Canadian orchardists worried after -21 C freeze
“The one good thing about the weather we’re having now is that at least there’s some snow on the ground,” said Fred Steele, president of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association.
“That acts like insulation for the trees’ root systems, keeping them a bit warmer,” Steele said. “If we had these temperatures without the snow in the fields, we could be in a bit of trouble.”
“You generally have to wait until the sap starts running in the spring to see how the trees came through the winter,” he said. “You have to be optimistic, because there’s no other way to be in farming.”
Commonly planted apple varieties, such as Spartan and Red Delicious, are considered hardy to about -28 C. Others, such as Honeycrisp, can withstand temperatures of -34 C.
source: kelownadailycourier.ca
