- Location
- Near Beeston Castle
Lost nearly all my apples to 3 nights of hard frost last May, it is damned disheartening!
How are your trees this year?Lost nearly all my apples to 3 nights of hard frost last May, it is damned disheartening!
As always they look full of hope and promise at this time of year, looks like there is going to be a lot of blossom.How are your trees this year?
Our plums have blossomed and just starting to go over now, apples just starting.
Lost nearly all my apples to 3 nights of hard frost last May, it is damned disheartening!
Lost our entire orchard several years ago to frost, frost was so severe that even helicopters didn't help, the inversion layer was too high to bring the warmer air down to ground level, some orchardist stacked the helicopters one above the other, this worked to a degree although pretty hairy for the pilots.View attachment 954923Yes, true.
We’ve had several nights of frost, but not so severe as other regions. They’re saying locally that losses are about 10-15% ( our region produces more wine than Australia)
In the village the worst hit chap lost half his vines. The problem with frost on vines is that you lose this years crop, bu also next years wood is stunted.View attachment 954922
Personally the frost cost us a ha of table grapes, and has damaged the fruit trees. Luckily it’s before we thin the fruit so we can afford to lose some, with peaches you can make a crop with only 10% of your flowers. I think we’ll have fruit in June and July, but the late apricots and peaches will be thin on the ground. God knows with cherries they’re like trying to second guess cats.
I think we’ve been lucky, the Rhône valley has seen all its apricots frosted off, even with helicopters etc, and some of the best Rhône wine won’t have a harvest, cote rôtie.
Without a doubt there has been a real blow to French wine and fruit production.
Lost nearly all my apples to 3 nights of hard frost last May, it is damned disheartening!
Lost our entire orchard several years ago to frost, frost was so severe that even helicopters didn't help, the inversion layer was too high to bring the warmer air down to ground level, some orchardist stacked the helicopters one above the other, this worked to a degree although pretty hairy for the pilots.
We now use water to protect the vines, worked well so far.
First major losses for over 30 years so can't grumble too much, doesn't mean it won't happen again this year though.I’ve been very lucky, some losses but nothing like you last year.
Lost our entire orchard several years ago to frost, frost was so severe that even helicopters didn't help, the inversion layer was too high to bring the warmer air down to ground level, some orchardist stacked the helicopters one above the other, this worked to a degree although pretty hairy for the pilots.
We now use water to protect the vines, worked well so far.
View attachment 954959View attachment 954960View attachment 954961View attachment 954959View attachment 954960View attachment 954961View attachment 954959View attachment 954960View attachment 954961
The ice protects the buds, we leave the sprinklers running until it melts. We put 3mm hour of water on during a frost.I’ve been very lucky, some losses but nothing like you last year.
The hard bit with frost is that the heavy lifting of pruning is over, you push on through winter to finish and then it’s buggered for the year!
We have a neighbor who has had a helicopter on the go, he owns a valley and lost them in 2017. He pays 500€ an hour, so a couple of hours in the morning. ( three times this week )
In other parts of France they’re saying that helicopters didn’t work, presumably like you explained. I read of one chap who had a frost windmill that failed as well. That must be very hard.
I’m planting a new orchard next year and will put in the sprinklers, do you tap off the ice?.
We pump 500 litres per second during a frost, need 3mm hour.Impressive, so much pumping, so much drainage, such a high value crop.
The ice protects the buds, we leave the sprinklers running until it melts. We put 3mm hour of water on during a frost.
Frost, hail. anyone would think fruit grows on treesHail. Been there twice, once about May, so not so bad you can run the economy season for sprays. August hail was more destructive, wiped out all plums, apples, pears & income.
Ice may break a few very weak shoots, you don't want those anyway and these should have been pruned off during the winter, plants are remarkably hardy, a few broken shoots is nothing compared to the damage a frost can do.Thanks. Doesn’t the weight of ice break the shoots?
Lost nearly all my apples to 3 nights of hard frost last May, it is damned disheartening!
How are your trees this year?
Our plums have blossomed and just starting to go over now, apples just starting.
I’ve been very lucky, some losses but nothing like you last year.
The hard bit with frost is that the heavy lifting of pruning is over, you push on through winter to finish and then it’s buggered for the year!
We have a neighbor who has had a helicopter on the go, he owns a valley and lost them in 2017. He pays 500€ an hour, so a couple of hours in the morning. ( three times this week )
In other parts of France they’re saying that helicopters didn’t work, presumably like you explained. I read of one chap who had a frost windmill that failed as well. That must be very hard.
I’m planting a new orchard next year and will put in the sprinklers, do you tap off the ice?.
Yes I do. Winter moth is a problem for me, they need treating early spring. Codling moth is a routine treatment June/July and aphids from time to time if/when necessary.@Kidds Thanks - Do you use any insectiside or any other treatment on the trees to ensure premium quality.