Strawberry harvest in danger: Frost and hail devastated fields in Ulm!

Strawberry harvest in danger: Frost and hail devastated fields in Ulm!

Senden-Hittistetten, Deutschland - The fertile fields in Baden-Württemberg are facing major challenges this year. The Obsthof Zott in Senden-Hittistetten, which manages around 40 hectares of strawberry fields to pick yourself in the Ulm area, is experiencing current losses. Alexandra Zott describes the year 2023 as a "no strawberry year". Frost nights in May and subsequent violent hailstorms have caused devastating damage that affects the entire harvest. The fruit growing companies may currently not give specific figures, but despair is noticeable. The optimism of making a good harvest is increasingly disappearing, reports the Situation for many fruit growers. Dr. Michael Neumüller describes how the late frosts disturbed the flowering period in Holy Week. Temperatures dropped to below -7 ° C, which resulted in a gradual step backwards in the vegetation. The combination of cool temperatures and above -average precipitation, which significantly reduced the photosynthesis and favored the repulsion of young fruits. These circumstances resulted in a limited pollination by insects and in a high susceptibility to diseases such as flower fire in pears. Obstzentrum emphasizes that the variety of types of fruit in the garden or on the field can help to compensate for negative effects.

What does the future bring for the fruit growers in the region? The resident companies are dependent on the early and long -lasting rain in order to be able to offer their high -quality products. But the minds are driven by the fear of further capsoles of weather. Shimmers of hope only come when their voices sound into the market and the awareness of regional agriculture continues to grow. For the moment, the fruit growers only have to make the best of the given conditions and to hope for the gracious support of nature.