Upstate Peach Trees Suffered Only Minimal Damage During Recent Cold Snap, According To Clemson University Pomolgist

(Seneca, SC)————-Researchers from Clemson University say that South Carolina peaches appear to have survived the recent cold snap that we have experienced, but growers are advised to continue to be on guard. 

Juan Carlos Melgar, who is a Clemson pomologist, said that Upstate trees appeared to only suffer minimal damage due to the fact that Upstate trees normally bloom later and even though some flowers may be starting to open, there are only a few flowers open.  A peach tree can produce around 4,000 flowers only 10% of those flowers are needed for a full crop.  Melgar says that the cold snap can can help you with thinning since removing some of the little fruit already there is actually good so that other fruit can gain proper size and weight.  Melgar said that because of the cold snap, it may help farmers have to do less thinning later. 

Melgar said that there was only spotted damage in the Ridge area, which is Edgefield, Saluda and Lexington counties. Those counties are actually South Carolina’s predominant peach-growing area.

The Clemson Peach Team and Cooperative Extension Service agents met this week to discuss the impact the recent freeze may have had on the state’s peaches.