Almond bloom is around the corner. Emerging from dormancy, almonds tree buds bloom in preparation for pollination between late February and early March. During this stage, the almond flowers are vulnerable to a number of threats. Weather patterns in the past have shown that chilling February temperatures can wreak havoc on almond crops. To protect crops from the unpredictable, make sure to have a frost protection program in place. Frost protection can be provided by the following:

• Running water
• Proper soil and groundcover preparation
• Sprinklers and micro-sprinklers
• Moving air (helicopters, wind machines, etc.)

During wet weather, almond trees are also susceptible to bloom and foliar diseases. Deciding when to spray and what fungicides to use can be difficult. Be sure to accurately assess the diseases present in orchards and select fungicides carefully. Remember not all fungicides are equally effective on all diseases.

Active against a wide range of fungal diseases, Vangard® WG fungicide provides long-lasting protectant activity to help fight brown rot, jacket rot and shot hole in almonds. Use it as a first spray to protect delicate flowers from brown rot blossom blight (Monilinia spp.) and suppress other fungal diseases.

Photos are either the property of Syngenta or used under agreement.

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