Tree Fruit Phenology:
Tree Fruit Phenology is advanced. In southern counties some early blooming varieties are at Pink with a few blossoms open. Redhaven was at Bud swell on March 9, and is pre-pink. This is among the earliest observation for this stage over the past 20 years. Only two years were close: 2002 and 2012. In those years full bloom occurred on April 10 and March 27 respectively. This year is more like 2012 than 2002. Plums are in bloom and Pears are nearing Green Cluster. Red Delicious is at Silver Tip while the typically more advanced cultivars such as Granny Smith are at Green Tip. So with that said its time to start applying delayed dormant and blossom protection applications. [Read more…]