The average temperature for winter, in this case from December 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023, was the fourth warmest on record, with an average temperature of 30 degrees Fahrenheit. So what does that mean for apples and grapes? Associate Professor Jason Londo focuses on fruit crop physiology at Cornell University acknowledges that mild winter temperatures can cause damage to crops, but it doesn’t seem to be a major risk for this year’s crop.
“Our research suggests that there might be slight damage to some of the more sensitive vinifera or varieties of grapes,” Londo said. “But not to the level of damage that growers would not be able to adjust with pruning techniques.”
Despite all the changes in temperatures this winter, Londo said that growers should not panic. “It’s been a very weird year, we don’t have anything to worry about yet, we just need to be cautious and keep our eyes on the coming weather,” he said.
Source: wbng.com