Last month’s brutal cold snap likely destroyed this year’s peach crop, an Arkansas agriculture expert warns.
Amanda McWhirt, extension fruit horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said weeks of warm weather ahead of mid-March’s 20-degree weather left the state’s peach crop vulnerable.
“Unfortunately, peaches in many parts of the state had broken bud and were in full bloom,” McWhirt said, adding that peach blooms are typically damaged around 27 degrees Fahrenheit.
Despite the loss of this year’s crop, McWhirt encourages farmers to continue irrigating and caring for their trees to ensure a healthy crop next year.
She also said some blueberry varieties were damaged during the March cold snap.
“They were in a similar situation, having broken bud and were in peak bloom, particularly for southern highbush and some rabbiteye blueberries,” McWhirt said. “In particular, the southern highbush type is very early to bloom, and they’re in a similar boat to peaches, where the majority of the crop was lost.”
Northern highbush types, however, are just now starting to flower. She expects those will produce a fine crop this year.
Source - https://www.kait8.com
