March temperatures in the eastern states ranged
5-to-7°F above average, decreasing cold hardiness
and prematurely ending dormancy in some areas. When
a vine awakens from its winter nap, the cellular cryoprotectants
that sheltered it from freezing temperatures
dissolve, and it gradually rehydrates. As water content
increases, so does susceptibility to cold damage, particularly
for swollen buds and new shoots. So an early
awakening sets up a long, tense wait for the probability
of freezing temperatures to lessen.
Read More for comments by Dr. Imed Dami
News Article by Jaanice Cessana in Vineyard and Winery Management, July-Aug 2016