Spring frosts have destroyed half of the stone fruits in Ukraine

Due to strong spring frosts, the yield of stone fruit crops in the Odesa region may be reduced by half. EastFruit reports on this. In areas where the coldest temperatures were observed, the harvest of cherries, sour cherries, and apricots may be completely destroyed. Professor Iryna Ishchenko from the Odesa State Agrarian University explained that farmers were partially able to preserve the harvest by switching to new varieties with later flowering periods. Such trees blossomed after the main cold wave, thus preserving 70-80% of the harvest, depending on the crop and variety. Seed crops — including apples, pears, and quince — were less affected. At the same time, external fruit defects are expected, which will not affect taste qualities. However, thermal stress and lack of sunny days may impact taste — fruits may be less sweet due to insufficient accumulation of sugar, pigments, and aromatic substances. Currently, the first batches of garden strawberries and cherries have already ...