peach

Early-developing varieties of peaches took a hit from recent freezing temperatures. Some parts of Alabama reached temperatures as low as 21 degrees between March 4-7. 

Depending on the area and conditions, early peach crops could be affected by this stretch of freezing weather.

Dr. Edgar Vinson, an Alabama Extension commercial horticulture specialist, said that early varieties took the biggest hit because they were further along in bud development. This was especially true in the Chilton County area.

“The more advanced a flower bud is in development, the less tolerant it is to exposure of low temperatures,” Vinson said. “The early-season peach crop was the most affected by the low temperatures because they were more advanced in flower development.”

In an unusual way, the Cullman County peach crop was somewhat less affected because fewer peaches were in full bloom. Arnold Caylor, former director of the Auburn Research Station in Cullman, who now works with local farmer Jeremy Calvert, said they still have a good potential for a peach crop and suffered less damage than expected.

Gary Gray, an Alabama Extension commercial horticulture regional agent located in central Alabama, said while varieties that were in bloom or had previously bloomed had the most damage, buds that had not yet opened mostly survived. This is what helped the crop in the Cullman area fair better even though it may have been a little colder.

“Peach trees not yet pruned were later developing than pruned trees of the same variety,” Gray said. “We see better survival on unpruned trees and varieties with higher chill requirements. These are not as advanced in their bloom development. While we’ve had significant damage in our earlier developing varieties in central Alabama, we still have potential for a good peach crop here, especially in the mid-season and later developing varieties and orchards.”

Doug Chapman, an Alabama Extension regional agent located in north Alabama, said even with the freezing temperatures, crop numbers are still fairly high.

“Overall, some of the lower chilling varieties that were at or beyond 50 percent bloom were lost,” Chapman said. “Other higher chilling varieties suffered little to no loss. We’ve still got about an 80 percent crop.”

Growers must thin or remove most of the flowers peach trees produce from the tree. This allows the trees to produce fruit of the size and eating quality that people associate with Alabama peaches. Peach growers generally allow approximately 10 percent of the original flowers or fruit to remain on a tree.

Vinson, said low temperatures, like the ones experienced, provided some natural flower thinning.

For more information about Alabama peach crops, visit Alabama Extension online at aces.edu or contact the County Extension office at 256-737-9386.