Main points
- In the Mykolaiv region, night frosts damaged the buds of stone crops, with apricots being the most severely affected (12%-51% damage).
- Grain crops were less affected, with about 8% of damaged buds recorded in apple trees, and grapes were not damaged.
Apricot orchards / Photo “Horticulture and Fruit Growing”
Despite the warm weather in March, orchards in the Mykolaiv region suffered damage due to night frosts. Stone crops, in particular apricots, were the most affected.
Which cultures were most affected?
The second decade of March in the Mykolaiv region was warm and dry, which allowed farmers to actively work in their orchards, AgroTimes reports. At the same time, the results of checking the condition of fruit trees showed partial damage to the buds due to adverse weather conditions in winter and early spring.
Stone crops suffered the greatest losses. In particular, in apricots, bud damage ranges from 12% to 51%. In cherries, this figure reaches about 13%, and in sweet cherries – 12%.
Poultry crops were less affected : about 8% of damaged buds were recorded in the apple tree. At the same time, grapes demonstrated resilience – no damage to the buds was detected during the inspection.
Why did the damage occur and what is happening in the gardens?
Despite the daytime warming to 15–18 degrees Celsius, according to the Mykolaiv Regional Center for Hydrometeorology, nighttime frosts persisted in the region. For several days, the temperature on the soil surface dropped to minus 1–5 degrees, which caused damage to the buds.
The contrast between warm weather during the day and cold nights created stressful conditions for plants during a critical period of development, which negatively affected the potential yield of certain crops.
Please note! Currently, seasonal work is underway in the region's farms – pruning trees and grapes, as well as treating plantings with plant protection products. Farmers are assessing the condition of the orchards and adjusting further technological measures.
Blooming gardens attacked by frost: European farmers fight for trees at night
-
Farmers in Western Europe use irrigation and heaters to protect their gardens from night frosts.
-
In the wine-growing regions of France, candles and fans are used to raise the temperature and move cold air.