Types of frost

Spring frost is the most observed and reported in agriculture. It is common in temperate countries and damages deciduous crops like vineyards, apples, cherries, kiwi, and blueberries.

These crops are naturally adapted to cold winters and can withstand subzero temperatures for long periods of time. The dosage of cold is required so that they shed their leaves in winter and go into dormancy. Once they bloom and leaf out, they gradually become vulnerable to frost. The farther away they are from dormancy and deeper into spring, the more sensitive they become to frost, and the heavier the damage. In recent years, due to climate change, frosts can occur even during the month of May (Northern Hemisphere), where in many places the crops are well on their way towards summer, leaving them totally unprepared and ill-equipped.

 

Winter frost: Tropical and subtropical crops also require frost protection. Crops like avocado, litchi, mango, berries, citrus, etc. are being cultivated outside their natural habitat. These crops are all evergreen and are not equipped to deal with subzero temperatures. Furthermore, in recent years, countries with relatively warm climates have experienced extreme frosts during winter. One night or even less of exposure to subzero temperatures for these tropical and subtropical crops can mean total destruction. Unlike deciduous crops where frost damages the annual production, in evergreen trees, the frost damage can impact multiple years and even lead to total loss.

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