Early Blossom
Question: I have a fruit tree that has started blossoming. Do I need to wait until the month of Nissan to recite the beracha on blossom? Does it matter that I have already seen the blossom, or can I still recite the beracha ? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 43b) teaches that one should recite a beracha on a tree when it blossoms in the month of Nissan. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 226:1) writes that this beracha can only be recited once a year. According to some poskim (Halachos Ketanos 2:28; Kaf Hachaim OC 226:1) the beracha should only be recited in the month of Nissan, though most poskim (Ritva, Rosh Hashana 11a; Mishna Berura 226:1; Aruch Hashulchan OC 226:1; Tzitz Eliezer 12:20:3) write that one should say it whenever when one first sees the blossom. R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 5:173) writes that he witnessed R’ Moshe Feinstein say the beracha in Iyar. Thus, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 8:8:4; Yechave Daas 1:1) writes that one should ideally wait until Nissan to reci...