Q. My neighbor with an apricot tree is concerned about
the forecast of snow. She said her tree is in full bloom and was worried about
the forecast of snow later in the week. Any advice?
the forecast of snow. She said her tree is in full bloom and was worried about
the forecast of snow later in the week. Any advice?
A. There is nothing that can be done to lower the
freezing temperature. The most susceptible parts of fruit trees to freezing
temperatures are the flowers when they are fully open. Generally, open flowers
can tolerate temperatures to freezing and nothing below that when they are
fully open.
freezing temperature. The most susceptible parts of fruit trees to freezing
temperatures are the flowers when they are fully open. Generally, open flowers
can tolerate temperatures to freezing and nothing below that when they are
fully open.
Very
young fruit and unopened flowers can handle temperatures slightly below
freezing, only a couple of degrees lower, and then they are damaged or die. Commercially,
sprinklers apply water to fruit if air temperatures dip slightly below
freezing. Ice formation on the fruit acts as an insulator. But not for the flowers.
young fruit and unopened flowers can handle temperatures slightly below
freezing, only a couple of degrees lower, and then they are damaged or die. Commercially,
sprinklers apply water to fruit if air temperatures dip slightly below
freezing. Ice formation on the fruit acts as an insulator. But not for the flowers.
A couple
of days after freezing temperatures have passed, squeeze the base of the flower
and see if there was fruit set or not. If you can feel a small swelling at the
base of the flower, then the flower and future fruit made it through the freeze.
If it feels flat and there is no bump at the base of the flower, then it didn’t
make it.
of days after freezing temperatures have passed, squeeze the base of the flower
and see if there was fruit set or not. If you can feel a small swelling at the
base of the flower, then the flower and future fruit made it through the freeze.
If it feels flat and there is no bump at the base of the flower, then it didn’t
make it.
The
second whammy was the cold weather preceding the freeze. Honeybees were not
very active because of cold temperatures and overcast skies. If there are no
honeybees visiting the flowers, then there’ll be no pollination and no fruit
produced.
second whammy was the cold weather preceding the freeze. Honeybees were not
very active because of cold temperatures and overcast skies. If there are no
honeybees visiting the flowers, then there’ll be no pollination and no fruit
produced.
I put a
short YouTube video together demonstrating how to squeeze the flowers to check
if there is fruit or not. It’s available on my Xtremehorticulture YouTube
channel. Otherwise, just wait and you will eventually find out.
short YouTube video together demonstrating how to squeeze the flowers to check
if there is fruit or not. It’s available on my Xtremehorticulture YouTube
channel. Otherwise, just wait and you will eventually find out.
Thanks, Bob.
For anybody who needs help finding the video, it's at this link:
https://youtu.be/2nu7QmAyZxU
Thank you!!!