By: James Morgan
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The uncharacteristically low temperatures this February may not have damaged local fruit crops as much as anticipated.
Though some fruits sustained damage in the consistent sub-zero temperatures, most strawberries survived the cold snap.
“Strawberries were again lucky because they’re low to the ground,” Amanda McWhirt, Assistant Professor in the UARK Horticulture Department said. “We put row covers over them, and there was snow on top of them. That snow really provided a lot of insulation.”
Fayetteville strawberry grower Dennis McGarrah says his strawberry crop is looking the best it has ever been, despite the unprecedented temperatures.
“We believe we’re going to have as good of a crop or better than we’ve ever had,” McGarrah said.
But McGarrah is concerned that the low temperatures this week may damage the already bloomed strawberries. Temperatures last night reached as low as 27 degrees in parts of Fayetteville, and tonight’s temperatures are forecasted to drop below freezing again.
Both McGarrah and McWhirt are worried that these temperatures could damage strawberries that are further developed.
“An open bloom is damaged right around 31 degrees Fahrenheit or below,” McWhirt said.
McWhirt also said the damage from the February cold weather may be more severe with other fruits.
“We did see some damage particularly on peaches,” McWhirt said. “Depending on the location in the state, we see that the plants are leafing out, but they’re not flowering.”
The damage is less severe on other fruits like blueberries and blackberries, but few fruits survived the severe cold event better than strawberries.
“The strawberry crop looks excellent right now,” McGarrah said.
McGarrah’s strawberries will start producing at the end of April if they survive this week’s freezing temperatures.