Peach farmers in central Alabama will likely see a longer bloom period and a smaller-than-usual crop at each harvest for peach varieties with moderate or high chill requirements.
Alabama peach growers are currently evaluating the state of their fruit crop for 2023. Seasonal temperatures play a large role in providing quantity and quality of peaches through chilling hours. An Alabama Cooperative Extension System commercial horticulture professor said chilling hours are not sufficient for optimum peach production at this point—leaving the fruit crop in some uncertainty this year.
“Central Alabama is deficient in chilling this year,” said Edgar Vinson, an Alabama Extension commercial horticulture assistant professor.
Vinson said in order for peach trees to break dormancy and produce large quantities of quality fruit, a number of chilling hours at or below 45 degrees F must be naturally applied during the cool months.
“As of Feb. 15, chill accumulation in central Alabama was approximately 772 chill hours. Well below the preferred minimum of 850,” Vinson said. “We are even further below the 982 chill hours on this day last year.”
