North Carolina's 'Worst and Most Damaging Freeze in Our History" 1955

WEATHER WEARY farmers caught it from all directions during March. Pitt and some other eastern North Carolina counties even suffered through a dust storm. “Business as usual” is the way this Pitt farmer viewed the 60-mile-an-hour winds that scattered bits of his soil as far as the Atlantic. This was the day Howard Ellis opened his 1955 irrigation demonstrations—in Pitt County. The program still drew a crowd of better than 100.

“Freeze Damages to Tar Heel Farmers Run Into Millions” in the April 1955 issue of Extension Farm-News

North Carolina farmers—especially its fruit growers—were sent reeling by an out-of-season freeze on March 27 and 28.

Described by some veteran farm observers as the “worst and most damaging freeze in our history,” the loss from the cold weather was estimated to run into millions of dollars.

The peach and apple crops were virtually wiped out, and the loss of these two important crops is expected to total close to $7 million.

Berry growers, vegetable growers, and commercial flower growers also suffered heavy damages.

Azaleas were severely damaged throughout the state and were practically eliminated in certain parts, according to John H. Harris, Extension horticulturist who was beleaguered by crimes from frantic home-owners wanting to know what could be done for their stricken shrubs.

Roses, gardenias, crabapples, and many other plants that were in active growth were also hit hard.

All tender vegetables planted in the open which had either germinated or were up were definitely killed, according to Harris who advised that crops like snap beans, cucumbers, squash, and watermelon, be replanted as soon as possible.

Beets, carrots, mustard, and radish were killed in most areas except in the extreme southeast.

Damage to tobacco plant beds was reported to some areas, especially in the Old Belt and the burley counties in the west. Generally enough plants escaped serious injury to insure sufficient plants to set the tobacco crop, however, according to R.R. Bennett, Extension tobacco specialist.

With the exception of azaleas, most trees, shrubs, and flowers only had the ends of the branches frozen and many will sprout from the old portions. Chrysanthemums will in many instances come out again.

Harris insisted that the freeze was not a test of ordinary winter hardiness. He said that even the toughest plants were killed if they happened to start early and were full of sap at the time.