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Hi All,
If we are looking at these graphs Swan Hill is well placed for an early bud burst especially if we get soil temperatures around 14C some time during the day. After looking at buds last week the picture is all over the place. At home I have trees in advanced bud swell (after loosing the last leaves only 2 weeks ago), no bud movement in pomegranates, guava’s not loosing leaves, mango and coffee only showing marginal cold stress and my early flowering prunus having no bud movement or even green bud underneath. It is indeed going to be a difficult season to manage.
Last Saturday weather conditions while still accumulating chill were warm enough in all locations to stimulate early root growth. Mildura in particular with on +1½ RCU is being primed to move. Watch buds carefully in these areas as a warm spell will initiate some early bud movement which if followed up with warm weather will see an extended flowering window going forward. For those using dormancy breakers it is important to note phenology from previous years as you may be going earlier and at lighter rates than other seasons.
For Swan Hill all almond varieties are ready to move subject to oncoming weather conditions and one would think that the Riverland is about 7-10 days away from receiving adequate chill for all varieties.
Griffith continues to run lower chill units than average which will place this area in a situation that I have not seen here before.
The weather forecast is continuing to be cool but the past week is showing that forecast and reality are not always in line with each other, further highlighting the importance of monitoring your own location and not relying on forecasts going forward.
Regards,
Shane Phillips | Head Chemist - Research & Development
E: shane.phillips@biocentral-labs.com
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