Crop report 2013 May (Saaz area)

1. Basic weather conditions datas

temperature °C

rainfalls mm

In May, temperatures and rainfalls were significantly different from the previous three years. The average temperature was by 0,8 °C lower than the long-term average.

Last month was considerably rainy, both compared to the long-term average (+ 70,8 mm) and the last year (+ 99,2 mm). Starting from January this year is also significantly weaker in terms of sunshine.

2. Vegetation stage

Low temperatures, especially the daily ones, have had a negative effect on the growth of hops, especially at late cuts, resulting in difficulties in the training of hops which had to be implemented twice and, at higher altitudes, even three times.

For these reasons, we consider the state of vegetations as unstable, about 50 % of the hops (hops cut to 15. 4.) are at a standard height (3-4 m), for other vegetation the height is lower (1-3 m).

By the end of the month, hopgardens suffered heavy rainfalls which in many places resulted in waterlogging, that could have a further negative impact on the growth of hops, as it will be difficult to properly cultivate these areas. It was also necessary, due to the weather situation, to carry out spraying treatment mainly against fungal diseases (mildew mite).