May frost caused damage to fruit plantations, Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS), said on May 28. “Trees and shrubs usually bloomed profusely but frosts occurring several times in April and May in many areas shortened the period of flowering and fruit setting and damaged flowers in many orchards. The most damage occurred due to frosts that occurred around mid-May,” GUS stated.
GUS reported that frost damage to flowers and buds concerns almost all species of fruit orchards but they vary greatly depending on the location of the plantation and variety (on some plantations they did not occur at all).
The most damage was recorded for peaches, apricots, cherries and apple trees. Strawberry plantations have also suffered from frost. Prolonged lack of moisture in the soil, followed by May cold weather, can also adversely affect the fruit’s yield.
(PAP)