Green & Growing
Now that bloom is past, our small apples and peaches are in period of rapid growth. The cool, wet weather of the past 2 days has slowed them down, but we needed the rain and fruits should really start to pop once the weather warms.
Scattered frosts last week hurt some orchards, killing flowers as temperatures dipped to as low as 25oF in some colder spots. Frost damaged flowers often still look fine with white flower petals open wide, but bee activity ceases and a look inside what would normally become a fruit shows why.
- This flower survived the frosty nights of last week. Photo: W.Lord
- Unfortunately, this apple blossom was killed by frost. Photo: W.Lord
Most orchards have what looks like a great crop shaping up for fall – frost damaged flowers in just a few isolated plantings.
Bill Lord
May 28, 2009
Posted: May 28th, 2009 under Fruit Growers Journal.