Spring is defined by unpredictable weather with wild temperature swings, but this year stands out as especially full of extremes here in Ohio. Home fruit growers are understandably worried about tender blooms being affected by frost, and the consequent reduction of harvest. Spring in 2020 was relatively gentle, but an especially late cold snap zapped all the blossoms and developing fruit, resulting in no harvest whatsoever of any cultivated tree fruit on the farm. For the flowers of fruit trees, it doesn't matter if spring is sweet and mild, or a mix of snow, sleet, and 80 degree days like it is this year. The crucial factors are the date on which the freeze occurs and the lowest temperature reached.
Fruit trees and frost
Fruit trees and frost
Fruit trees and frost
Spring is defined by unpredictable weather with wild temperature swings, but this year stands out as especially full of extremes here in Ohio. Home fruit growers are understandably worried about tender blooms being affected by frost, and the consequent reduction of harvest. Spring in 2020 was relatively gentle, but an especially late cold snap zapped all the blossoms and developing fruit, resulting in no harvest whatsoever of any cultivated tree fruit on the farm. For the flowers of fruit trees, it doesn't matter if spring is sweet and mild, or a mix of snow, sleet, and 80 degree days like it is this year. The crucial factors are the date on which the freeze occurs and the lowest temperature reached.