Unseasonably cold temperatures across parts of Western Europe have threatened vineyards and groves of fruit trees, as frost damages delicate new buds. Days of record-low overnight temperatures have spurred winegrowers and other farmers to take action to protect their crops—some opting to spray water on their plants so a layer of ice will shield them from the frost, and others choosing to light many small fires in their fields, slightly warming the plants and generating air movement, hoping to prevent pockets of extremely cold air from forming. Collected here are images of this battle against the elements in France, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Protecting Crops Against a Spring Frost
-
-
The Bayard Tower is seen near fruit trees in blossom that are being sprayed with water to encase them in ice, to protect against frost, in Saillon near Martigny, Switzerland, on April 8, 2021. #
Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / Getty -
A picture taken early on April 8, 2021, shows a burning candle at the foot of apricot trees in blossom in Saillon, Switzerland. The large paraffin candles give off enough heat to create air movement, which prevents a frost pocket from forming. #
Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / Getty -
-
-
The winegrower Pierre-Marie Luneau checks the temperature on his smartphone during the burning of anti-frost candles at the Luneau-Papin vineyard in Le Landreau, near Nantes, France, on April 12, 2021. #
Sebastien Salom-Gomis / AFP / Getty -
-
-
-
A tree grower stands by apple trees that are covered with a layer of ice, after being watered to protect from frost, at their orchard in La Palazzetta, an Italian village located some 100 kilometers from Milan, on April 8, 2021. #
Piero Cruciatti / AFP / Getty -
The winegrowers Pierre-Marie (left) and Marie Luneau check vines during the burning of anti-frost candles in the Luneau-Papin vineyard in Le Landreau, France, on April 12, 2021. #
Sebastien Salom-Gomis / AFP / Getty -
The winegrower Jean De Saint Venant burns a bale of straw in the vineyards to protect them from frost at the Château de Valmer, an estate at the Vouvray vineyard in Touraine, France, on April 6, 2021. #
Guillaume Souvant / AFP / Getty -
-
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.