In Ukraine, 12% of winter and fruit crops need to be replanted
The poor condition of winter crops, which will require replanting or reseeding, has been observed on 12% of the total area in Ukraine. Among fruit crops, stone fruits suffered the greatest losses: the loss of apricot flower buds reached 51% in some regions.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.
As of March 31, winter crops had resumed growth throughout the country, and grain germination and seedling emergence were already observed in early spring crops.
“According to the results of spring surveys of winter crop fields conducted by meteorological stations, most areas are in good or excellent condition. The total area of winter crops in unsatisfactory condition, which will require replanting or reseeding, may amount to about 12% of the total sown area,” the report states.
According to data from fruit tree growth surveys conducted in the first half of March, the loss of apricot flower buds in the Kyiv and Kherson regions ranged from 13% to 33%, and in the Mykolaiv region—up to 51%. Cherry bud mortality in the Chernihiv, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions was 2–15%, and for sweet cherries—14–16%. Damage to apple tree buds was 3–14%; no damage was detected in peach, plum, pear, or grape buds.
“Sufficient warming and optimal moisture levels in the upper soil layers in southern and some western regions allowed for the early sowing of spring cereals and legumes, as early as mid-month,” the agency added.
According to observations, the temperature of the 10-cm soil layer (+7–15°C) allowed for the timely sowing of all early crops. Despite the lack of precipitation in March, the topsoil remained well-moistened across most areas, with only isolated sections in the south, west, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast being slightly moist or dry. Productive moisture reserves under winter crops at the end of March were mostly normal, except in some areas of the south and Vinnytsia region.
“March turned out to be the driest since 1991. There was a rapid loss of moisture. A contributing factor was low relative humidity—it dropped to 30% or lower throughout the month. Combined with moderate winds, this could lead to dust storms. Given the lack of precipitation, conditions for drought could develop in the near future,” the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center concluded.
As a reminder, the first strawberries appeared on store shelves in Kyiv at the end of March. Some supermarkets are just getting ready for the start of the season, while others are already offering both affordable and premium varieties of the berry.
As a reminder, the rise in buckwheat prices on the Ukrainian market is due to a decrease in last year’s harvest and a planned reduction in stocks ahead of the new season.
Prices for vegetables used in borscht remain stable in 2026.
As a reminder, prices in Ukraine rose by 1% over the month in February.
