Frosts in Ukraine seen this week across the country could result in the loss of up to 80% of stone fruit and up to 50% of berries, Development Director at the Ukrainian Horticultural Association Kateryna Zvereva has said.
“Apricot and other stone fruit (peach, sweet cherry and even some plum varieties) bloomed earlier than usual due to warm weather in March. However, night frosts that were damaging to stone fruit flowers returned from the end of March, and the vast majority of gardeners in Ukraine still have no modern frost protection systems. In addition, the cold weather during flowering prevented the bees from pollinating the gardens, which a good harvest of stone fruit and their quality largely depends on,” she told Interfax-Ukraine.
As for berries, the Ukrainian Horticultural Association this week received several messages from Ukrainian blueberry producers at once about serious damage due to frosts at the end of last month.
“Due to the abnormally warm winter and significant warming during March, blueberries in many regions of Ukraine almost started to bloom, however, frosts struck earlier this week. The situation worsened because frosts returned again after a short warming,” Zvereva said.
