As a gardener, it’s important to understand chill hours, especially if you’re growing fruit trees. After all, selecting a fruit tree variety with the wrong chilling hour requirements for your area can lead to lackluster fruit production – or no fruit at all!
As a gardener, it’s important to understand chill hours, especially if you’re growing fruit trees. After all, selecting a fruit tree variety with the wrong chilling hour requirements for your area can lead to lackluster fruit production – or no fruit at all!
In the world of horticulture, chill hours refer to the total number of hours between 32 and 45°F that an area receives on average each winter.
In the world of horticulture, chill hours refer to the total number of hours between 32 and 45°F that an area receives on average each winter.
Denoted as “CU” (chill units), chill hours are essential for certain plants to break dormancy and set fruit come spring.
Denoted as “CU” (chill units), chill hours are essential for certain plants to break dormancy and set fruit come spring.
Chill hours don’t need to be consecutive. Rather, chill hours are noted as the cumulative total hours in that temperature range occurring between November and March.
Chill hours don’t need to be consecutive. Rather, chill hours are noted as the cumulative total hours in that temperature range occurring between November and March.
Hours below 32°F don’t count. And for every day that reaches over 60°F, one half-hour of chilling hours is subtracted from the total.
Hours below 32°F don’t count. And for every day that reaches over 60°F, one half-hour of chilling hours is subtracted from the total.
It’s crucial to pay attention to chill hours when selecting fruit trees for your garden. If not, you may spend precious time, money and energy tending to a tree that will never bear fruit for you!
It’s crucial to pay attention to chill hours when selecting fruit trees for your garden. If not, you may spend precious time, money and energy tending to a tree that will never bear fruit for you!
For instance, a fruit tree that needs 800 chill hours will not produce fruit if planted somewhere that only receives 500 chill hours. Read the tag or description of the tree; it will tell you how many chill hours it needs!
For instance, a fruit tree that needs 800 chill hours will not produce fruit if planted somewhere that only receives 500 chill hours. Read the tag or description of the tree; it will tell you how many chill hours it needs!