Apples Apricots Cherries Peaches Pears Plums

Stone Fruit Update

By Kathryn Carter, Fruit Specialist, OMAFRA and John Warbick, Engineer, OMAFRA

It has been a long cool start to spring, and we are seeing green tissue and pre-bloom stages in tree fruit this week.

Temperatures for this week’s forecast should not pose an issue with frost. However, as fruit tree development continues buds and blooms will become more vulnerable to frost.   Frost damage will vary between orchards, cultivars, crops and stages of development.  As flowers begin to swell and expand into blossoms, they become less resistant to freeze injury. Buds that develop slowly tend to be more resistant. The table below shows the average temperatures required to kill 10 percent and 90 percent of buds. Keep in mind that weather conditions preceding cold nights can affect bud hardiness. Prolonged cool weather tends to increase bud hardiness during the early stages of bud development.

Wind machines have been shown to provide protection during overnight frost events. However, some neighbours may be disturbed by the noise produced. Here are some neighbourly Best Management Practices for wind machine operation.

  • Explain to neighbours living within 125 m of a machine how and why wind machines operate, consider providing a copy of OMAFRA factsheet (listed below).
  • Consider creating an early warning system to remind neighbours about possible wind machine use. Give neighbours a 24-hour cellphone number to call.
  • Set machines closest to the neighbours to be the last on and the first off.
  • Be diligent operating wind machines on farms where you do not live, as you are not always there to hear if and how they operate.
  • Use best management practices to determine when to start wind machines.
  • Do not operate wind machines during high winds.

For more information on the use of wind machines refer to OMAFRA Factsheet 10-045 Wind Machines for Minimizing Cold Injury to Horticultural Crops: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/10-045.htm

For other strategies to mitigate the risk of frost see: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/weather-frost.htm.

Pome Fruit - Apples

Apples
Silver Tip
Green Tip
1/2 " green
Tight Cluster
First Pink
Full Pink
First Bloom
Full Bloom
Post Bloom
Old Temperature
10% Kill
90% Kill
-8.9
-9.4
-16.7
-8.9
-7.8
-12.2
-5.6
-5.0
-9.4
-2.8
-2.8
-6.1

-2.8
-2.2
-4.4
-2.2
-2.2
-3.9
-2.2
-2.2
-3.9
-1.7
-2.2
-3.9
-1.7
-2.2
-3.9

Pome Fruit - Pears

Pears
Bud Swell
Bud Burst
Tight Cluster
First White
Full White
First Bloom
Full Bloom
Post Bloom
Old Temperature
10% Kill
90% Kill

-7.8
-9.4
-17.8

-5.0
-6.7
-14.4

-4.4
-4.4
-9.4

-2.2
-3.9
-7.2

-1.7
-3.3
-5.6


-1.7
-2.8
-5.0

-1.7
-2.2
-4.4


-1.1
-2.2
-4.4

Stone Fruit - Apricots

Apricots
Bud Swell
Bud Burst
Red Tip
First White
First Bloom
Full Bloom
In the Shuck
Green Fruit
Old Temperature
10% Kill
90% Kill

--
-9.4
--


-5.0
-6.7
-17.8

--
-5.6
-12.8

-3.9
-4.4
-10.0

--
-3.9
-7.2


-2.2
-2.8
-5.6


--
-2.8
-4.4


-0.6
-2.2
-3.9

Pome Fruit - Pears

Pears
Bud Swell
Bud Burst
Tight Cluster
First White
Full White
First Bloom
Full Bloom
Post Bloom
Old Temperature
10% Kill
90% Kill

-7.8
-9.4
-17.8

-5.0
-6.7
-14.4

-4.4
-4.4
-9.4

-2.2
-3.9
-7.2

-1.7
-3.3
-5.6


-1.7
-2.8
-5.0

-1.7
-2.2
-4.4


-1.1
-2.2
-4.4

Stone Fruit - Peaches

Peaches
Bud Swell
Calyx Green
Calyx Red
First Pink
First Bloom
Full Bloom
Post Bloom
Old
Temperature
10% Kill
90% Kill

-5.0
-7.8
-17.2



--
-6.1
-15.0

--
-5.0
-12.8

-3.9
-3.9
-9.4

--
-3.3
-6.1

-2.8
-2.8
-4.4

-1.1
-2.2
-3.9

Stone Fruit - European Plums

European Plums
Bud Swell
Side White
Tip Green
Tight Cluster
First White
First Bloom
Full Bloom
Post Bloom
Old
Temperature
10% Kill
90% Kill

--
-10.0
-17.8


--
-8.3
-16.1


--
-6.7
-13.9

--
-4.4
-8.9

-5.0
-3.3
-5.6


-2.8
-2.8
-5.0


-2.8
-2.2
-5.0

-1.1
-2.2
-5.0

Stone Fruit - Sweet Cherries

Sweet Cherries
Bud Swell
Side Green
Green Tip
Tight Cluster
Open Cluster
First White
First Bloom
Full Bloom
Post Bloom
Old
Temperature
10% Kill
90% Kill

-5.0
-8.3
-15.0

-5.0
-5.6
-12.8

-3.9
-3.9
-10.0

-2.2
-3.3
-8.3

-2.2
-2.8
-6.1

-1.7
-2.8
-4.4

-1.7
-2.2
-3.9

-1.7
-2.2
-3.9

-1.1
-2.2
-3.9

Stone Fruit - Tart Cherries

Tart Cherries
Bud Swell
Side Green
Green Tip
Tight Cluster
Open Cluster
First White
First Bloom
Full Bloom
Old
Temperature
10% Kill
90% Kill

-9.4
-17.8

-4.4
-12.2

-3.3
-5.6

-3.3
-4.4

-2.2
-4.4

-2.2
-4.4


-2.2
-4.4


-2.2
-4.4

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