It’s not March 20 just yet, but spring has already sprung in San
Benito County. In orchards across the county, apricot trees are in
full bloom, their branches looking as though they were hung heavy
with garlands of white and pink popcorn.
”
They’re pretty much on-schedule,
”
said Hollister apricot farmer Gary Gonzalez of the blossoms.
”
There was a small early bloom about a week ago, but what we’ve
experienced is pretty normal. You really want them to bloom as
close to harvest as possible, because it means there’s less green
fruit.
”
Hollister – It’s not March 20 just yet, but spring has already sprung in San Benito County. In orchards across the county, apricot trees are in full bloom, their branches looking as though they were hung heavy with garlands of white and pink popcorn.
“They’re pretty much on-schedule,” said Hollister apricot farmer Gary Gonzalez of the blossoms. “There was a small early bloom about a week ago, but what we’ve experienced is pretty normal. You really want them to bloom as close to harvest as possible, because it means there’s less green fruit.”
The harvest won’t be until the last week of June, but the rule of thumb is typically that apricot trees bloom around Washington’s birthday (Feb. 22), according to San Benito County Agricultural Commissioner Paul Matulich.
“They’ve been in full bloom for a while, so a couple of the growers thought they were blooming early,” Matulich said, but that’s not the case.
The length of time the blossoms will stay and the quality of the apricots when they’re ready to eat around the Fourth of July depend on the weather in the coming months, according to Matulich.
“This type of weather isn’t the best in the world for apricots, and the last I heard we were supposed to have a few more showers,” he said. Rain and wind can knock the blossoms off the trees before their time, and the rain water can get trapped in the trees and cause brown-rot, he explained.
Rain can cause other problems, too, Gonzalez said.
“When the tree is in full bloom and it rains, the bees don’t work and they don’t pollinate the fruit,” he said.
But, Matulich said, “If it rains and then you get a nice breeze to dry things out, then you should be OK.”
Jessica Quandt covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at
jq*****@fr***********.com
.
