Fire & Water
How Apple Buds Survive the Cold Frosty Nights
Fire & Water

Fire & Water

How the apple blossoms survive the cold frost nights

How Farmers in Naturns Battle the frosty nights with fire and water. A glimpse into what our local farmers are up to while the rest of us sleep – and what a drunk farmer has to do with it.

Early April, 6:30 a.m.
I step outside with the dog for our morning walk and am instantly struck by the cold. Frost creeps up the blades of grass in the meadow.
Spring frost nights are infamous around here, with temperatures often dropping well below zero during the night. Across the valley, as far as the eye can see, frost protection sprinklers are spinning – a method farmers use to shield their blossoming fruit trees from the bitter cold.
If left unprotected, the delicate blossoms would “burn” – meaning they’d die – resulting in severe damage and major crop losses.

"Without frost irrigation, apple cultivation as we know it here would be almost unimaginable. The risk of frost damage would simply be too great," explains farmer Josef Götsch. And indeed: of the 9,000 hectares of apple orchards in Vinschgau and the Merano area, 5,400 hectares are now equipped with frost sprinkling systems. Many farmers still shudder at the memory of April 21, 2017: for three nights, the frost marched heavily through the land, reaching its peak on the 21st. In areas where frost irrigation wasn't possible, farmers suffered up to 100% crop loss.
With Fire and Water: How Farmers in Naturns Battle the Frosty Nights
When another frost period looms, farmers are already studying weather forecasts and temperature predictions the evening before, allowing them to estimate whether a frost night is approaching. Orchards in low-lying areas – such as those along the Adige River – are more prone to frost than those on the slopes, as even a few meters in elevation can make the crucial difference between freezing and non-freezing temperatures.

A tightly woven network of 119 weather stations provides farmers with real-time data on local temperature, humidity, and wind direction. When temperatures approach critical thresholds (around -5°C during early vegetative growth and 0°C during blossom phase), a frost alarm is triggered – sometimes at midnight, sometimes as early as 4 a.m. In the past, so-called frost wardens would rush from thermometer to thermometer and sound the warning with a long siren blast. These days, farmers still alert one another by phone, but many now rely on automated notifications sent directly to their smartphones, including through various app providers.

As soon as the alarm goes off, farmers leap out of bed and rush to their orchards to activate the frost irrigation. Using tractors or motors, they start the pumps that draw groundwater and spray it evenly over the trees and blossoms using circular sprinkler systems. The water forms a thin layer of ice around the flowers. As it freezes, a physical reaction occurs: the process of crystallization releases heat (known as latent heat of fusion), which paradoxically protects the blossoms from the extreme cold.
Once morning temperatures have stabilized a few degrees above zero, the system is shut off and the water seeps back into the groundwater supply.

A beautiful side effect of frost irrigation: when the morning sun hits the icy coating, the entire valley sparkles and shimmers like something out of a fairy tale.
"Blossoms After a Frosty Night
In areas where frost irrigation isn’t possible, such as on even slightly sloped terrain where water can’t be pumped, farmers turn to “candles” to get their blossoms safely through the frosty night.This method dates back to ancient Rome and was first adopted in South Tyrol mainly in vineyards. Today, it has also proven effective in apple orchards. Small fires, placed at regular intervals between the rows of trees, gently warm the surrounding air by about 2 to 3 degrees Celsius, just enough to make a difference. The smoke created also helps by causing slight air movement and turbulence, which disrupts the settling of cold air.
The Apple Orchards in the Early Morning
South Tyrol was a pioneer in frost irrigation: In 1949, a farmer from Terlano built the first frost irrigation system using old pipes and war materials, which was put into operation in 1950 and later served as a model.

But since we’re in South Tyrol, of course there’s also a legend about how frost irrigation was really invented: One evening, a farmer set out to switch off the irrigation in his orchard but met some friends along the way and was persuaded to have a glass of wine. Naturally, one glass led to another, and soon the entire night was spent celebrating and drinking in the inn. Meanwhile, the temperature dropped sharply, and on his way home, the farmer was shocked to see icicles hanging from his apple trees. It wasn’t until harvest time that he noticed his trees were full of apples, while those of the other farmers were nearly empty. That’s when it occurred to him that it must have been that fateful frost night that made the difference, and so frost irrigation was born.
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naturns_naturno naturns_naturno 5 hours ago
naturns_naturno

🔥𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 – 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱🔥
A shining symbol of faith and unity

This Sunday, the traditional Heart of Jesus Fires will once again be lit across South Tyrol – an impressive custom deeply rooted in the region’s history and faith.❤ The fire, symbolizing the sun ☀️, stands for healing, fertility, and blessings for people, animals, and nature. ✨

Don’t miss this unique experience – be there when the mountains light up on June 29!🥰

#naturns #naturno #mountains #sacredheart #sacredheartfire #whataview #traditions #southtyrol #südtirol #berge #herzjesufeuer #aussichtgenießen #altoadige #montagne #tradizione #altoadigedascoprire #altoadigedavivere

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Naturns  I  Naturno Naturns I Naturno Yesterday
Naturns  I  Naturno

🏡 Wie gut kennt ihr Naturns wirklich?
Wusstet ihr, dass unsere Gemeinde nicht nur aus dem Hauptort besteht?🌄

Naturns hat mehrere Fraktionen – jede mit ihrem eigenen Charme, ihrer Geschichte und ihrer besonderen Atmosphäre. 🌳✨

👉 Tschirland
👉 Tabland
👉 Staben

💬 Na, wie viele dieser Fraktionen habt ihr schon besucht bzw. dort Urlaub gemacht? Oder lebt ihr vielleicht selbst in einer davon?

❤Wir sind gespannt auf eure Geschichten, Erinnerungen und Geheimtipps
aus Tschirland, Tabland, Staben!👇

📸: TG Naturns_Santer Peter

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🏡 Quanto bene conoscete davvero Naturno?
Sapevate che il nostro comune non è fatto solo del centro principale?🌄

Naturno è composto da diverse frazioni – ognuna con il suo fascino, la sua storia e un’atmosfera tutta particolare. 🌳✨

👉 Cirlano
👉 Tablà
👉 Stava

💬 Quante di queste frazioni avete già visitato o dove avete trascorso le vostre vacanze? O magari vivete proprio in una di queste?

❤ Siamo curiosi di leggere le vostre storie, ricordi e consigli segreti su
Cirlano, Tablà e Stava! 👇

📸: TG Naturns_Santer Peter

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naturns_naturno naturns_naturno 4 days ago
naturns_naturno

🥾Hiking with a View – Exploring the Wallburgweg!🌿🏞️
The Wallburgweg in Naturns is a real insider tip for anyone who loves nature, history, and breathtaking panoramic views. This leisurely circular hike follows the sunny slopes of Naturns ☀️, passes by ancient dry-stone walls, and offers fantastic views over the Etsch Valley.😍🍃

✅ Easy to walk
📍 Starting point: Naturns town center
⏱️ Duration: approx. 2–3 hours depending on the route

📸: TG Naturns_Fotostudio2000

#naturns #naturno #hiking #mountains #wallburgweg #whataview #summermood #southtyrol #südtirol #wandern #berge #aussichtgenießen #sonnenberg #altoadige #inmontagna #escursioni #montesole #altoadigedascoprire #altoadigedavivere

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Naturns  I  Naturno Naturns I Naturno 5 days ago
Naturns  I  Naturno

🔥𝗛𝗲𝗿𝘇-𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂-𝗙𝗲𝘂𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗺 𝟮𝟵. 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱🔥
Ein leuchtendes Zeichen des Glaubens und der Verbundenheit

Am 29. Juni 2025 werden in Südtirol wieder die traditionellen Herz-Jesu-Feuer entzündet – ein beeindruckendes Brauchtum, das tief in der Geschichte und im Glauben der Region verwurzelt ist.❤ Das Feuer, als Symbol der Sonne☀️, steht für Heilung, Fruchtbarkeit und Segen für Mensch, Tier und Natur.✨

Lasst euch dieses einmalige Erlebnis nicht entgehen – seid dabei, wenn am 29. Juni die Berge leuchten!🥰

📸: TG Naturns_Santer Peter; Bauernjugend Naturns;

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🔥 𝗙𝘂𝗼𝗰𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼 𝗖𝘂𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶 𝗚𝗲𝘀𝘂̀ – 𝟮𝟵 𝗴𝗶𝘂𝗴𝗻𝗼 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 🔥
Un segno luminoso di fede e di unione

Il 29 giugno 2025, in Alto Adige torneranno ad accendersi i tradizionali Fuochi del Sacro Cuore di Gesù – un'usanza suggestiva, profondamente radicata nella storia e nella fede della nostra terra. ❤
Il fuoco, simbolo del sole ☀️, rappresenta guarigione, fertilità e benedizione per le persone, gli animali e la natura. ✨

Non perdetevi questa esperienza unica – partecipate anche voi, quando il 29 giugno le montagne si illumineranno! 🥰

📸: TG Naturns_Santer Peter; Gioventù contadina di Naturno;

2
naturns_naturno naturns_naturno 6 days ago
naturns_naturno

Enjoying this breathtaking view!😍⛰️
Sometimes all it takes is a moment of silence and a gaze into the distance to rec#altoadigedascoprire

📸: Tourist office Naturns_Fotostudio2000

#naturns #naturno #sunnymountain #view #mountainlover #sunny #summer2025 #southtyrol #AussichtGenießen #NaturPur #Auszeit #Traumblick #Bergliebe #suedtirol #suedtirol_altoadige #altoadige #inmontagna #bellavista #estate #altoadigedascoprire

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