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[rmelrose@silicondairy.net]

> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri May 12 10:33:34 2006
> From: "Dennis Norton" <dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>
> Subject: [NAFEX] No peaches this year
> To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Message-ID: <001601c6751f$b36933d0$6701a8c0@DellXPS400>
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> 
> I don't know about anyone else in Zone 5/5a but we will have very few 
> peaches this year on our 900+ peach trees.  After having consulted with our 
> entomologist who services northern Illinois, Wisconsin, southern Michigan 
> and southern Minnesota, he indicated that is also the case at other 
> orchards 
> in his territory, especially southern Michigan.  Seems like the several +50 
> degree days we had in January were enough to fake out the peach trees into 
> thinking it was time to come out of dormancy.  Just about the time they 
> woke 
> up, it went to below zero for a few nights and bingo!  We have plenty of 
> buds, but very few blossoms.  Anyone else experience this?  Now, our pears 
> are a different story.  We have more blossoms than we can remember for 
> quite 
> a few years.  Go figure.
> 
> Dennis Norton
> Royal Oak Farm Orchard
> http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com
> http://www.theorchardkeeper.blogspot.com 
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To add a note on the absurd side, here in zone 4a/3b in the N.E. Kingdom of
Vermont I have a peach tree flowering for the first time ever! This is an
Intrepid and has what is really a decent flowering. I would be pretty
surprised if it actually sets any fruit, but hope springs eternal. It is a
good year here for pear (the ussuriensis crosses are early) and plum
blossom, also currants and gooseberries; sour cherries just starting.

Richard