South Tyrol is the largest closed apple-growing region in Europe. Farmers have been growing apples since the 16th century. The apple regions along the Etsch and in the lower Eisacktal valley are spoilt with lots of sunshine and little rainfall. A fresh breeze blows at night. This climate is ideal for growing apples. Around 20 varieties are harvested, from sweet to sour, from mild to aromatic. If you go on holiday to a fruit farm at the beginning of April, over 18,000 hectares of apple trees will make the valley floor light up in full bloom.

A stroll through the sea of ​​flowers

A holiday on the farm in South Tyrol during the apple blossom is a feast for the senses. In the morning the view from the apartment or room gives you a glimpse of ​​the enchanting beauty of the apple blossoms. At breakfast on the terrace you are surrounded by the scent of a thousand apple blossoms. Warm temperatures lure you outside and offer the perfect conditions for relaxed bike tours in the valley. The mild spring sun shines on your face as you ride through blooming apple orchards. The endless expanse of the sea of ​​flowers is always in view. Along with this colourful splendour, a labour-intensive time begins for the fruit growers. There is still a long and busy road ahead to the productive harvest in autumn, which the farmer will be happy to tell you about.

Cold frosty nights

As soon as the trees begin to bloom, the farmer gets to work to protect his harvest. If the temperatures drop at night, the so-called frost sprinkling must be activated when the temperatures drop below zero. The fruit growers in South Tyrol use their irrigation systems for this. The trees are watered, the flowers freeze and remain intact. Thanks to the "ice mantle", the temperature of the apple blossoms never falls to a dangerous level. The farmers keep watch in the spring and keep each other informed. If the temperatures drop to around 0 degrees Celsius, a siren sounds to warn of the danger in the orchards. The modern farmers have installed an app on their mobile phones that warns them of frost. The next morning, the frozen apple trees gleam in the sun. A spectacle that is not only beautiful, but also extremely important.