Fruit Protection from Frost
Find out how to protect orchards from spring frost and what really helps
TL;DR
- Early spring in Serbia has caused fruit trees like plums, apricots, and cherries to bloom prematurely.
- Temperatures dropping below zero can freeze and destroy flowers, jeopardizing the entire harvest.
- Traditional frost protection methods like smudging and covering trees have limited effectiveness.
- The antifrost system, which involves spraying water to create a protective ice layer, is the most effective but very expensive.
- Most fruit growers in Serbia rely on luck and weather forecasts due to the cost of advanced protection systems.
- For small orchards, covering trees, moistening the soil, and avoiding pruning before a cold snap are recommended.
- The outcome of the fruit harvest this year depends heavily on a few cold nights in March and April.