Almonds Blooming Early?

[HarryVanderpool]

I really wish that Blue Diamond would start posting reports earlier and more often on the progression of the bloom.
What are you hearing on move in dates?
I am particularly interested in Northern area forecast, but all of interest.
Sounds like the fourth week in January from my guys.

[benstung]

that seems a bit early?

[dback]

Paramount is telling me the first week of Feb will be fine (Bakersfield). It's supposed to be right at freezing every night this week. Some of my stuff are early varieties.

[loggermike]

Pat H said several growers thought it would be early. He said he couldn't see that anything was pushing in the orchards he looked at,though.

If you remember, the orchards along I-5 south of Red Bluff started the last week in January last year and its been just as warm this year. My bees at the 3000 foot elevation have been flying every day .

[Tom G. Laury]

Bloom dates don't really change much. Sometimes an older orchard will be early but over all, first blooms show 7-10th of February. Moving in does start hot&heavy last week of January. I did see some bees placed in the trees already today, Fresno county.

[bendriftin]

I too have heard the last week of January, into the first week of February. Hey has anyone had any dealings with "the pollination connection" brokers.

[LSPender]

North of Merced today, checking orchard, they believe bloom will be later due to extra chill hrs this yr compared to last. Bloom last year started Feb 17th, I hoping it stays about same time frame. I also spoke with grower in Fresno who believed the opposite, he thinks early due to amount of irrigation water being used. Its warmer than rain and can push the roots.

Thats what I know. usually the bloom is very consistant around 10th in south valley, 17th turlock area. but only feel early when we are behind schedule!!

Happy pollination to all

[Tom G. Laury]

Stanislaus county, February 17, 2011: Sonora almonds at 29% bloom. If you go to the Blue Diamond web site you can view their field reports from past years.

[Honey-4-All]

I checked my post from last year to see when the first "wild" ones opened up. Twas 1/31/11. The recent days have been hot and dry while the nights have been putting frost on the car tops nearly every morning. My guess at this point is "earlier than last year" for first open flowers. Buds are pushing. Last night I mentioned to my wife that the warm early evening temps were around the point where the crickets would start chirping in the creek bed. Once that happens the almonds will be next to start singing that spring is here. By the way. Where did winter go? Did it ever come in 2012? Will keep you posted with "first bloom" reports.

[Stevebeeman]

Our Growers in Arbuckle, Chico and Red Bluff want the hives around February 5 - 8 same as last year.

[bhfury]

I too have heard the last week of January, into the first week of February. Hey has anyone had any dealings with "the pollination connection" brokers.

We did our own.

[Tom G. Laury]

Bees are starting to be set out.

[Tom G. Laury]

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Here are two photos of almond trees taken yesterday. The trees blooming are early nectarines.

[sqkcrk]

Retry. The images aren't available the way you Posted them.

[loggermike]

Right on schedule the mud arrives with the bloom. Didn't have to look too hard to see early varieties starting to pop open today in the northern Sac Valley. A whole lot of hive moving going on now.

[HarryVanderpool]

And now my folks are saying up to several days late in the Northern region.
What are you seeing?

[Honey-4-All]

About right on time.... Ours are trending having started on the 9 th and 10 th ( younger trees) while the neighbor's across the road is full pink in every row except the buttes ( 8 years olds) Forecast today and tomorrow will take the coats off of the rest. While we were painting yesterday we had many a bee stop on the painting tables to take a break on the newly minted equipment will laden with Almond pollen sitting on their legs. Wasn't even a great day out. Today they aught to be pulling in a pound a hive.

[loggermike]

Temps are forecast to be in the 70s the next few days. It should be great for the bees and the trees.

[HarryVanderpool]

That sure beats the heck out of the lousey weather we had last year.

[loggermike]

Yeah, all that rain was a real bummer, but it was surprising how full of pollen the hives were. Though not much honey.

Maybe this will be one of those years that the mudflaps drag coming home. Though I hate to jinx it by saying it.