This year has been one of the longest bloom periods in quite a few years. There are orchards blooming for the second or third time in some areas. Some orchards had flowers on the tree for three weeks or more. The lack of chill hours, and the warm then cold bloom period, seems to have confused the bloom timing on the trees. This is happening in most of the Central Valley. Peaches, pears, plums, and apricots all seem to be affected. It is difficult to tell what this will mean to fruit set and development later on, but it could lead to mixed maturity on the trees and make it difficult to pick at harvest time.
