March 16 2016, 11:27 Fruit-Inform

Ukrainian stonefruit orchards' future to be shaped in a nearest week

The Ukrainian fruit market participants again say of possible losses of stonefruit crops, according to Fruit-Inform.

Weather conditions are one of the main factors to shape future of stonefruit orchards in spring. As we have already informed, abnormally high temperature registered in several countries in February-March has provoked early blossoming of stonefruit trees, while an expected cold spell may be a major threat to those crops. Similar phenomenon was observed in the southern regions of Ukraine and Russia in the beginning of last year. Sharp drops in temperature in January 2015 and a cold spell in March and April resulted in significant losses of stonefruit crops in the southern regions of Ukraine. According to growers' estimations, some farms lost up to 90% of their crops.

There have been no reports of early blossoming of stonefruit trees in Ukrainian orchards yet. However, growers say that it is too early to calm down. «Trees are still at rest. However, everything will depend on the situation in the nearest week. If vegetation starts, and temperature reaches critical three degrees below zero, then we will have to worry», says a grower from Kherson Oblast.