- Dormant
- green tip
- pink bud
- popcorn
- bloom 84% (peak)
- petal fall 14%
- jacket 2%
- out of jacket
source: Blue Diamond Growers newsletter
Category Archives: Horticulture
Tree Blowover
This is a sad occurrence. Cory, our onsite ranch manager, informs that many trees are down. We hope for tree losses to be minimal as replacement trees do not bear fruit for 3 to 4 years after planting. Continue reading Tree Blowover
Cross Pollination
Most almond tree variety require a second tree for proper pollination. Moreover, a standard almond tree, needs a different cultivar for pollination. Two Nonpareil, for instance, will not pollinate each other. Why? Self-incompatibility & Self fertility. This is a widespread mechanism in flowering plants that prevents inbreeding and promotes outcrossing. Fascinating intricacy and you may find this to be way too much information. Continue reading Cross Pollination
Over-pollination
Can this bee? Our intuition is that the more the merrier. Evidently the beehive needs a warning label: CAUTION: Excessive use of this product will reduce your almond crop. Continue reading Over-pollination
Bloom Set
Right about now we are watching the latest in a wave of Continue reading Bloom Set
Bee Inspection Minutia
We await the official inspection report which is imminent but in the meantime I Continue reading Bee Inspection Minutia
Winter Vine Training
This is the time of year [January] when teams of workers labor to cut and shape our grape vines. This action will facilitate controlled growth of the vine canopy striking a balance between sun light, shading, air, and growth support of the grape clusters that add considerable weight as they develop. Efficient access for chemical application and harvest machine ingress egress is also a consideration. Grapes only develop on 1st year wood. So, last season’s growth is removed. Continue reading Winter Vine Training
Inspecting the Bees
Bee Hives have been logically placed in drops[sites] alongside our Almond Orchard right on schedule. The ranch manager today reported a count of 344 hives. Continue reading Inspecting the Bees
Art or Science?
The business of farming relies heavily on modern technology and scientific advance in order to decrease risk to investment and increase profit productivity. Sometimes high tech can only mitigate or provide a hedge against what is not entirely controllable by mankind. Think — Mother Nature. Continue reading Art or Science?