Severe frosts recorded in Ukraine in the first half of February caused significant damage to stone fruit trees in several regions, ProAgro Group reports.

According to Alik Riabyi, owner of ROST-R LLC, losses in some orchards were critical.

“Colleagues reported that up to 90% of trees were damaged in certain orchards in Vinnytsia region. Branches, young shoots and even trunks were affected. The damage became visible during the thaw after the frosts, when small shoots immediately turned black,” the orchard owner said.

Stone fruit crops suffered the most, he noted.

“Pome fruits proved more resilient, while sweet cherries and apricots were severely damaged. Last year the frost mainly destroyed blossoms, but this year even buds were affected,” Riabyi added.

He believes last season’s weather conditions may have contributed to the situation.

“From summer through late autumn there was a lot of rainfall and warmth. Trees failed to properly enter dormancy, and sap flow remained active even during winter,” the expert explained.

According to him, this was evident during winter inspections:

“In January, buds and shoots were still green and ‘alive’ under the bark, although normally by November fruit-bearing branches are already dry and hardened. The root system also remained active. As a result, severe frosts hit trees that had not fully entered dormancy, causing major damage.”

As previously reported, this month the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine is resuming applications for state grant support for the development of horticulture, berry growing, viticulture and greenhouse farming.

Source: AgroTimes