Kentville Research and Development Centre
2024-25 Bud Hardiness Report No. 4 - Nova Scotia
Attached, from Jeff Franklin and Dr. Harrison Wright, is Nova Scotia bud hardiness report #4 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: All varieties in the current round of the survey have deepened their bud hardiness values relative to the last survey in early February as a result of sustained cold temperatures in recent weeks. L’Acadie has shown the greatest change to its LTE50 value, which decreased by 2.5 °C, followed by Marquette at 2.1 °C, with New York Muscat and Chardonnay showing the lowest level of additional acclimation, with both cultivars gaining an additional 1.4 °C of hardiness. Currently, all varieties are at hardiness levels that we would expect in a typical winter with average temperatures.
The average temperature for the period from December 1 to February 24 of this year was -3.95 °C compared to the 25-year average for the same period of -3.14 °C. Even with the below average temperatures in recent weeks, there is a wide margin between LTE50 values and observed low temperatures. The 30-day forecast from Environment and Climate Change Canada predicts that, overall, temperatures will be normal or slightly above up to the third week of March.