Anxious day after frost bites Bay

STAFF REPORTERS
Orchardists and grapegrowers were assessing damage this morning after Hawke's Bay experienced what is believed to have been its longest-lasting frost since 1989.
Johnny Appleseed operations manager Len Thompson said they had to start windmills and water protection on some of the company's 700 acres as early as 9.45 last night.
All grapegrowers and orchardists spoken to by Hawke's Bay Today said it was the longest-lasting frost in at least six years.
"The issue was with the petrol. The tanks weren't big enough for them to be able to run right through the night," Mr Thompson.
"We've been hit fairly hard in some parts but it is too early to tell, although there is certainly frost damage," he said.
"It was a bad frost because it was just so long," he said. Orchardist Mark Vesty also had a long night, taking turns with his brother-in-law to keep an eye on his apple and stonefruit trees, while ensuring the windmills and fires continued throughout the frost.
He thought the farm had escaped without much damage but he would be preparing for another frost.
Hawke's Bay summerfruit sector chairman Brian Fulford said he had not heard of any summerfruit orchardists suffering damage.
"There was a 2deg frost here (Havelock North), which wasn't too bad. It caused a little bit of damage. It is a nice warm day, today, which should help," he said.
The frost reached three-quarters of the way up the trees in Leon Stallard's apple orchard on the south side of Havelock North.
The extent of damage would be better known this afternoon, said Mr Stallard, president of the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association.
"Only the early season stuff, Braeburns and the early bud breakers could be in trouble - everything else should be okay," he said.
"There could be some sleepless nights for the growers." Hawke's Bay's grapegrowers were quietly confident this morning that they had largely won the battle for their fruit.
Association president Chris Howell said the worst hit wouldn't have frost-fighting systems in place, or they would have consciously decided not to get in a helicopter. "There will be some damage in early blocks, particularly those without frost protection, but I don't expect it to be severe or extensive."
The big chill set in early.
"In a lot of parts of the Bay it started at 7.30pm, which is extremely early," Mr Howell said.
"Normally, it is after midnight or at 4 to 5am."
While anticipating a very hard frost, Mr Howell said it didn't get severe on his Maraekakaho Road vineyard. However, the temperature did dip as low as -2deg in Korokipo, Te Mata and Mangateretere roads.
Wineries and growers in the Dartmoor Valley, Meeanee and Bay View seemed to have escaped the worst of the cold blast. Mt Erin Road grower Robin Sage expected vines on the extremities of his block - beyond the reach of his wind machine - would have been pinged.
Similarly, John Loughlin of Askerne Wines sustained some damage to his vineyard in Te Mata-Mangateretere Road.
There, however, only about 20 percent of the vines - chardonnay, gewurztraminer and a bit of merlot - were in leaf, putting later varieties beyond the frost's reach.
Askerne kept the cold at bay with a tractor-drawn gas burner with a large fan. Trialled two years ago, the "frost buster" worked well last night, Mr Loughlin said.
Some growers contacted by Hawke's Bay Today spent nearly 12 hours out on their blocks last night.
Rather than dragging themselves off to bed, however, they were waiting up until about midday, when damage to foliage would become clearer.
The helicopters had been up all night over Gimblett Gravels, Greg Newton - son of grower Bob Newton - said.
Mr Howell agreed it was a very busy night for pilots, with many starting flying at about 9-10pm and finishing about 7am.
"Most have not gone to bed at all," he said. Another frost may hit tonight but the grapegrowers are hoping it won't be as bad.