In the Western Cape, low PCUs (250) have historically been reached by May in the cooler parts, and by June in the remainder of the fruit production areas. By the projected intermediate future of the 2050s, 250 PCUs are generally reached one month later, but in some areas up to two months later.
On the other hand, 500 PCUs are achieved historically largely by May-June (cooler areas) or July (warmer areas) in the fruit growing areas. By the intermediate future of the 2050s, the southern parts of the fruit growing areas only achieve 500 PCUs by August or September or later, whereas the cooler northern regions (with the exception of Wolseley-Tulbagh) and Langkloof mostly still achieve 500 PCUs by June or July.
Under historical climatic conditions, high PCUs (700) are reached by June-July (cooler northern fruit areas and western Langkloof) or July-August (warmer southern areas and Little Karoo). Into the intermediate future, this shifts to mostly July in the north and western Langkloof, and to September to October (cooler south) or never (warmer south e.g. Berg and Breede River valleys).