The BBCH-scale (stone) identifies the phenological development stages of stone fruit (cherry = Prunus cerasus, plum = Prunus domestica ssp. domestica, peach = Prunus persica, apricot = Prunus ameriaca). It is a plant species specific version of the BBCH-scale.
| Phenological growth stages and BBCH-identification keys of stone fruit |
|
|---|---|
| Code | Description |
| Principal growth stage 0: Sprouting/Bud development | |
| 00 | Dormancy: leaf buds and the thicker inflorescence buds closed and covered by dark brown scales |
| 01 | Beginning of bud swelling (leaf buds); light brown scales visible, scales with light coloured edges |
| 03 | End of leaf bud swelling: scales separated, light green bud sections visible |
| 09 | Green leaf tips visible: brown scales fallen, buds enclosed by light green scales |
| Principal growth stage 1: Leaf development | |
| 10 | First leaves separating: green scales slightly open, leaves emerging |
| 11 | First leaves unfolded, axis of developing shoot visible |
| 19 | First leaves fully expanded |
| Principal growth stage 3: Shoot development1 | |
| 31 | Beginning of shoot growth: axes of developing shoots visible |
| 32 | Shoots about 20% of final length |
| 33 | Shoots about 30% of final length |
| 3 . | Stages continuous till . . . |
| 39 | Shoots about 90% of final length |
| Principal growth stage 5: Inflorescence emergence | |
| 51 | Inflorescence buds swelling: buds closed, light brown scales visible |
| 53 | Bud burst: scales separated, light green bud sections visible |
| 54 | Inflorescence enclosed by light green scales, if such scales are formed (not all cultivars) |
| 55 | Single flower buds visible (still closed) borne on short stalks, green scales slightly open |
| 56 | Flower pedicel elongating; sepals closed; single flowers separating |
| 57 | Sepals open: petal tips visible; single flowers with white or pink petals (still closed) |
| 59 | Most flowers with petals forming a hollow ball |
| Principal growth stage 6: Flowering | |
| 60 | First flowers open |
| 61 | Beginning of flowering: about 10% of flowers open |
| 62 | About 20% of flowers open |
| 63 | About 30% of flowers open |
| 64 | About 40% of flowers open |
| 65 | Full flowering: at least 50% of flowers open, first petals falling |
| 67 | Flowers fading: majority of petals fallen |
| 69 | End of flowering: all petals fallen |
| Principal growth stage 7: Development of fruit | |
| 71 | Ovary growing; fruit fall after flowering |
| 72 | Green ovary surrounded by dying sepal crown, sepals beginning to fall |
| 73 | Second fruit fall |
| 75 | Fruit about half final size |
| 76 | Fruit about 60% of final size |
| 77 | Fruit about 70% of final size |
| 78 | Fruit about 80% of final size |
| 79 | Fruit about 90% of final size |
| Principal growth stage 8: Maturity of fruit and seed | |
| 81 | Beginning of fruit colouring |
| 85 | Colouring advanced |
| 87 | Fruit ripe for picking |
| 89 | Fruit ripe for consumption: fruit have typical taste and firmness |
| Principal growth stage 9: Senescence, beginning of dormancy | |
| 91 | Shoot growth completed; foliage still fully green |
| 92 | Leaves begin to discolour |
| 93 | Beginning of leaf fall |
| 95 | 50% of leaves discoloured or fallen |
| 97 | All leaves fallen |
| 99 | Harvested product |
1 From terminal bud