This winters chill has been fruitful

This year’s El Nino pattern has brought abundant cool and damp conditions which will make for better fruit come this spring.

This winter has had more chilling hours compared to last season across most north Florida growing areas. A chilling hour is when the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The accumulation of chilling hours per season results in flowers and, consequently, more fruit for certain species of plants and trees.

The cold sends vegetation into dormancy and the outcome ultimately leads to higher-quality fruit with improved size, flavor, and texture.

Going into the end of February and March we will see fewer cooler nights. The average low temperatures increase above 45 degrees after February 11 in Jacksonville.

This season Baker County accumulated 484 hours compared to 421 hours last year. While it has been colder in north Florida and southern Georgia some areas closer to the coast like Elkton, FL have had 33 fewer chilling hours in 2024.

Not all plants need the same number of chilling hours; it can be anywhere from a hundred to more than a thousand. Some deciduous fruit trees need a longer winter rest compared to others. You can monitor the number of chilling hours here.

With this information, you can plan a big harvest by embracing low-chill fruit trees and ditching the traditional high-chill varieties.

Some types require just 100 to 525 chilling hours, making them thrive in our warm climate.

Dive into juicy peaches, plums, and nectarines, bursting with flavor thanks to abundant sunshine and minimal chill needed. Craving apples? Don’t despair! While options are slightly limited, low-chill apple varieties still exist, waiting to be explored.

Our region offers the right growing conditions for edible figs and are fairly easy to grow requiring about 100 hours of chilling temperatures to grow and set fruit.

Olive trees grow best in a climate where the summer is long and hot and the winter is cool. Southern Georgia is an ideal area for olive farms in its temperate climate. Olive varieties have different chill hours but in general, need 200-300 hours of chilling.

According to the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, if olive trees are grown where chill hours are insufficient to satisfy chilling requirements, blooming and foliation will be delayed, and fruit set and fruit quality will be poor.