All elements of the cultivation system must be reconsidered for successful frost protection

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In recent weeks, heat records have been broken one after the other, and February has probably not been as warm as this year since human memory. Although many people are certainly happy about the early arrival of spring, milder than usual weather can cause serious problems in domestic orchards. Fruit trees typically go through a period of deep dormancy until the end of January, but after that only the low temperature holds the plant back from the start of sap circulation and bud break. Thus, the warming that occurs during this period starts the life cycle of a plant in forced dormancy. It is not a problem if the milder weather only lasts for a few days and then cools down again, but a few weeks of persistent warm weather tricks the plant and forces it to sprout. Unfortunately, according to the experience of the past years, the early warming can be interrupted by a sudden cooling in March and April, flower buds, mixed buds and flowering fruit trees are extremely sensitive to late frosts.

Hectic spring weather must be expected in almost all domestic production areas in the coming years

The question and solution of spring frost protection and, depending on the extent of the frost, the mitigation of damage basically determines the effectiveness of the cultivation of the given fruit species. According to the National Chamber of Agrarian Economy, the damage caused by spring frosts can be significantly reduced by the appropriate and thoughtful application of each element of the cultivation system, including the planning, establishment and maintenance of plantations. Careful planning is necessary when choosing fruit varieties, it is advisable to choose varieties with a longer dormant period and those that bloom as late as possible. Due to its complexity, the success of the spring frost protection of fruit orchards is an extremely complex issue, and we can usually expect adequate results by applying the applicable frost protection procedures in combination. The magnitude and duration of the frost period occurring in the given period and phenological state dictates the method of protection, the applied procedure, procedures that can even be used simultaneously in order to maximize effective protection.

Creating an orchard is a costly and long-term investment that requires professional decisions

Otherwise, the investment will not pay off, it will be unprofitable. When rethinking the rules of fruit growing in Hungary, the role of the state is essential to ensure and control professionalism. This endeavor is also supported by the soon-to-be-published tender for planting plantations. The goal is that the producers can supply the domestic population with good quality, adequate quantities of healthy domestic fruit every year, so that the country needs as few imports as possible.

NAK