Prepared by Gary Gao, Ph.D., Professor and Small Fruit Specialist, The Ohio State University

Fruit crops are in various developmental stages across the state and could be faced with some cold temperatures the week of April 7. Temperatures in low to mid 20s have a potential of damaging some fruit crops depending on where they are in terms of their developmental stages. Growers use diverse ways to mitigate these risks. Some are more effective than others if they are effective at all. Here are some resources to check out with advice for protecting your plants:

OSU Extension Bulletins:

Midwest Home Fruit Production Guide: https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/midwest-home-fruit-production-guide/

Midwest Grape Production Guide: https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/midwest-grape-production-guide/

Midwest Strawberry Production Guide: https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/midwest-strawberry-production-guide/

Tree Fruit:

Tree Fruit Critical Temperatures – MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/fruit/uploads/files/PictureTableofFruitFreezeDamageThresholds.pdf

Small Fruit:

Critical Temperatures for Blueberries – MSU: https://www.canr.msu.edu/blueberries/weather/critical-spring-temperatures

Critical Temperatures for Grape – MSU: https://www.canr.msu.edu/grapes/weather_climate/how-cold-can-grapes-go

Frost and Freeze Damage on Berry Crops – Penn State: https://extension.psu.edu/frost-and-freeze-damage-on-berry-crops

Critical temperatures for berry crops – Cornell: https://blogs.cornell.edu/berries/2024/03/21/critical-temperatures-for-berry-crops/