Will the fruit harvest in Ukraine be preserved due to spring frosts?

Ukrainian gardeners are once again concerned about the consequences of spring frosts, which have caused significant damage to orchards across the country. According to experts from EastFruit, the night of April 27 to 28, 2025, posed a serious challenge for fruit crops, especially for apple and pear trees, which usually withstand the cold better.

This is reported by AgroReview

Impact of Frosts on Ukrainian Orchards

The deterioration of weather conditions has been uneven. In the lowlands, temperatures dropped to -5…-6°C, creating a serious threat to plants that were blooming during this period. Meanwhile, in the neighboring hills, temperatures were 3–4 degrees higher, significantly reducing the risk of damage in those areas.

The greatest losses have been recorded in Vinnytsia, which is considered the heart of Ukrainian horticulture. Farmers from Moldova also felt the cold’s effects. Despite this, most gardeners claim they managed to avoid critical losses in apple and pear orchards. However, the frosts may negatively impact the quality of the fruits and their ability to be stored for a long time.

Which Crops Survived the Cold

According to agrarians, stone fruits that had already finished blooming coped best with the cold. At the same time, those that were blooming during the frosts likely lost part of their harvest. Damage has also been observed in strawberry plantations.

However, the problems may not be over. According to forecasts from the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, the risk of repeated frosts remains at least until May 17, especially in the central and western regions of Ukraine. There, short-term cold spells could again harm the crops, raising concerns among gardeners.

“Whether Ukraine will have fruits this year is still an open question,” experts note.