According to his summarized feedback from berry farmers, April frosts damaged 20-40% of generative organs of plants in about 50% of all raspberry plantations in the country (varieties Glen Ample, Przehyba, Novosti Kuzmin, Bulgarian Rubin). Bilberry was affected to about the same extent. Plantations of black and red currants and American blueberries were damaged less – 20-30% (Canadian blueberries were frozen more severely – losses up to 70%).
The extent of damage to strawberry plantations is up to 40%. Extra-early (Clery, Guisy), early (Alba) and some remontant (Albion, Murano) varieties suffered the most. In the regional context, the greatest losses are observed in berry varieties of the north and south of the country.
Estimates of the level of frost damage to open ground berry plantations were given above. Protected berry plantations (greenhouses and covered with agrotextiles) were significantly less affected – losses did not exceed 10-15%. The expert considers the conversion of berry plantations into protected format as the best option to reduce production risks in the process of climate transformation.
