Ice 'cocoons' help protect fruit

Photo by Liam Cavanagh
Photo by Liam Cavanagh

Growers say frost-fighting has begun on Central Otago orchards, but it is too soon to say how the season is shaping up.

In Teviot Valley, Earnscleugh and Cromwell orchards, apricot trees are the first in bloom.

Earnscleugh orchardist Harry Roberts said workers were up early yesterday frost-fighting after temperatures dropped to -6degC.

Spraying water over the trees as they were blossoming ''cocooned'' the forming fruit in ice and created a layer of air around it to protect it, he said.

''There's quite a science to it.''

However, it was still ''early days'' and Mr Roberts would not know until next month what the season would bring.

Roxburgh fruit grower Stephen Jeffery said frost-fighting had started in the Teviot Valley, and they were on track despite the ''pretty average'' weather.

Summerfruit New Zealand chairman and Teviot Orchard grower Gary Bennetts said it had been a colder spring than last year, when a warmer winter resulted in early blossom.

Mr Roberts said various methods were used for frost-fighting,including windmills, helicopters, water spraying, and wood burners, to protect fruit blossom.

Alarms sounded when the temperature dropped, signalling the need for frost-fighting.

It was not failsafe, especially when there was a ''real cold bugger'' which could still take the fruit out.

''Fruit growers are eternal optimists, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way.''

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