Chilton County Welcomes Cold Temps to Save Peach Crop
The warm weather lately has threatened this year's peach crop in Chilton County.
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It’s an industry that keeps Alabama growing.
And Chilton county is in the heart of it.
“We’re probably still around 3,000 acres of peaches. That’s a lot of money that comes in and out of Chilton County as far as peaches are concerned,” said Matthew Price with the Chilton Research and Extension Center.
At Durbin Farms, they may be shelling pecans but their thoughts are on their peaches.
The warm weather has threatened this year’s crop.
“Right now, we’re probably heading for a record low in chill hours. Even if we still get all the cold temperatures throughout the rest of the year, we’re still going to be behind. So we will have peaches but, probably won’t be as big as they normally are,” said Colby Jones, Durbin Farms Market manager.
We’re told the peach trees require between 450 to 11 hundred “chill hours.” That means hours they spend in below 45 degree weather from November to February.
The good news is cold weather is on the way. And that’s welcomed news in Chilton County.
“We’re excited. We love it. A lot of people hating the cold weather, but bring it on. We’re tired of warm weather. We want 20s, 30s, we need it right now,” said Jones.
