | 41% | 26% | 22% | % |
| Peerless | % | % | % | % | 5% | 20% | 75% | % |
| Monterey | % | % | % | 10% | 45% | 23% | 22% | % |
| Butte | % | % | % | 8% | 60% | 17% | 15% | % |
| Padre | % | % | 7% | 3% | 68% | 15% | 7% | % |
Central Conditions and Bloom Status
| Variety | Dormant | Green Tip | Pink Bud | Popcorn | Bloom | Petal Fall | Jacket | Out of Jacket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonora | % | % | % | 1% | 44% | 42% | 13% | % |
| Nonpareil | % | % | % | 3% | 68% | 23% | 6% | % |
| California | % | % | % | 2% | 71% | 21% | 6% | % |
| Carmel | % | % | 3% | 18% | 74% | 5% | % | % |
| Monterey | % | % | % | 16% | 69% | 11% | 4% | % |
| Butte | % | 2% | 8% | 29% | 59% | 2% | % | % |
| Padre | % | 12% | 25% | 25% | 38% | % | % | % |
Southern Conditions and Bloom Status
| Variety | Dormant | Green Tip | Pink Bud | Popcorn | Bloom | Petal Fall | Jacket | Out of Jacket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonora | % | % | % | % | 62% | 34% | 4% | % |
| Nonpareil | % | % | % | 4% | 80% | 15% | 1% | % |
| California | % | % | % | 3% | 80% | 16% | 1% | % |
| Carmel | % | % | 5% | 8% | 81% | 6% | % | % |
| Monterey | % | % | 2% | 10% | 78% | 7% | 3% | % |
| Butte | % | % | 41% | 16% | 43% | % | % | % |
| Padre | % | 8% | 42% | 23% | 27% | % | % | % |