Kentville Research and Development Centre
2023-24 Bud Hardiness Report No. 4 - Nova Scotia
Attached, from Jeff Franklin and Dr. Harrison Wright, is Nova Scotia bud hardiness report #4 for the 2023-24 year. The Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness survey generates occasional reports of the low temperature exotherm (LTE) values over the dormant period (roughly from late October to late April).
Note from the research team: All varieties in the survey have deacclimated compared to the last survey date in January leaving the vines at a lower level of hardiness for the time of year. The biggest change has been in the hybrid varieties which have all deacclimated by more than 1 °C. Looking over our surveys from years past, there are cases when deacclimation begins early and continues slowly over the rest of the winter as well as cases where the buds deacclimate before regaining some hardiness. The temperatures that we receive in the remaining two weeks of February will determine which of these two scenarios is realized. Although cooler than last winter, this winter has been relatively mild compared to the past 25 years. The average daily temperature from January 1 to February 15, 2024, was -2.6 °C compared to the 25-year average of -4.7 °C. The average minimum temperature for this same period was -5.8 °C compared to the 25-year average of -9.2 °C. Nights below -10 °C have been relatively rare this winter which has likely been a factor in the bud hardiness values observed. The current long-term forecast for the rest of February predicts that temperatures will be slightly above the seasonal average leaving a healthy margin between observed and predicted damaging temperatures.