North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jon Place <jonp1@comcast.net>]

I am noticing drastically varied stages of bud progression on my apple 
trees.  I have a plot of 5 young trees.  Nonetheless, some flower buds 
are approaching tight cluster while others are only at green tip.  
Terminal buds at 1/2 inch green while others still at silver tip...  The 
variation is as diverse within each tree as it is amongst all 8.  Is 
this normal?  I applied a BD tree paste this spring when the trees were 
dormant and the clay/manure paste is still covering some buds - perhaps 
this is retarding the development of some buds? 

Thanks,

Jon (Zone 4/5) - Rutland, Vt.