Hungary: The plum season is full of challenges

Weather conditions are not entirely favorable for plum cultivation. The cool spring and early frosts had a negative impact on the pollination process, and the rainy season during flowering made it difficult to protect against monilia infection. As a result, a lower than average harvest is expected, which can be between 40-50 thousand tons. Jam will be scarce and expensive in several markets Hungary's climate is generally suitable for plum cultivation. The plant tolerates the cold well, and its early spring flowering rarely suffers from frosts. At the same time, due to the shallow root system, a prolonged lack of rainfall can have a negative effect on it. At the same time, the size of the production area has decreased slightly in recent years, but production is becoming more intensive, focusing on plantations suitable for hand picking. According to the latest data, approx. Plums are grown on 5,848 hectares in Hungary. The largest growing area is in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, ...