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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Tuesday Funds sought to upgrade youth prison 10 things to know for Monday Medford's second-hand law gets a second look Emergency Services, Feb. 24 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, Feb. 24 Man critically burned in trailer fire Medford neighbors take up arms against a sea of graffiti Emergency Services, Feb. 23 Car crashes into new south Medford home Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. 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Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Feb. 20: Letters to the editor Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Columns Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Independent Party focuses on the public interest Milbank: Walker's cowardice on view in NY Will: Tweet this: Digital dialogue won't work Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Lifestyle Latest stories Shayne Looper: Whoever exalts himself will be humbled Dr. Elaine Heffner: Oscars and reality Food for Thought: Feed your creativity with Havarti Day Trippin': Mill Creek Falls easy to miss Blog: HAIKU MONDAY: On Sunscreen Steelhead and Flat Earthers Food Food for Thought: Feed your creativity with Havarti Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Fire and Smoke Home and Garden Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Health Community blog: And if I Die Before I Wake Dr. Murray Feingold: Does a sedentary lifestyle make you prone to disease? Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Health Watch: Health improvements you can make today that will pay off for a lifetime Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Live Music in Local Clubs OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Third Fridays showcases local artists Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet ... Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding ... Medford's second-hand law gets a second look ... Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet ... Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding ... Medford's second-hand law gets a second look ... AGRICULTURE Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Frost-control measures kicking in as trees blossom early Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 4:48 PM Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 4:48 PM » Social News The Rogue Valley's balmy mid-February days have set local peach and pear orchards on course for the earliest bloom on record. Persistent spring-like temperatures in the middle of winter have triggered budding, leafing and blossoms on plants and trees, which is sure to keep commercial pear and peach growers fending off frost for the next two months. Oregon State University horticulturist Rick Hilton, who works at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center on Hanley Road, said the average date for Bartlett pears to reach full bloom during the past 25 years has been April 6. The earliest date of full bloom occurred March 23, 1992, and the latest was April 21, 2011. "Right now, depending on how you're calculating, we're two weeks early as of last week," Hilton said. "By the end of this week, we may be three weeks ahead; two weeks is a lot, actually." Peaches mature earlier than pears, putting that crop at greater risk. "This is the earliest we've ever protected,"  said veteran orchardist Ron Meyer, who grows 100 acres of pears and eight acres of peaches, along with a handful of apricots. "Sunday night, we turned on the fans for the peaches and put a few heaters around the apricots. The apricots can stand 27 degrees, and peaches should stand 24 (degrees), but that's pretty cold. We held ours to 27 (degrees)." Pears are at an early enough stage, he said, that frost protection hasn't been necessary yet. But that could change very soon with local lows expected to hover in the 20s for several nights starting Saturday. "Normally, our worst freezes come about the last two weeks of April," Meyer said. "But we'll be quite vulnerable all the way through April this year. It's much better to have it cold now than two weeks from now. In 1972, we had our worst frost ever on March 10, so this is a little scary. Pears are pretty tough, but at that tender stage when petals are falling, peaches have to be held at 29 degrees, and then for only half an hour. When pears are at that tender stage, you have to hold 32 degrees." Hilton said a longer frost protection period means higher costs for growers. "Frost control is very expensive," Hilton said. "We're not generally using smudge pots anymore, and diesel is a little cheaper this year, but it's still expensive." Wind machines, which push warmer air to the ground and displace colder air, are the standard frost-control weapon. "Growers are fairly adept at frost control, but when there is earlier bloom, you have the potential for more nights of frost control. People living near an orchard better get used to wind machines coming on at 4 or 5 in the morning." Backyard fruit trees owners won't find traditional frost-protection methods practical, but there are affordable alternatives. "I've talked to people who used old-fashion Christmas lights that give off heat," he said. "If people have one or two peach trees in the backyard, a few strings of Christmas lights might get them through." City dwellers with backyard fruit trees have another advantage, Hilton said. "They're generally warmer in an urban setting, where the trees are nearer to a house than in the countryside," he said. "The coldest orchards are usually 4 or 5 degrees colder than the readings at the airport." Trees are more susceptible to disease during prolonged cold, as well. Pseudomonas, commonly called blossom blast, is more prevalent when frost damages a tree, allowing bacteria living on the surface to enter the tree. Unlike most people, Meyer is a big fan of the fog. "When we have fog in the lower valley, the air above it is warmer," he said. "It helps us stay cooler. We just don't have enough of those days." With few historical parallels, Meyer isn't sure what to expect over the next two months. "This is extraordinary," he said. "What happens after this? Who knows? But we'll be prepared for the worst." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at  www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge .   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 4:48 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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