Frost has hit orchards in Bohemia. The damage to the crop will be extensive, fruit growers report

According to Ludvek, more details about the fruits will be released on Thursday at a briefing with Minister of Agriculture Marko Vborn (KDU-SL) in the orchards in Daminvsi near Mlnek. The Ministry of Agriculture stated that the briefing will also be prepared to help fruit growers.

The first frosts hit the family on the night of Thursday, April 18. Since then, they have lasted and have the character of strong all-night frosts. The frost wave is not over. Another threat is also Moravia, where frosts are expected at night, said Ludvk. According to him, the most important negative circumstance is that the vegetation is accelerated by three weeks compared to the usual state. The frosts withered all fruit species, including the main type of apple.

In Europe, the frost affected orchards in Poland, Germany, Austria, Austria, the north of France and the Benelux. The fall in Poland, which is the largest supplier of apples, grapes and peaches in Europe, will have a major impact on the fruit market, said Ludvk.

In the last years, spring frosts hit the fruit quite often in R. fruit trees suffered mainly from frosts in 2019, 2017, 2016 and 2011. The May frosts in 2011, when 10,500 hectares of orchards were damaged, were unusual. The fruit harvest then fell to just 101,249 tons and was among the lowest harvests in the last 50 years.

Last year, the frosts significantly damaged apricot and peach plantings, the total fruit harvest last year was below average at 121,946 tons.

Fruit growers can try to protect their orchards from frost with fire candles, covering them with straw and straw, using anti-freeze blankets, blowing air with fans. They delay it in about five and ten percent of the sets.

However, if the frosts are severe and last for many days like this year, the defense is very expensive and so expensive that it makes no economic sense. For example, heating a one-hectare orchard by two degrees with paraffin candles for the whole night will cost about 50,000 crowns.