Lack of chill is as costly as flooding

A grower in flood-hit Somerset says the mild winter is potentially the most damaging aspect of recent UK weather.

William Hebditch, who runs New Cross Fruit Farm in Somerset, and grows crops including cherries, asparagus, and blackcurrants for the wholesale trade, said: “I’m most concerned by the lack of cold, as we’ve had such a mild winter.

“Cherry growers, carrot growers – they all need a bit of cold to help their crops. Up to now, we’ve had about 1,000 hours of chill. I like to get 1,500 hours in the whole of winter, so usually by 15 March.”

Chris Chinn, of Herefordshire-based asparagus grower Cobrey, said: “Weather across the country has been mild, so soil temperatures will get to the required temperature for asparagus of 14 degrees Celsius quicker as there has been no deep frost. But without the frost and cold, the crop may not have stored up as much energy through its dormancy period - you just can’t win.

“There are no guarantees on volumes or yield, only that the mild weather we are experiencing could mean an earlier start around the second week of April, rather than the fourth week of April.”

Hebditch has also been affected by the wettest January England has experienced since records began in the 18^th Century.

He said: “Things have been under water for seven to eight weeks now, and I’m concerned about root damage. We need to get the asparagus moving, but it’s a total bloody bog.

“While there has been no direct damage to income just yet, we may not find that out until later in the year.”

Graham Nicholls, a potato farmer in Gloucestershire, said: “I haven’t been affected by flooding, but I’m sure there will be a problem with new potatoes being late into the shops.

“Longer-term, we could see an extended season for old potatoes, as new won’t be available, and then you have the issue that new come in all at once.”

Nicholls added that the majority of the Cornish new potato crop, usually planted in the latter half of February, has not yet even started going in the ground.

Huw Thomas, managing director at Puffin Produce in Pembrokeshire, an area which has experienced inclement weather and flooding, added: “While the weather in West Wales has been appalling over the past few weeks, fortunately the growing schedule hasn't been adversely affected.

“Puffin's growers are currently planting Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes, and we expect the season to be on-track.”