In Belgium, temperatures are climbing to around 20°C. But, not so long ago, the unexpected frost alarmed cherry growers in that country. Its impact on cherry volumes and quality will become clearer in the coming weeks. "But, let's not be dramatic," says Mieke Thoelen of the Belgian cooperative, BelOrta.
"It certainly had an effect, but it depends on so many things. What will the weather be like in the coming period? How well were the unaffected flowers pollinated? How far along were the blossoms went it frosted? Are the orchards on frost-prone plots, and what have growers done to protect them? It won't be as good as in 2019 when the trees were heavy with cherries, but the harvest could still be decent."
BelOrta's cherry acreage covers about 240 hectares. According to Mieke, it is still too early to give a definitive answer about what the cherry crop will look like. "In a few weeks, we'll have a good idea of how things stand. What's clear, however, is that the anti-frost strategies, like covering the trees and using braziers, have worked."
In Belgian cherry cultivation, very few growers are able to irrigate their blossoms. "Some early cherries have, of course, been damaged. Those are from growers in frost-prone areas who didn't take any precautions. Some growers, however, have well-established plots, and the frost did little or nothing to protect their trees. And they suffered all but minor damage. So, the damage varies considerably, and its extent remains to be seen," admits Mieke.
Michiel Vermeiren of Coöperatie Hoogstraten agrees that it is still hard to estimate how the frost has affected Belgian cherry volumes. "At present, we're not expecting it to be significant, but the Ice Saints days haven't yet passed. So, there could still be more frost. For now, however, it's mainly the early varieties that have suffered."
"Those blossoms were already a little farther along. That's not the case with the late varieties. The many precautions taken mean there is currently limited damage. Therefore, with the current weather, I'm still confident about the upcoming cherry season," Michiel concludes.
For more information:
Mieke Thoelen
BelOrta
120 Mechelsesteenweg
2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 155 51 111
Email: info@belorta.be
Website: www.belorta.be
Michiel Vermeiren
Coöperatie Hoogstraten
Kluis Z.1 - 1050, 59 Loenhoutseweg
2320, Hoogstraten, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 334 00 211
Email: sales@hoogstraten.eu
Website: www.hoogstraten.eu