ABSTRACT
Warm weather in the early spring initiates fruit tree bud development and blossoming. In many fruitproducing areas of the world, subsequent cold, frosty nights may kill the buds or blossoms because of ice crystals forming in the plant tissues. This leads to reduction in harvestable fruit or even total loss of the crop. Irrigation can be used to offset the detrimental effects of freezing fruit through freeze protection or sprinkling for bloom delay.
