Flowering Time of Almond Cultivars in Argentina

Self-sterile varieties prevail in the Argentine almond orchards; they are unable to pollinate/fecunda- te themselves, hence the presence of pollinators within the orchard are required to ensure the fertilization of flowers and fruit set and production. Phenological observations on the bloom of almond trees belonging to the collection of the Experimental Agricultural Station INTA Junin (Province of Mendoza, Argentina) were carried out from 1998 to 2004. Based on these observations, a flowering calendar has been elaborated and blooming dates were analysed taking into account winter chilling. Almond cultivars were classified in seven groups, consi- dering the dates of full flowering time, in reference to 'Non Pareil'. The collected cultivars were tested for self- compatibility and their potential productivity was assessed by means of open pollination and controlled pollina- tion between different cultivars.