Frost Damage
- Type
- Physiological
- Fruit Condition
- Deformed
- Fruit Size
- Small
- Fruit Texture
- Soft
- Flower Condition
- Distorted, Necrotic
- Field Distribution
- Uniform, Low areas
- Prior Environmental
- Temp. below 15°, Temp. between 20° and 32°
- Season
- Early spring, Pre harvest
- Cropping System
- Annual plasticulture, Perennial matted row
Problem
Abiotic disorder - frost damage
Symptoms
Healthy flowers with darken dead centers, dead flowers, misshaped friut, dead fruit.
Frost damage strawberry flower.
Rocco D Schiavone
Flower damaged at popcorn stage.
Rocco D Schiavone
Similar Problems
Boron defficiency, calcium defficiency, thrips.
Additional Information
Visible within 24 hours of frost/freeze event.
Diagnostic Tips
Similar to poor pollination. Open flowers are most vulnerable. Critical temperatures are 30°F for open flowers, 28°F for fruit and 22-27°F for tight flowers.
Corrective Measures
Sanitation and botrytis control spray may be helpful.
Management
Protect flowers/fruit from freeze and frost with overhead irrigation or row covers in spring when plants begin to grow and have more than a few open blooms.
Useful Resources:
North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual
Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium
NCCE Strawberry Growers portal
Funding Sources
Funding was provided in part by the National Sustainable Agriculture Program: Sustainable Strawberry Initiative and the following sources.
Division of Agriculture Research & Extension
None
