Weather
It has been a cool May and temperatures have been below normal, with degree day accumulations running behind normal averages as of May 18, 2020. However, warmer temperatures are moving into the area, and as a result crop development will progress quickly.
Peaches finishing bloom in West Niagara
Frost Damage
Frost damage to blossoms from several nights of freezing temperatures can be found in some tender fruit crops (plums, apricot, tart cherries, peaches). Frost damage varies between growing regions, crops, and varieties, with the greatest frost damage being reported in southwestern Ontario (-2.2° C in Harrow), Norfolk (-4.5° C in Simcoe), Beamsville and Fonthill. It is still too early to know the full impact of the frost on fruit set and yields. Cool temperatures during bloom may have affected pollination, impacting June drop. However, currently the frost damage to blossoms is expected to have minimal impact on tender fruit yields.
Crop Development:
Beamsville:
Peaches and Nectarine-petal fall
Plum-petal fall
Apricot-shuck split
Fresh grapes-bud break
Vinifera grapes-bud swell
Hybrids-buds breaking/1st leaves
tart cherries-bloom
Niagara Parkway:
Peaches and Nectarine-petal fall
Early golden Plums-bloom
Pears-full bloom
Fresh grape-2 -3 small leaves
Early hybrid grapes-close to 1st leaf
Vinifera grapes-bud swell
Tart cherry-bloom
Cedar Springs: Apricots-petal fall
Peaches-petal fall
Tart cherries-full bloom
Pears-bloom
Simcoe: tart cherries-bloom
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