By Clint Thompson
Florida specialty crop producers are feeling the sting from a frigid weekend across the state. More time is needed to determine the long-term effect from temperatures dipping into the 20s (degrees Fahrenheit) in Plant City, Florida, where there is a lot of vulnerable strawberry production.
Temperatures also dropped into the 30s further south in the Labelle/Immokalee areas, said Gene McAvoy, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) regional vegetable Extension agent IV emeritus.
“Around Immokalee and Labelle, 37 degrees was the lowest we saw. We didn’t have frost or anything like that,” McAvoy said.
South Florida growers are producing a little bit of everything this time of year, including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, herbs, cabbage and kale.
“It might slow (the crops) down a bit,” McAvoy said. “It’s unusual that we’d have four days in a row that are this cold. Usually when we get cold, it’s a day or two and then it’s back up in the 70s. Plus, it’s been real cloudy. We haven’t had a bit of sunshine in four days.”
The Florida Blueberry Growers Association advised its growers to implement protection strategies against low temperatures and strong wind chill.
Doug Phillips, UF/IFAS blueberry Extension coordinator, said it would be later in the week before he is able to gauge the impact from blueberry growers. He described the potential impact that accompany inclement weather like this past weekend.
“One concern is if it is windy during times of freezing temperatures, it can be difficult to get uniform coverage using overhead irrigation to freeze protect,” Phillips said. “Another is back-to-back nights of freeze protecting with overhead irrigation can create conditions that are favorable for botrytis infection.”
Most of Florida citrus seemed to have dodged a bullet from the cold, benefiting from cloud cover during the event. Assessments of damage to citrus in North Florida and South Georgia is still underway.
Stay tuned for more updates on impacts of the freeze to Florida crops.
