Good Fruit Set, Major Heat Spike On The Way

Bloom finished mid-last week, about a week earlier than last year.  We had a day of heavy rain early, then perfect conditions, and abundant fruit set.  Berries per cluster are higher than normal, 2 to 3 clusters per shoot, and large wings on first clusters.  A good crop to be carrying into an early harvest. This weekend through next week are predicted to be mid-90's, spiking into the 100's.  Haven't had a spike like this is forecasted to be for several seasons, I'm happy for the heavy canopy above and behind the leafed morning side of the fruit zone.

Pommard:

 

Wadenswil:

 

Dijon 115:

Dijon 114:

 

96F, Full Bloom

We're having a string of days in the 90's, like August.  The vines are in full bloom, catch wires fully clipped, shoot tips above the wires awaiting hedging. The cover crop has been plowed, and grass aisles mowed.  Forecast is for clear, dry weather with temps above normal, in the mid-80's, through month-end.  The vines are loving it, the worker is tired.

First Sign of Bloom - 2015

Shoot tips are at or above the top wires, vines are healthy, dry with temps in the 80's, first sign of bloom:

After An Early Start, Tracking to Last Year

Despite the dramatically early start to the 2015 growing season, alternating stretches of cool then seasonally warm weather have slowed vine development to a similar point as this time last year.  We are now well into the grand period of growth, with 12 leaves showing, healthy and uniform shoots elongating, and large flower inflorescences maturing.

The crimson clover cover crop has been mowed and plowed under, young vines have been tied to their bamboo training sticks, and mature vines have had their shoots tucked several times. The current forecast is showing a stretch of unseasonably warm weather this coming week, which should get shoot tips to the top wires.  We appear to be about 10-14 days out from first signs of bloom.

Typical, unwinged top inflorescence

Typical, winged bottom inflorescence

April 2015 Cumulative Heating Degree Days and Rainfall

Reflecting the month-early start to the season, April season-to-date heating degree days, at 134 HDDs, are the highest in recent years.  However, due to colder weather after budbreak, vine growth has been slow and steady, leaving us at approximately the same point in canopy development as this time last year.

Rainfall, so far this season, at 31.4 inches, is approximately 2 inches less that "normal", and about 7.5 inches more than last year.

Six Weeks Post-Budbreak: Shoots At or Approaching 1st Wire

Finished removing doubles today, shoots at or near 1st wire.  Normally would be at this point 3 weeks after budbreak, but colder weather after budbreak slowed things down considerably - a good thing this year, given budbreak was so early.  No damaging frost, yet.  Vines look uniformly healthy, with 2-3 developing flower clusters.  Good weather expected to continue.

March 2015 Season-to-Date Heating Degrees and Rainfall

Heating Degree Days:

2015 is the earliest season start in recent history, about 3 to 4 weeks early, due to early March average daily temps above the critical 51F level.

Rainfall

Rainfall during the critical dormant season through March was only 1/2 inch less than normal, while areas outside the Willamette Valley suffered through one of the driest winters on record.