By Clint Thompson
Increased cold temperatures in recent weeks have meant increased chill hours for Alabama’s peach producers.
Edgar Vinson, assistant research professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, provided an update on how much chill hours have been accumulated, especially amid the current winter storm impacting the Southeast.
“It depends on what model you’re looking at. Like if we’re looking at the modified chill hour model, we are actually ahead where we were at this time last year,” Vinson said. “We’re just a little bit behind if we look at the old chill hour model. We’re tracking about where we were last year, which turned out to be pretty good.”
Peaches need chill hours to mature. The required chill hours depend on the specific variety growers choose to plant. Some may require as little as 500 chill hours, while others may need as many 800. Chill hours will be recorded until about Feb. 14.
However, there is such a thing as being too cold. If temperatures drop below freezing, which has been the case this week, chill hours will not be recorded.
“In the way of actual chill hour accumulation, if you look at the modified chill hour, anything below 32 degrees (Fahrenheit), you won’t actually accumulate any chill. We won’t lose any, but we won’t accumulate any,” Vinson said. “We still should see plenty of opportunity to accumulate some chilling.
“Most people when they think of chill hours, they do think of 45 (degrees) and below. But we do know there’s not much going on below 32.”