Buds are tight but not for long!

Apache flower buds 25 April 2013. Photo GF.

Ouachita flower buds 25 April 2013. Photo GF.

Von flower buds 25 April 2013.  Photo GF.

Blackberry buds are slowly emerging. The above three photos show plots of Apache, Ouachita and Von at the Piedmont Research Station last week. All photos are taken from the RCA trellis study. There were a few stray open flowers, but for the most part, we are not seeing many open blooms. Ouachita buds were almost to the popcorn stage (, while Von buds were small and tight green. All photos are taken from the RCA trellis study.

Blackberry flowers and fruit essentially have the same stages as strawberry flower development. Tight bud, popcorn, open blossom, and fruit. All of the images above are buds, Apache and Von would be considered tight buds. A close up of Ouachita show that one of  flower buds is at the "popcorn" stage, where the sepals are spread out and the petals below are evident and clearly visible. Apache below, has all tight buds as did Von (no photo).

Ouachita flower clusters. One "popcorn" and  many "tight" buds.  Photo GF.

Apache "tight" buds close-up. Photo GF.