South Carolina peach farmers pleased at cold forecast
"Any time the temperatures are between 32 and 45, peach trees are happy," said Jeff Hopkins, manager of Clemson University's Musser Fruit Research Farm. "If we can get 100 chill hours in the next week to 10 days, which the (computer weather) models are showing we might have, most of our varieties would be in good shape."
Trees at the farm near Seneca have enjoyed about 650 chill hours since measurements began Oct. 15. Most varieties grown commercially in South Carolina need about 850-900 hours. Some trees need more than 1,000.
"We had a slow start, but we're looking fine, especially if we can get 100 hours in the next week or so," Hopkins said. "If we hadn't had the long cold snap in early January, we'd be in trouble."
The lack of chill hours threatens South Carolina's most valuable crop. The peach business is worth $90 million in the state, which in most years in second in the nation only to California in peach production.
Brett Edelen, owner and operator of Berry Acres farm in Anderson, fears that his late-season varieties, which typically need more chill hours, will be hurt by the mild winter.
"It's definitely not been cold enough for the later varieties, which is the kind we have," Edelen said Friday. "We grow mostly Redglobe and O'Hara, and they need cold nights at this time of year."
source: independentmail.com
