My peach tree already has flowers but the temp tonite will be below freezing. Can it still bear fruit?

Question

Can the tree handle a mild frost and still bear fruit?

Answer 1

Check out the following website for information about critical temps for fruit at various stages of development. http://www.canr.msu.edu/vanburen/crtmptxt.htm

If it is in full bloom, you will have 10% of your fruit killed at 27 degrees F. If the temperature drops to 24 degrees F, you will get 90% kill. Remember that cold air settles in the lowest spots of the landscape so the effects of a freeze will be greatest near the ground.

Commercial growers use several methods to protect their crops in the event of a late freeze. Here are a few:

1. Wind machines - circulate the air to prevent cold pockets.
2. Smudge Pots - pots that burn oil to keep temperatures up.
3. Overhead sprinkling - water is applied and it freezes sealing off the buds at a temperature that is above the critical stage.

In the event that temps will drop below the critical stage you can keep small fires burning near the tree, or place some other source of heat below them until temps rise high enough.

Answer 2

Usually not on peach trees....they seem to be the most delicate of the fruit trees. I live in the Midwest and the peach orchards have to use salamanders and fans to keep them from freezing . Those things keep the cold air pushed up so that the blossoms don't get damaged.

Answer 3

The problem is the cold temperatures for a prolonged period of time. Some of the flowers will survive a mild frost and this thinning by mother nature will save you some thinning later but cold temperatures in the low 20's could take them all for this year ----time will tell You can break open a flower tomorrow morning and brown center means it is gone.

Answer 4

it won't yeild as much but if you want to make sure it stays okay take some old blankets or towels and wrap around it(all around but mainly at roots)this will usually help out a lot

Answer 5

water it down with hose water will freeze but not the blossoms

Answer 6

best if you get some sheets cover it up and get up early and uncover it so it doesnt freeze if possible

Answer 7

More than likely, unless you can cover them, you'll probably lose most of them.