peach tree blooms and frosts
 

i'm not a fruit tree grower.

a friend asked me if a peach tree is
in bloom how long it would take for it
to pollinate (assuming bees are around,
etc.) and if a frost would destroy the
developing fruit.

me guessing figures that if the flower
gets pollinated then the petals of the
bloom don't matter nearly as much as the
central part of the flower that carries
the pollen tubes down to the ovaries. a
light frost might damage the flower petals
but might not do that much to a more hardy
structure.

so what do you fruit experts think? or
what have your experiences been with peach
trees and frosts during bloom?

of course i told her that she could
protect the tree by covering it or putting
a smudge pot by it, etc. it isn't so large
a tree that it could not be somewhat
protected.


songbird

peach tree blooms and frosts
 

Peaches are a lot more susceptible to frost damage while the petals are
still attached. Once they have fallen the ovary is protected by the shuck
until the ovary swells enough to split the shuck. Temps can go to the high
twenties for several hours with no real damage while the shuck protects the
ovary. The petals seem to provide a pathway for frost to damage the ovary.
Breezy conditions are your friend as long as the temps don't drop to low.
HTH,
Steve

"songbird" wrote in message
...
i'm not a fruit tree grower.

a friend asked me if a peach tree is
in bloom how long it would take for it
to pollinate (assuming bees are around,
etc.) and if a frost would destroy the
developing fruit.

me guessing figures that if the flower
gets pollinated then the petals of the
bloom don't matter nearly as much as the
central part of the flower that carries
the pollen tubes down to the ovaries. a
light frost might damage the flower petals
but might not do that much to a more hardy
structure.

so what do you fruit experts think? or
what have your experiences been with peach
trees and frosts during bloom?

of course i told her that she could
protect the tree by covering it or putting
a smudge pot by it, etc. it isn't so large
a tree that it could not be somewhat
protected.


songbird

peach tree blooms and frosts
 

Steve Peek wrote:

Peaches are a lot more susceptible to frost damage while the petals are
still attached. Once they have fallen the ovary is protected by the shuck
until the ovary swells enough to split the shuck. Temps can go to the high
twenties for several hours with no real damage while the shuck protects the
ovary. The petals seem to provide a pathway for frost to damage the ovary.
Breezy conditions are your friend as long as the temps don't drop to low.
HTH,

thanks,

forecast for tonight is 31F and windy, so i
think they'll be ok. will see tree owner
tomorrow. tomorrow's evening forecast is for
27F and not as breezy, so they'll probably
want to protect the tree.


songbird

peach tree blooms and frosts
 

songbird wrote:
i'm not a fruit tree grower.

a friend asked me if a peach tree is
in bloom how long it would take for it
to pollinate (assuming bees are around,
etc.) and if a frost would destroy the
developing fruit.

me guessing figures that if the flower
gets pollinated then the petals of the
bloom don't matter nearly as much as the
central part of the flower that carries
the pollen tubes down to the ovaries. a
light frost might damage the flower petals
but might not do that much to a more hardy
structure.


A light frost would probably be OK at this point.

so what do you fruit experts think? or
what have your experiences been with peach
trees and frosts during bloom?


I am not an expert. I have three peach trees that bear at different times
but luckily so far they have not had the false spring and subsequent hard
frost that interferes with fruit setting. The early one has survived light
frosts and set fruit OK.

of course i told her that she could
protect the tree by covering it or putting
a smudge pot by it, etc. it isn't so large
a tree that it could not be somewhat
protected.



With one tree you could easily cover it if frosty conditions were likely and
uncover it the next day without this becoming too tiresome. I would favour
this to reduce radiative heat loss. As the blooms are well up off the ground
a katabatic flow would be less likely to freeze them.

David

peach tree blooms and frosts
 

David Hare-Scott wrote:
songbird wrote:
....
me guessing figures that if the flower
gets pollinated then the petals of the
bloom don't matter nearly as much as the
central part of the flower that carries
the pollen tubes down to the ovaries. a
light frost might damage the flower petals
but might not do that much to a more hardy
structure.


A light frost would probably be OK at this point.

i'm hoping so for tonight.


so what do you fruit experts think? or
what have your experiences been with peach
trees and frosts during bloom?


I am not an expert. I have three peach trees that bear at different times
but luckily so far they have not had the false spring and subsequent hard
frost that interferes with fruit setting. The early one has survived light
frosts and set fruit OK.

good to know.


of course i told her that she could
protect the tree by covering it or putting
a smudge pot by it, etc. it isn't so large
a tree that it could not be somewhat
protected.

With one tree you could easily cover it if frosty conditions were likely and
uncover it the next day without this becoming too tiresome. I would favour
this to reduce radiative heat loss. As the blooms are well up off the ground
a katabatic flow would be less likely to freeze them.

David

thanks David,

this is a smaller tree so the blooms are not
quite as high up as a full sized tree, but that
will make it easier to cover.


songbird

peach tree blooms and frosts
 

On Mar 25, 8:59*pm, songbird wrote:
* i'm not a fruit tree grower.

* a friend asked me if a peach tree is
in bloom how long it would take for it
to pollinate (assuming bees are around,
etc.) and if a frost would destroy the
developing fruit.

* me guessing figures that if the flower
gets pollinated then the petals of the
bloom don't matter nearly as much as the
central part of the flower that carries
the pollen tubes down to the ovaries. *a
light frost might damage the flower petals
but might not do that much to a more hardy
structure.

* so what do you fruit experts think? *or
what have your experiences been with peach
trees and frosts during bloom?

* of course i told her that she could
protect the tree by covering it or putting
a smudge pot by it, etc. *it isn't so large
a tree that it could not be somewhat
protected.

* songbird

I had a few peach trees years ago and maybe every 5 years or so crop
would be greatly diminished due to too warm weather in February
causing blooming when a lot of hard frosts would follow. The light
frosts were not a problem as frost free date here is May 15.

peach tree blooms and frosts
 

Frank wrote:
....
I had a few peach trees years ago and maybe every 5 years or so crop
would be greatly diminished due to too warm weather in February
causing blooming when a lot of hard frosts would follow. The light
frosts were not a problem as frost free date here is May 15.

tonight is forecast down to 25F. she will
cover the tree. we hope that will be enough.


songbird

peach tree blooms and frosts
 

DO NOT cover the tree with plastic sheeting!!! Use some form of cloth. The
plastic sheeting will intensify the cold transfer to the tree.

"songbird" wrote in message
...
Frank wrote:
...
I had a few peach trees years ago and maybe every 5 years or so crop
would be greatly diminished due to too warm weather in February
causing blooming when a lot of hard frosts would follow. The light
frosts were not a problem as frost free date here is May 15.

tonight is forecast down to 25F. she will
cover the tree. we hope that will be enough.


songbird

peach tree blooms and frosts
 

Steve Peek wrote:

DO NOT cover the tree with plastic sheeting!!! Use some form of cloth. The
plastic sheeting will intensify the cold transfer to the tree.

the plan was to use an old sheet. i'm not sure
if that was what they actually ended up using or
not. i am not near them to check and it's too
late to call. we'll see...


songbird