By Clint Thompson
Lingering drought conditions in Alabama are impacting fruit crops in central Alabama. David Lawrence, regional Extension agent, said the prolonged dry spell and warm temperatures are impacting his growers’ peach trees and strawberry plants.
“Where I am peaches and strawberries are the main thing. Peaches have already set their buds. They set those in the late summer. The thing right now is we don’t want them to go dormant stressed. There are a few guys that have irrigation already set up in their fields. Most of them have chosen not to irrigate even though they already have it set up. They think they’re fine and are ready for them to go to sleep and go dormant,” Lawrence said. “We’ve been 80 degrees and haven’t had a break in the weather yet. We haven’t collected any chill hours up to this point. It’s still early, but that’s one thing we have to think about is how many chill hours we’re going to get.
“The drought is really good for our strawberries actually. We don’t have too much wetness on the leaves. Strawberry disease has been a big issue for us so far this year. The drier we can keep those plants, hopefully the happier they will be.”
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Lawrence’s counties in central Alabama are moderately dry.