Climate changes increase the risk of spring frosts in sweet cherry

21 Jul 2023
1464

Frost represents an abiotic climatic factor that can harm both plants and animals. The ability to withstand frost is influenced by several variables, including the plant type, the plant health status, and the phenological phase in which the plant is during the frost event. 

In almost all temperate fruit-growing locations, spring frost poses a serious threat to productivity. As one of the first fruit varieties to begin growing in the spring, sweet cherry is particularly vulnerable to late frost, with the risk of decreased fruit yield. 

Normally, plants are able to survive during the winter season unless extremely harsh frosts occur below their frost resistance limit. The critical temperature, or fatal temperature, which results in the death of plant tissues, is used to characterise damage caused by winter and spring frost. 

Due to recent changes in the climate, it has been observed a modification in the normal seasonality of temperature, leading to a shift in plant phenology.

This study investigated the timing of the cherry tree's onset of flowering, completion of flowering, and length of flowering in the Czech Republic under various climatic circumstances. Available data were from 1924 up to 2012. The minimum air temperature and frequency of frost event occurrence were compared with the phenological data. Looking at the overall picture, it has been observed an advancement both for the beginning and the end of flowering (of 13.9 and 8.1 days, respectively). 

In addition, also the flowering period increased up to 4.1 days. It has to be noted that at higher elevations the alterations were more pronounced. The trend in the number of frost days changed negatively at the lowland station (0.3 day) and positively at the highland station (+1.2 day) during the cherry tree blossoming season.

Cherry tree blossoms are more vulnerable at higher elevations, according to the positive trend of frost-day incidence and the negative trend of minimum air temperature during cherry tree blossoming. The largest number of days with minimum air temperatures below 1.1 °C during the flowering period varied between 4 and 6 days, with lowland stations seeing a negative trend in the number of frost days and highland stations experiencing a positive trend.

To ensure a plentiful harvest, it is crucial to protect the orchards from damaging spring frosts when establishing fruit trees. One approach that researchers suggest to safeguarding fruit trees is the use of artificial fog, but there are other methods as well. Additionally, there is indirect protection provided both by the accurate choice of the most suitable cultivar and the altitude of the orchard.

According to this study, the Czech Republic's highlands are more endangered than its lowlands when it comes to cherry tree flowering. In order to further enhance risk management in fruit producing, regional studies with forecasts based on climate models that take into account changes in circulation conditions are crucial.

Source: Hájková, Lenka, Martin Možný, Veronika Oušková, Lenka Bartošová, Petra Dížková, and Zdeněk Žalud. 2023. "Increasing Risk of Spring Frost Occurrence during the Cherry Tree Flowering in Times of Climate Change" Water 15, no. 3: 497. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030497 

Melissa Venturi
University of Bologna (IT)


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Post-Chinese New Year: imports fall sharply, but quality and volume of domestic production rise

Markets

06 Mar 2024

After the Chinese New Year, imported cherries gradually disappeared from the Chinese market. The first crop of cherries produced in the Dalian greenhouses has been on the market for some time and the price has remained high, even 1-2 times more expensive than Chilean cherries.

Dutch cherries 2025: promising harvest with new varieties and high prices

Varieties

18 Jun 2025

The 2025 Dutch cherry season starts with better-performing varieties like Sweet Ariyna and Sweet Lorenz. Uneven yields for Kordia and Regina, but the European market rewards quality with high prices, driven by frost and rain in key producing countries.

In evidenza

Poland Hit by Frost: Cherry Production Down 30% in 2025/26

Markets

09 Jul 2025

Poland’s cherry output is forecast at just 115,000 tons in 2025/26, marking a 30% drop due to severe spring frosts. Early varieties were worst hit, with some orchards losing up to 90%. Imports rise sharply while domestic inventories vanish, tightening the EU market.

Digital twins for cherry trees: German research featured in Kansas (USA)

Tech management

09 Jul 2025

During the Precision Agriculture Conference in Manhattan, Kansas, German researchers unveiled For5G: a project using digital twins to monitor cherry tree growth. This technology enables accurate yield forecasting, smarter crop management and adaptation to climate-related challeng

Tag Popolari