Full Bloom in the Almond Orchards
The bloom came on very fast this year but recently the weather has cooled and is now progressing normal. The trees will hold this level of bloom for a week or so as the new flowers open at about the same rate the pollinated ones drop. Towards the end of the bloom period the trees will slowly turn green and…
Last Year’s Almonds Meet This Year’s Almonds
One sure indicator of a mild winter is when the leaves from last year are still on the tree (and green) when the bloom begins. Young almond trees are notorious for holding on to last year’s leaves but it is not very common to hold them until spring. In the picture below, you can see the blooms and leaves together……
Weeds-Be-Gone
The lack of rain this year has had one (small) positive– light weed pressure. I am always amazed at how, even with almost no rain, some weeds are still able to grow. Seriously, I dig into the root zone and the ground crumbles from lack of moisture, but the Malva and winter weeds are still green. Here we are running…
Another Great Wine Journey!
Wine and Chocolate weekend on the Fresno Wine Trail is our favorite weekend. The folks that come out all seem to have a great time and the weather always accomodates (although you know I wouldn’t be complaining if it were to rain one year). Thanks to the Central High band members that came out and played all afternoon. They really…
Bloom is Officially Here!
I happens slow… until it happens fast. With the record heat we’ve had the last couple weeks, the almond trees are really moving fast. I usually expect first bloom tho occur on about the 14th of February, but this year it looks like it is going to be about five days early. This is a great picture to see the…
Where’s the Rain?
Well, after last year’s almost 200% normal precipitation it is starting to look like this year may be a dud. I have just under 2 inches in my rain gauges on the westside and not much better in Kerman. I am glad I dropped most of my dryfarm acres this year because it would take a small miracle to make…
The Almond Bloom is Just Around the Corner
It seems like I am always saying “bloom looks like it is going to be early this year”. Well, this year, I think it actually will be. Here are a some pictures of a four year old tree on February 3rd. As you can see, some of the buds are fully opened into flowers and the others are “swollen” and…
Bringing Up the Alfalfa (grown for seed)
One of the crops I have grown for many, many years is alfalfa seed. It is grown under contract for different companies that package the seed and sell it to dairies and alfalfa farmers to plant and make hay crops. Basically, I grow the alfalfa and instead of cutting it and making it into hay bales, I let the blooms…
Can You See The Mummies?
Winter is an active time of year for almond farming. I know… you’d think that since the trees are dormant there wouldn’t be anything to do, but unfortunately that is not the case. It is during the winter that pests like Navel Orange Worm, Scale and Peach Twig Borer are busy consuming any carbohydrates the tree or “mummy” almonds have…
Time to Start Planting Alfalfa… Already?
Is it just me or does it seem like this winter is going by REAL fast. I feel like I was just finishing working ground a month ago and here we are, planting alfalfa seed. This alfalfa is grown for the seed production under contract. It is different than alfalfa grown for hay in that it is planted in lines…
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