Citrus frost

New research has warned Florida growers to prepare for some harsh winters ahead, with extreme weather potentially causing plants to flower earlier and shrinking the production season for key crops such as citrus.

A study carried out by the University of Central Florida has suggested that, if recent trends continue, more frequent freezes and larger temperature swings between winter and spring followed by hotter summer months could become commonplace.

This could threaten subtropical crops such as oranges that depend on mild winter and spring months, according to the research team.

'The weather in Florida has been getting wacky,' said Betsy Von Holle, assistant professor of biology at the University who led the study. 'And that's definitely having an impact beyond simple temperature changes. If the trend continues, it may affect everything from when we start seeing flowers and birds migrating to what foods we can grow.'

Published in the PLoS ONE journal from the Public Library of Science, the study highlights the complexity of changing climate and the need for more research into regional and seasonal climate changes.