First, an unseasonably warm December. Now, a cold snap to kick off the new year.
Western North Carolina has been on a rollercoaster of temperatures over the last month.
Tyler Hunsader, a co-owner of Jeter Mountain Farm in Henderson County, said the cold temperatures we're seeing are actually coming at a good time.
"It's kind of a sigh of relief, the fact that we do have some cold temperatures," Hunsader said.
He said his apples, peaches and blueberries need "chilling hours." They need time between 32 and 45 degrees to regulate their growth. If they don't get enough chill hours in the winter, the flower buds may not open at all in the spring or may open unevenly. Because of this, Hunsader said the warm December we just experienced could have been worrisome -- if it had continued.
While we have seen large fluctuations in temperatures over the last month or so, he said it's not a big worry for him right now, since these colder temperatures are what they needed.
"The two weeks of warm snap, now we have cold. It's not a big cause for concern, but it could be if it continues," Hunsader said. "If we were to continue, say 70 degrees through the next long two months, we'd have big issues."
He said last year, they had a late cold snap during flower production. He said that's the most susceptible stage for their crops, so the cold snap killed a lot of their blooms, causing them to lose anywhere from 75% to 95% of their crop.
This year, he's hoping they'll be in a much better position come harvest time, though he said it's too early to tell.
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOShttps://wlos.com/
