Along the highways and byways of rural California, blossoms are beginning to pop on almond, peach, plum and nectarine trees. California growers have reason to be hopeful, reported Heather Hacking in the Chico Enterprise-Record.
Warm temperatures and sun ensure bees will be out pollinating the crop, rather than holing up in their hives, as they do when temperatures dip below 55 degrees or wind is swifter than 4 to 7 miles per hour.
Hacking spoke to a UC Agriculture and Natural Resources expert about the promising almond pollination season.
"The overlap is very good this year," said Danielle Lightle, UC ANR Cooperative Extension advisor in Glenn County. Overlap means different varieties are in bloom at the same time, which is necessary for almond cross-pollination.
Lightle said Glenn County had enough rain to fill the soil profile with moisture. This year, rainfall totals in the northern part of the state are just under normal. Last year, growers had to pump groundwater in December and January to give the trees the moisture they need during bloom.
