The cold snap expected in the first half of January in Moldova was not that strong and long. However, there are still risks for Moldovan fruit growers. Meteorologists forecast a sharp warming next week – up to +13° C in the daytime. According to EastFruit, this poses a threat to heat-loving fruit crops, as their dormancy may break, and winter hardiness may decrease.
Even now, when nighttime temperatures drop below zero, the results of a study of walnut orchards inspire fear among farmers. Sap flow in plants has started on some nut plantations in the central and southern zone of the country. If the thaw period lasts more than a week, orchards will begin to intensively use nutrient reserves and become very vulnerable to February and spring frosts.
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Perhaps, the January thaw poses an even greater risk for almond plantations in the south of Moldova. The almond crop has a very short period of biological dormancy even under normal weather conditions – up to 30 days after all the leaves have fallen off. After that, even a short warm period can provoke a new wave of vegetation and flowering. Of course, there is no frost resistance then.
Thus, fruit growers consider a slight change in the current temperature to be the best outcome: a slight plus temperature during the day, and a slight minus temperature at night.
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