Cold, early winter: good or bad for fruit growers?

With the early start to winter and extreme cold last month, the question for most farmers is, how much damage will there be to their crops? It’s still too early to tell, and at least one farmer isn’t in a hurry to see spring.

For Mani Gill, and his acres of cherries and wine grapes in South Kelowna, the snow has actually been a positive.

“It’s good that it snowed early, it helps protect the roots and then the cold came,” he told Kelowna10. “With the cold, I heard there was going to be some damage, I don’t know to what extent it’s going to be. I haven’t personally tested my branches yet.”

The full result will come after he tests his cherry buds to see if they will bloom in a pail of warm water, he explained. If they don’t and turn black, then he’ll know there has been some damage.

Gill’s family has a long history of farming. His parents immigrated to Canada in the 80s and worked as labourers and have owned properties throughout the Okanagan.

Five years ago, Mani left his banking job to join his brother to start Gill Family Orchards and they have over 100 acres of cherries, wine grapes, and a few acres of apples.

Gill knows first-hand what a cold spell can do, following the events of 2021/22.

“I only had about 20 per cent of my crop on my wine grapes in 2022. This year if there is damage again, it’s going to be another hard year,” he explained. “But I’m optimistic, hopefully there isn’t anything. We’ll see what happens, but that’s farming.”

He added his expectations for this spring includes seeing temperatures not as mild as they are right now.

“If it starts warming up, then it’s going to be an early spring, stuff is going to bloom faster and it’s more of a rush for us to get our work done,” he said. “I hope the trees stay dormant for a little bit longer in the springtime and we have a normal year. The last few years there’s always been some sort of weather event that’s caused stress on our lives.”