Fruit Bud Damage from Cold Temperatures

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Fruit growers often wonder at what temperature fruit buds are killed.  Many of our peaches and some of the apricots had buds killed by the extreme cold we had on December 18 (-10 degrees in Manhattan).  The trees were not hurt but there was no bloom this spring.

The following will give you some guidelines but remember that the actual damage is going to be influenced by the weather before the temperature drops. An extended warm spell before the cold snap may result in more damage due to a loss in cold hardiness. (Ward Upham)

Apple
Stage               10% Kill (°F)               90% Kill (°F) 
Silver tip                15                                          2
Green tip                18                                        10
Half-inch green     23                                        15
Tight cluster           27                                       21
Pink                         28                                       25
Bloom                     28                                        25
Petal fall                 28                                       25
Fruit set                  28                                       25

Pear
Stage                10% Kill (°F)               90% Kill (°F) 
Swollen bud            15                                        1
Bud burst                20                                        7
Green cluster          26                                       15
White bud                26                                      22
Bloom                      28                                       23
Petal fall                  28                                      24
Fruit set                   28                                      24

Peach
Stage                10% Kill (°F)               90% Kill (°F) 
Swollen bud              18                                    2
Half-inch green         23                                  5
Pink                             25                                  18
Bloom                         27                                  24
Petal fall                    28                                   25
Fruit set                     28                                   25

Tart Cherry
Stage                10% Kill (°F)               90% Kill (°F) 
Bud burst                17                                        5
Green tip                 25                                      14
Tight cluster           26                                      17
Swollen bud            27                                      24
Bloom                     28                                        25
Petal fall                 28                                        25
Fruit set                  28                                       25

Plum and Prune
Stage                10% Kill (°F)               90% Kill (°F) 
Swollen bud            14                                  1
Bud burst                18                                  3
Green cluster          26                                16
White bud               26                                21
Bloom                      27                                23
Petal fall                 28                                 23
Fruit set                   28                                25

Apricot
Stage                10% Kill (°F)               90% Kill (°F) 
First white              2                              14
First Bloom            25                            19
Full Bloom             27                            22
In the Shuck           27                            24
Green Fruit            28                            25

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