Spring Cold Impact on Apple Crops

As the temperature warms and Apple trees start to spring to life, the newly formed buds and blossoms become susceptible to damage from below-freezing temperatures. The table below gives some guidance to potential damage at various bud stage and temperatures.

silver tip Stage 1: Silver Tip

Old Temp*: 16° F. / -9° C.

10% Kill: 15° F. / -9° C.

90% Kill: 2° F. / -17° C.
green tip Stage 2: Green Tip

Old Temp: 16° F. / -9° C.

10% Kill: 18° F. / -8° C.

90% Kill: 10° F. / -12° C.

halfgreen Stage 3: Half-inch Green

Old Temp: 22° F. / -6° C.

10% Kill: 23° F. / -5° C.

90% Kill: 15° F. / -9° C.

tight cluster Stage 4: Tight Cluster

Old Temp: 27° F. / -3° C.

10% Kill: 27° F. / -3° C.

90% Kill: 21° F. / -6° C.


first pink Stage 5: First Pink

Old Temp: 27° F. / -3° C.

10% Kill: 28° F. / -2° C.

90% Kill: 24° F. / -4° C.

full pink Stage 6: Full Pink

Old Temp: 28° F. / -2° C.

10% Kill: 28° F. / -2° C.

90% Kill: 25° F. / -4° C.


first bloom Stage 7: First Bloom

Old Temp: 28° F. / -2° C.

10% Kill: 28° F. / -2° C.

90% Kill: 25° F. / -4° C.

full bloom Stage 8: Full Bloom

Old Temp: 29° F. / -2° C.

10% Kill: 28° F. / -2° C.

90% Kill: 25° F. / -4° C.


Stage 9: Post Bloom

Old Temp: 29° F. / -2° C.

10% Kill: 28° F. / -2° C.

90% Kill: 25° F. / -4° C.



*Old temperature is the lowest temperature that can be endured for 30 minutes without damage.

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