Mild winter conditions promising for local fruit growers

The warm temperatures in Vernon and the Okanagan Valley this fall and winter so far has been positive for the local fruit industry.

Speaking with Vernon Matters, Glen Lucas, General Manager of the B.C. Fruit Growers Association, said this winter has not seen the mercury drop to the minus 20 mark like it did the year prior, which has been beneficial for the trees.

“That sudden cold turn at the start of [winter] just as apples or cherries are going into dormancy, can really harm the trees and certainly harm the buds that are developing or are going to come out the following year,” Lucas explained.

“This year we don’t have that concern. It’s mild, the trees have gone dormant gradually, so we haven’t had that deep cold snap right at the start of the winter.”

He noted the fruit growing season was extended a bit this year, but ended in late-November when the temperature dropped below the zero mark and froze the apples, which spoiled while thawing out.

Lucas said the soil moisture levels as of time of publication were fine, but they were in a sort of “holding pattern” and would like to see more precipitation.

“It’s a little drier than we would like it and if the soil gets too dry and there’s a sudden cold snap, because there’s no moisture there to moderate the cold it can damage roots,

“It’s not as bad as it could be for the soil dryness, but it could be better too. We’re anxious a little bit that there not be a sudden cold snap, but it doesn’t look like there’s anything in the forecast, it looks like it will continue to be a warmer winter.”

Though the trees are well and dormant currently, there is some concern about a warm spring that typically comes with an El Nino system coupled with the lack of snowpack in the region that could melt before the irrigation season starts.

“That’s a concern for us, to be able to count on that irrigation water being there when we need it,” Lucas told Vernon Matters.

“We’ve certainly heard low reservoir levels are a concern and we’re really hoping that El Nino brings more rain and snow to that upper plateau so it refills our reservoirs.”

The mild weather this winter has also allowed growers in the Okanagan to have some additional time to tidy up their properties and prepare for next season.

“If it was really cold like it did last year then it gets too cold to work outside, but this year it’s good,” Lucas told Vernon Matters.

“So I think pruning is getting caught up, and just preparing for next season. Getting cleaned up and getting things in order for when the season starts. So this mild weather is helping people to keep up and get ahead of next season.”

Looking ahead to next growing season, Lucas said last year’s drought remains in the back the mind of growers but was confident the reservoirs could carry them through a few dry years if needed, adding the early spring also usually sees some snow in the upper elevations that could help with irrigation.