Kentville Research and Development Centre
2024-25 Bud Hardiness Report No. 2 - Nova Scotia
Attached, from Jeff Franklin and Dr. Harrison Wright, is Nova Scotia bud hardiness report #2 for the 2024-25 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: Bud hardiness values have dropped considerably since our last survey in early November, coinciding with the cooler temperatures that we received in December. LTE50 values have dropped by 6 to 7 °C for all varieties in the survey thereby maintaining a wide margin of safety between observed temperatures and bud hardiness levels. The average temperature in Kentville for November was 5.68 °C compared to the 10-year average of 4.59 °C. This trend reversed in December with an average temperature of -1.14 °C compared to the 10-year average of -0.03 °C. The seasonal forecast from Environment and Climate Change Canada for Nova Scotia predicts only a moderate probability of above average temperatures for the rest of the winter. If temperatures remain close to seasonal, we should see current hardiness values continue to deepen by a few degrees before our next report in early February.