Guide: Almond
The almond is the first fruit tree to bloom in Spain: in the middle of winter, while the countryside is still brown, it is covered in white or pinkish flowers before its leaves appear. It is a very widespread crop, mostly rain-fed, and its blossom shapes the landscape of many areas in the south and east.
When
It usually blooms between January and March. In the Canary Islands and warm areas near the coast, such as the Axarquía, it starts in January; across much of mainland Spain the bulk comes in February, and in the colder interior and with late varieties it stretches into March. It depends on the variety and the winter weather: a mild spell brings it forward and cold delays it.
Where
Almond blossom can be seen across most of the south and east. Among our areas: Mula (Murcia), the Almanzora valley (Almería), the Alpujarra in Granada and the Axarquía (Málaga), the Guadalest valley (Alicante), Belchite and Loarre (Aragón), the Quinta de los Molinos park in Madrid and, in the Canary Islands, Tejeda (Gran Canaria), Santiago del Teide (Tenerife) and Puntagorda (La Palma).
How to tell the moment
At bud stage the buds swell and show a white or pink tip. With the first flowers a few trees open, often early varieties. At full bloom the crowns are covered and still leafless. At the end the petals fall, the leaves come out and the tree turns green again. Because early and late varieties grow side by side, the same hillside can show trees at different stages.
How to see it
Almond groves are on private land: do not go in or cut branches, because every flower is a future almond. Stick to public paths and waymarked routes, park without blocking farm tracks and leave gates as you found them. In January and February daylight is short and there can be frost at dawn; the afternoon often has the best light. Blossom festivals draw big weekend crowds.
Did you know?
Frost can ruin almond blossom, so Spanish researchers set out to breed varieties that bloom later. One of the best known is Guara, bred at CITA in Aragón: it flowers about ten days after the traditional varieties and does not need another variety to pollinate it.
Where we follow it
- Alpujarra granadina · GranadaFrom early February to late March
- Axarquía · MálagaFrom early January to late February
- Belchite · ZaragozaFrom early February to late March
- Guadalest · AlicanteFrom early February to mid-March
- Loarre y Ayerbe · HuescaFrom early February to late March
- Mula · MurciaFrom early February to mid-March
- Puntagorda · Santa Cruz de TenerifeFrom mid-January to mid-February
- Quinta de los Molinos · MadridFrom early February to mid-March
- Santiago del Teide · Santa Cruz de TenerifeFrom mid-January to late February
- Tejeda · Las PalmasFrom mid-January to late February
- Valle del Almanzora · AlmeríaFrom mid-February to mid-March
Usual season: dates from past years, for guidance only. Each year it comes earlier or later depending on the weather.
Tell me when it blooms: almond
We will email you when flowering starts. One email per season, no advertising.
Sources: mercasa.es · citarea.cita-aragon.es · synergynuts.upct.es