This past week has produced some extreme weather. On Monday and Tuesday nights it was extremely cold for many trees and plants. Many orchards in the Northeast Region have experienced cold injury and some complete kills of fruit buds. What does this mean? From what I’ve been hearing up-state New York may not have a peach crop at all. The buds were too far along to withstand the freezing temperatures, so the fruit buds die. Apples have better cold tolerance, so hopefully it won’t be a complete loss.
How have these cold temperatures affected us here at The Milk Pail? Our apple buds are mostly at “silver tip” with only a few at “green tip.” The peaches are a little farther along. They are just about ready to bloom. Considering we didn’t have any flowers present during these cold temperatures we will sustain less damage. I feel very fortunate about that, and feel very badly for our fellow growers in the Northeast. My heart aches for those growers who work so hard to then lose part or all of a crop to a simple act of Mother Nature. But we as farmers know that Mother Nature is not one to contend with. It is part of our life and business, and it’s what we have to learn to accept as difficult as that can be sometimes.
So, why are our buds here at The Milk Pail not as far along as others in the Northeast? Well, we typically take longer to warm up out here on the East End of Long Island. The Atlantic Ocean takes time to warm up, so here at the farm when the South West breeze is blowing it remains quite chilly. We often feel as though we may be the latest blooming orchard in New York. We are not accumulating degree days (a measurement of the accumulation of warm weather which begins to collect after the average temperature reaches 50 F) as fast as even those growers on the North Fork of Long Island. We have our own mini microclimate here in Mecox. So, thanks to the Atlantic Ocean and the Long Island Sound for protecting us this time.
Over the next few weeks we will begin to know how much damage was sustained in the Northeast. There isn’t anything that can be done except to move forward, wait until next year to begin again, and hope the weather is a little more cooperative.