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Apricot > Year-Round IPM Program > Bloom Season > Why Is the Bloom Season Important?

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Apricot

Why Is the Bloom Season Important in an IPM Program?

Bloom season, which extends from red bud to petal fall, is the best time to manage several apricot pests. Because foliage is sparse at this time, you can get good spray coverage more easily than later in the season. You can avoid water quality problems associated with dormant-season sprays for peach twig borer by treating with low-toxicity insecticides (and mating-disruption supplements) at this time. Also, monitoring for pests, including the installation of pheromone traps, begins at bloom.

Monitoring and treatment for various pests should be timed based on an estimate of when a certain proportion of the flower buds are open. For example, peach twig borer is monitored during bloom. Also, the most important application for brown rot blossom and twig blight is when the maximum number of pollenizable flowers are open.

In years with high chilling, as many as 80% of the blossoms may reach full bloom at the same time. In low chilling years, the proportion may be below 50%.

Bloom stages
Early red bloom of apricot.
Early red bud 		Red bud stage of apricot.
Red bud 		First white stage of apricot.
First white
Popcorn stage of apricot.
Popcorn 		Full bloom stage of apricot.
Full bloom 		Petal fall stage of apricot.
Petal fall

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/C005/m005bcwhybloom.html revised: November 28, 2007. Contact webmaster.