Cherries could soon be available, having survived one of the coldest November nights in Central Otago for many years.
The MetService had forecast severe frosts as skies cleared after Wednesday's snow and hail, but they did not eventuate.
Workers at Harry Roberts' cherry orchard at Earnscleugh were readyto fight frosts but the temperature did not drop below -1C - and that was only in one part of the orchard, just before sunrise. Mr Roberts said he was lucky as it could have got much colder but a hail shower had bypassed the orchard late in the night.
He said the early cherries were starting to colour and he thought Cromwell could be harvesting as early as next week. Mr Roberts said the cold was not really such a problem, as warm rain was more likely to split the fruit.
Central Otago viticulturists had learned their lesson from the big freeze in 2004, Central Otago Winegrowers Association president Martin Anderson said yesterday.
Viticulturists in the Lakes District had had warning of the approaching cold weather and had been on standby for three or four days.
"Everybody was frost-fighting ... everybody's been up all night, but it's too early to tell if there's any damage," he said.
