Orchard Frost - Critical Temperatures for Various Fruits
Examples of stages of fruit bud development: top left - apple tight cluster; top right - apple first bloom; lower left - sweet cherry first white; lower right - peach pink.
As flowers begin to swell and expand into blossoms, they become less resistant to freeze injury. Not all blossoms on a tree are equally tender. Resistance to freeze injury varies within trees as it does between orchards, cultivars, and crops. Buds that develop slowly tend to be more resistant. As a result, some buds are usually killed at higher temperatures, while others are resistant at much lower temperatures.
The table below shows the average temperatures required to kill 10 percent and 90 percent of buds if they are exposed for 30 minutes. Consideration should also be given to weather conditions preceding cold nights. Prolonged cool weather tends to increase bud hardiness during the early stages of bud development.
| Stage of Development | 10% kill (°F) | 90% kill (°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Applesa | ||
| Silver tip | 15 | 2 |
| Green tip | 18 | 10 |
| ½-inch green | 23 | 15 |
| Tight cluster | 27 | 21 |
| First pink | 28 | 24 |
| Full pink | 28 | 25 |
| First bloom | 28 | 25 |
| Full bloom | 28 | 25 |
| Post bloom | 28 | 25 |
| Peaches | ||
| First swelling | 18 | 1 |
| Calyx green | 21 | 5 |
| Calyx red | 23 | 9 |
| First pink | 25 | 15 |
| First bloom | 26 | 21 |
| Full bloom | 27 | 24 |
| Post bloom | 28 | 25 |
| Pearsb | ||
| Scales separating | 15 | 0 |
| Blossom buds exposed | 20 | 6 |
| Tight cluster | 24 | 15 |
| First white | 25 | 19 |
| Full white | 26 | 22 |
| First bloom | 27 | 23 |
| Full bloom | 28 | 24 |
| Post bloom | 28 | 24 |
| Sweet cherries | ||
| First swelling | 17 | 5 |
| Side green | 22 | 9 |
| Green tip | 25 | 14 |
| Tight cluster | 26 | 17 |
| Open cluster | 27 | 21 |
| First white | 27 | 24 |
| First bloom | 28 | 25 |
| Full bloom | 28 | 25 |
| Post bloom | 28 | 25 |
| Apricots | ||
| First swelling | 15 | - |
| Tip separates | 20 | 0 |
| Red calyx | 22 | 9 |
| First white | 24 | 14 |
| First bloom | 25 | 19 |
| Full bloom | 27 | 22 |
| In the shuck | 27 | 24 |
| Green fruit | 28 | 25 |
Adapted from 1989 Spray Guide for Tree Fruits in Eastern Washington. Bulletin EBO419. E. H. Beers, coordinator.
aFor Red Delicious. Golden Delicious and Winesap are approximately 1 degree hardier. Rome Beauty is 2 degrees hardier, except after petal fall when all cultivars are equally tender.
bFor Bartlett. D'Anjou is similar but may bloom earlier and therefore may be more tender than Bartlett at the same date.
For additional information, please refer to the Penn State Extension Tree Fruit Production Guide.
