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Apricot growers in New Zealand fear frost
New Zealand
Tuesday 08 September 2009
Teviot Valley apricot growers on alert with the first frost
Teviot Valley apricot growers were on alert last night with the first frost this spring expected.
Roxburgh orchardist Stephen Jeffery said a frost was forecast and apricots were at their most vulnerable. “With all the snow on the hills and temperatures dropping, I’m expecting to be up frost-fighting in the night,” Mr Jeffery said.
The apricot blossom was well past the blooming stage and was sensitive to frost. Orchardists tried to avoid frost-fighting when blossoms were still flowering, as it affected pollination. The frost alarm would go off when the temperature dropped to -0.5degC or -1degC.
It was usually frost-fighting a week or two earlier than this. “If there’s blossom and lambs around and spring is here, then frosts go hand in hand with all that,” Mr Jeffery said. Orchardists in Alexandra and Cromwell were less concerned at the possibility of frosts as blossom was later in those districts.
“We won’t have to worry about the apricots for another four or five days,” Cromwell orchardist Kevin Jackson said. Cherry flower buds were still tightly closed. It was the last fruit to bloom and the first one ready for harvest.
Central Otago grape growers were also unconcerned about frosts this week as most vines were two or three weeks away from bud burst.
