Unseasonal frosts in early April have caused significant damage to fruit crops in multiple regions of Ukraine, with apricot orchards among the worst affected. Growers in Vinnytsia, Rivne, Kherson, and other areas are reporting widespread losses due to freezing temperatures that coincided with flowering.
In the Vinnytsia region, more than 90% of the apricot harvest has been lost, according to Serhiy Boichuk, head of the local fruit growers' association "Vinnytsiasadvynprom." While some late-flowering varieties may still produce fruit, damage to cherries, sweet cherries, apples, and pears is also expected, with preliminary estimates suggesting a 20–30% shortfall.
To mitigate the impact, some farms adopted emergency measures. In the village of Vasylivka, the agricultural company Agro-Etalon used smoke from smoldering straw bales to raise orchard temperatures and shield blossoms from frost. Anti-stress treatments were also applied to trees ahead of the cold snap.
"This is the third year in a row that we're losing most of our apricot crop to spring frosts," said Vasyl Chernii, director of the farm. He stressed the need to transition to more cold-tolerant varieties and called for scientific support in breeding and adaptation efforts.
In the Rivne region, farmers noted that while many trees had not yet entered full bloom, apricots, which were already flowering, were hit the hardest. According to local grower Andriy Kuzmych, frost and snow could delay harvest timelines and affect yields. However, snowfall also brings moisture, which may benefit crops later in the season.
In the southern Kherson region, nighttime temperatures dropped to -5.6°C. Regional agricultural official Dmytro Yunusov confirmed that the cold snap affected both small orchards and large commercial farms. A 16-hectare apricot orchard in the Beryslav district was particularly impacted during peak bloom. Despite efforts to light straw fires for protection, the severity of the frost left little chance to save the crop.
Full assessments of the damage are expected in the coming weeks as trees continue to bloom. However, many growers already anticipate significant yield reductions across various fruit categories.
Source: www.ukrinform.ua / vgoru.org / suspilne.media