Observations of stonefruit in bloom this season

Our low this winter was -12F. I have a good handful of cold hardy peach trees and most had at least 50% bud kill. Here are the estimated flower bud survival rates I’ve observed: Veteran 30%, Redhaven 10%, Madison 40%, McKay 40%, Indian Free 40%, Reliance 25%, Mary Jane 10%, Contender 70%, Avalon Pride 0%. We had a very dry and hot second half of the summer, about an inch or so of rain for each month (July, August and September). I have my trees planted in mounds so a dry spell is probably harder on them. I only watered them once. Maybe that affected the peach tree flower buds. Despite the lower level of blooms, I still may get a modestly decent amount of peaches from each tree if nothing else major goes wrong.

Hybrid plums like Toka, Superior and Kaga were loaded 100% with blooms. See here–> Blooms - #58 by ztom
My 4 year old Jerseycot had lots of blooms for the first time. Asian plums Au Rosa and Early Golden had a small handful of blooms, Shiro had a good amount. Euro plums President, Castleton, Jefferson, Damson, Cambridge Gage and Early Laxton all had a good amount of blooms. Rosy Gage and Green Gage have some. Vision and Valor grafts have many. Blue Byrd, Geneva Mirabelle and Opal don’t seem to have any yet and may not end up having any at all. Once again, Jefferson was way earlier than any other Euro plum.

Lapins cherry has less blooms than last year when it fruited quite a bit, but still has some. Black Gold cherry has a good amount. White Gold cherry has some but is a small tree. My tart cherries are just now starting to show color. Surefire tart cherry does seem to be the latest blooming stone fruit tree for me.

Some additional notes: Labrusca grapes are just now starting to push buds. I have two Paw Paw trees that have a good amount of flower buds for the first time, but haven’t opened yet. Those trees are still small (4ft tall, 5/8" caliper). Apple tree blooms just starting to show some color. Gooseberries look like they’ve already formed tiny, tiny fruitlets. Mulberries not doing much yet. Asian pears just now starting to bloom.

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