How To Measure Chill Hours For Fruit Trees?

What are chill hours for fruit trees?

Chill hours and chill units both refer to the total amount of time a blossoming fruit tree needs to be exposed to cold temperatures so that it can flower and fruit.

How to use chill hours to plan and maintain the health of your crops.

Knowing the required number of chill hours allows growers to plan ahead and account for which stage of the tree’s life cycle it’s in.

Insufficient chill units can result in reduced fruit set, fruit quality, delayed foliation and extended bloom periods. To combat insufficient chill hours growers may choose to promote flowering and vegetative bud break growers using Rest Breaking Agents (RBAs), bringing the tree out of its dormancy stage.

On the other hand, too many chill units can cause trees to flower early, exposing the sensitive new shoots to frost damage, causing damaged foliage and killing fruit. Growers may use foggers, sprinklers, and fans to prevent frost and set frost alerts in Jain Logic to reduce the risk of frost damage ruining their yield.

Measure Chill Hours For Fruit Plants and Trees

How do we calculate chill hours for fruit trees?

Our platform Jain Logic allows you to select one of the following methods; Threshold and Utah.

  • Threshold Method: Any hour with an average temperature under the supplied threshold is considered a chill unit. Example: If our set threshold is 7°C, every hour below 7°C will be equal to one chill unit.
  • Utah Method: A temperature range is used to calculate chill units. The range determines how many chill units to apply below a set range. It also deducts for when temperatures are above a threshold range, from the accumulative chill units.

RELATED POSTS

Like this article?

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkdin
Share on Pinterest

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Get The Latest Updates

Subscribe To Our Blog and Training Emails

Upcoming Live Trainings

Register for our upcoming live trainings. Get all your questions answered live!

Agriculture

Rooted in Sustainability: Exploring Microorganisms and Regenerative Farming

Join us for an enlightening webinar exploring the world of regenerative agriculture. Delve into soil biology, microorganisms, and regenerative practices with CEO Miles Sorel of Terraforma. Learn about core principles, benefits for growers, and the impact on food quality and sustainability. Gain insights into microorganism applications and their interaction with plant roots. Don’t miss this transformative journey!

Register Now For Free >>
Landscape

Fall Forward: Smart Strategies to Combat Seasonal Water Waste

As summer transitions into autumn, there’s an often-overlooked challenge that demands our attention – the surge in landscape water waste. This irrigation training episode focuses on the unexpected increase in water wastage during the fall season and why most landscapes are being overwatered. Actionable strategies to curb this waste and enhance sustainable water management will be shared.

Register Now For Free >>