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LITTLE ROCK (AP) —Freezing temperatures Tuesday morning were not as bad as the night before, so north Arkansas fruit growers had only limited damage, especially when compared to an April freeze a year ago.
Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service horticulturist Jim Robbins said the cool temperatures this spring kept plants from developing, so they were better able to endure the freeze. Last year's freeze was preceded by weeks of warm, dry weather, so plants were further along when the temperatures dropped. That freeze wiped out much of the state's fruit crop, killing peach buds and even destroying blueberries, which generally tolerate the cold. "This is different from last year," Robbins said. Ornamental plants, unless they just came from a greenhouse or a warm climate, should be fine in most parts of the state, he said. University of Arkansas Professor John Clark, a fruit specialist, said growers for the most part should not be harmed, though temperatures were in the 20s in parts of north Arkansas. "Generally, our most dangerous time was Sunday night and not Monday. We thought that on Sunday night, we probably had potentially some damage in the northwest part of the state on peaches and apples. I thought blueberries probably would be OK, and still do," Clark said. Peach growers don't have to worry unless virtually all their blossoms are ruined. "Those that suffered some damage, if they lost half their flowers, then they still have plenty. I believe that will be what we'll have in some places, but some places probably have full crops," Clark said. Clark said some growers likely had trouble from the freeze, but the scale would not approach the widespread devastation of last year. The forecast from the National Weather Service was for mild temperatures. "We're going to be warming up — we already are," National Weather Service forecaster Joe Goudsward said. "Southerly winds have returned."
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