It's been a long cold winter in Palisade!

Colorado State University Research Center has noted that the unusually cold winter has slowed the fruit tree rest across the western Colorado area. Our peach trees are running about 29 days behind normal bud break. Tree fruits are now accumulating growing degree days which is needed to push bud break. Temperatures between 32 and 45 degrees are needed for rest completion, and this can happen quickly once temperatures warm above freezing as is happening now. Projected dates for bud stages from now on may change quickly if the temperatures warm up.

Pruning of the mature peach and cherry trees is about complete at High Country Orchards. We will begin our frost control program soon to prevent split pit and soft suture incidence as well as spring freeze of our peach crop. Freeze damage is caused by severe spring frost followed by unusually warm late spring and early summer weather. At High Country Orchards we use large propelled wind machines to keep the air moving throughout the orchards and vineyards during late night and early morning hours when cold snaps are most likely to occur. The spring time brings with it many sleepless nights for the orchard crew.

During the month of March we will tend to the young trees by pruning and shaping them to maximize healthy growth, fruit quality and production. In early April we will plant over 6000 new baby peach trees that will include seven different varieties.

Our wine grape vineyards survived the winter fairly well with no significant damage so far.

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