Kentville Research and Development Centre
2022-23 Bud Hardiness Report No. 10 - Nova Scotia
Attached, from Jeff Franklin and Dr. Harrison Wright, is the final Nova Scotia bud hardiness report for the 2022-23 year. The Nova Scotia wine grape bud hardiness survey generates a bi-weekly report 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 have deacclimated considerably since the last survey 3 weeks ago. Both L’Acadie and Marquette have deaclimated by 10 °C while Frontenac blanc has deaclimated by 8.2 °C. The LTE50 values for L’Acadie and Marquette in 2023 are higher than they have been in previous years of the survey at this time of the year. In previous years of the survey, LTE50 values were in the -15 °C to -20 °C range in the middle of April for both of these varieties. Possible reasons for this include the lower hardiness levels seen throughout the winter and the relatively warmer temperatures experienced to date in April. So far, the mean temperature for April is 6.0 °C compared to the 25-year average of 4.5 °C for the same time period.
This survey marks the end of our 2022/23 bud hardiness survey season and the end of the five-year project that provided funding for this survey. I would like to extend my deep gratitude to the Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia, and the cooperating growers, for giving us access to their vineyards to help us carry out this study."