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.