Updates & Events

"Orchards wake up, growers nervous…

Apple growers pull for a slow, cool Spring when everyone else wants to jump into shorts. Why? Because this year’s leaves, blooms and fruit are inside all those pointy woody little buds that cover all those trees — if they open early, bad things can happen.

Short version:
warm days stimulate trees to move water and nutrients up into dormant wood and buds,
cells take in water,
buds swell,
leaves/blossoms begin developing,
flower organs ditto,
bloom comes on,
pollination happens (with luck)
tiny apples form…

ANYTIME in these weeks, a hard frost could pounce, freeze all those juicy cells, rupture cell walls, and cancel the apple crop. Just like that! These freezes come more often as the climate changes... Cross fingers!