Braving Cold Nights: Orchard Owners in Thuringia Keep Their Fruits Thriving
Potential Winter Nights With Minimal Impact on Fruit-Bearing Trees - Harsh Winter Nights Spare Fruit Trees of Severe Damage
Hey there! Let's talk about how fruit growers in sunny Thuringia are dealing with the chilly nights and keeping their orchards blooming.
While two cold nights in Thuringia have passed, fruit growers like Ulf Henniger, CEO of the Fahner Obst in Gierstadt, are remaining hopeful. The early blossom of cherries and apricots has begun, but the main bloom is still to come. Losses are expected among apricots, but they only cover a small fraction of the total 1,000 hectares of farmland.
It's a similar story at the Kindelbrück fruit cooperative. "This isn't as damaging as last year," says Wilhelm Schäfer, CEO and head of the fruit-growing specialist group in the Thuringian Horticultural Association. The blossoms are not as advanced as they were at this time last year.
According to the German Weather Service, temperatures dropped around six degrees Celsius below zero in Thuringia during the night on Monday. It was a bit milder in the lowlands the night before.
To protect their blossoming trees, Thuringia growers have taken preventive measures. They've been heating up peaches, nectarines, and early cherry varieties in anticipation of the cold. Roberto Geier, co-owner of the Geier family's small orchard in Lumpzig (Altenburger Land), has been driving up and down the rows with propane gas heaters attached to his tractor. They heated six of the total 25 hectares, a new tactic this year after facing severe frost damage last year.
Now, let's get a bit more horticulturally technical. Fruit growers often employ various methods to protect their trees from frost damage during cold nights. Here are some common techniques:
- Irrigation Frost Protection: Sprinkling water on the trees to form a layer of ice over the blossoms can protect them from freezing temperatures.
- Wind Machines: These machines help circulate warm air closer to the ground upwards, mixing it with the cold air near the ground to raise the temperature around the blossoms.
- Heaters: Some growers use heaters to warm the air around the trees, though this can be costly and has an environmental impact.
- Covering: Covering the trees with blankets can help retain body heat and prevent cold air from reaching the blossoms.
- Timing of Planting: Planting late-blooming varieties can help avoid cold night damage when temperatures are generally warmer.
These methods are crucial for protecting the blossoming trees, and their effectiveness depends on factors like the duration and severity of the cold spell, the timing of the protective measures, and the specific types of trees being protected.
So, brace yourself for some juicy fruits, Thuringia! These resourceful fruit growers have got your back. Stay cool (or rather, warm)! 😄👍
The following are to be added to the list of products: 'orchards', 'Irrigation Frost Protection', 'Wind Machines', 'Heaters', and 'Covering'.
In a bid to save their orchards from cold damage, fruit growers in Thuringia have implemented measures such as heating up orchards with propane gas heaters or using irrigation frost protection.
The consequences of these cold nights could have been more severe, but the adaptive strategies employed by growers like Ulf Henniger and Roberto Geier have helped minimize potential losses.
