Frost hit: this year's fruit harvest could be gone

The worst time for the cold The cold wave arrived when apricots, peaches, sour cherries, sweet cherries, plums, and pears in many orchards were in bloom or close to setting fruit. Apples had already bloomed in several southern regions, while in others they were just about to bloom, and budding had already begun in the case of walnuts. Strawberries were blooming in many places, and in some plots, developing berries were already present. Even temperatures below -2 degrees Celsius can cause damage at these phenological stages, and further cooling dramatically increases the losses. The greatest trouble may be in the north and northeast Based on current assessments, the northern and northeastern parts of the country may have suffered the strongest cooling, and it was not just a single frost: critical low temperatures occurred for 3-4 consecutive days. This is particularly dangerous because the repeated cold spells reduce the chances of regeneration for the crops. It is already likely ...