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by Amanda McWhirt - February 25, 2021
Artic air entered Arkansas during the week of February 14th, 2021. These abnormally cold temperatures have the potential to damage fruit crops and reduce their potential to produce fruit this coming spring and summer.
Amanda McWhirt, Horticulture Specialist
Ryan Neal, County Agent Benton County
Clyde Fenton, County Agent Sebastian County
Herb Ginn, County Agent Crawford County
Dave Freeze, County Agent Greene County
Sherrie Sanders, County Agent White County
Jesse Taylor, County Agent Franklin County
Austin Haines, Southwest REC
Artic air entered Arkansas during the week of February 14th, 2021. Low temperatures on Feb 16th reached 20-40° F below normal average temperatures for this time of year across the state.
Location
Recorded Low Temperature* on Feb 16th 2021
Fayetteville
-20 to -10 ° F
Harrison
-6 ° F
Clarksville
-6 to -15 ° F
Little Rock
-2° F
Paragould
-3 ° F
Hope
-7° F
Pine Bluff
0 ° F
*Data from NOAA weather stations and local weather stations
These abnormally cold temperatures have the potential to damage fruit crops and reduce their potential to produce fruit this coming spring and summer.
There are a few things that are unique about this cold event:
It is fortunate that most crops were still dormant, because at dormancy most plants have the most cold hardiness. However, the extreme low temperatures we experienced were much below the tolerance ranges for several fruit crops that are grown in Arkansas.
For example at dormancy:
However, some buds had started to swell on some blueberries, peaches and blackberries and once buds are at this stage of development they are damaged in the 10s to 20s° F. See here for a chart on cold temperature injury to fruit crops at major developmental stages.
Peach buds with cold injury, Photo: Amanda McWhirt
In an effort to assess cold injury following this event we went out over the last week and assessed buds, canes and stems for symptoms of cold injury in several locations in the state. Common symptoms of cold injury are dark spots in the center of buds and darkening of the vascular tissue in the canes and stems.
Example: Blackberry buds with cold injury, photo: Amanda McWhirt
Blackberry cane injury, Photo: Dave Freeze
Blackberry cane not showing injury, Photo: Dave Freeze
Freeze injury to strawberry leaves, Photo: Amanda McWhirt
Strawberry crown without injury, Photo: Dave Freeze
Strawberry crown showing minor cold injury to some parts of the top of the crown (minor darkening/browning) Photo: Amanda McWhirt
Blueberry bud with injury, photo: Amanda McWhirt
Grape cane that is still green, showing no damage. Photo: Amanda McWhirt
Take home messages:
What to watch for in the coming weeks:
The full extent of the cold damage will not be known for several weeks. Possible symptoms of cold injury can include:
Follow up: What should I do if my crop has been damaged by frost?