Blueberries

Blueberries are just starting to bloom in our area, placing them at the most vulnerable stage for frost or freeze damage. Fully and partially open blossoms of rabbiteye blueberries can be damaged at 30 degrees, to the point they cannot be pollinated, and completely killed at 29. Temperatures of 30 degrees can damage small green fruit, resulting in misshapen and undersized berries.

If there are many blossoms on your blueberry bushes and the plants are not too tall, cover them later this evening to prevent loss of early fruits. The goal of covering plants with row cover, old blankets or plastic sheeting is to create a mini-greenhouse that traps in heat from the soil that would otherwise radiate out into the night air. To be effective, covers need to completely encase plants, extend fully to ground level, and be well secured. The good news for blueberry lovers is blueberry bushes don’t open all their blossoms at once. Even if you lose some flowers (and potential fruit) tonight, more flowers should open in the coming weeks.

 Strawberries

Strawberry flowers can be damaged or killed at temperatures of 30 degrees or lower. Young green fruit are slightly hardier, withstanding 30 degrees but receiving damage at 28. Because they are lower to ground, strawberries are much easier to protect with covers than blueberries or fruit trees. Be sure to cover your strawberry plants tonight to save any open blossoms and young fruits. As with blueberries, strawberries flower over an extended period so even if you lose some fruit potential tonight you will still get blossoms and berry production in the weeks to come.

Closing Thoughts

Be sure to remove any covers tomorrow morning after temperatures rise above freezing. Fruits that survive tonight’s freeze are still not out of the woods. Overnight lows of 28 degrees are predicted for Saturday night as well. Other than fruit loss, a 28 degree freeze is not expected to cause any long term damage to fruit trees or berry bushes. The same cannot be said for frost sensitive vegetable plants such as tomatoes, peppers, basil, cucumbers and squash. If you have taken the risk of planting early, be sure to these plants are well protected overnight.

More tips on protecting vegetables and other plants during cold snaps are available here.

Visit the National Weather Service for the latest forecast details.

Visit this link to access resources for growing many types of fruits, including slides from the recent Extension Gardener class on growing fruits and berries.

Use Extension Search to find research based information from Cooperative Extension systems across the U.S.

Visit your local Cooperative Extension center to learn more about gardening and landscape care. Find your county Extension center or post your questions to be answered online via Extension’s ‘Ask an Expert’ widget.

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Written By

Charlotte GlenState Coordinator, NC Extension Master Gardener Program Chatham County, North Carolina