Fruit growers report isolated damage due to night frost

The frost over the past few nights has caused some damage to fruit growers in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. "Some early cherries were hit", reported Carmen Kaps, Managing Director of the Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt Fruit Growers' Association. However, there are no fears of complete losses.

No comparison with 2024

The situation cannot be compared with last year, when icy temperatures in April led to harvest losses of around 80 percent. This year, the apple trees have not yet reached the point where the frost could harm them, said Kaps.

Closed blossoms can withstand sub-zero temperatures quite well. However, if the flowers have already broken open or are completely open, they can no longer tolerate frost. This is why late frosts are a dreaded problem in fruit growing.

A number of apricot, peach and nectarine trees can be found on the Sweet Lake between Eisleben and Halle, some of which have also suffered frost damage. But even there, the situation is not dramatic. "Everyone is still quite relaxed," said Kaps.

In the growing area on the shores of Lake Suessen, the method of frost protection irrigation was used to protect the sensitive blossoms. This involves spraying the plants with water. Freezing produces so-called solidification heat, which protects the blossoms and shoots from frost damage under a layer of ice.

Weather forecast mixed

The fruit growers are now hoping for frost-free nights if possible. "That's the big worry: if there are a few warm days now and then the frost comes in again, it would be problematic," said Kaps.

According to the German Weather Service, relatively dry cold air is currently flowing into Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt from the north. This means that there could be light frost in some areas during the nights of Tuesday and Wednesday. By the end of the week, it should then become warmer overall.