In addition to the almost month-long increase in the length of the growing season, the Central England Temperature record figures also reveal that six of the ten longest growing seasons in the CET record sequence have occurred in the last 30 years.
NFU chief horticulture adviser Chris Hartfield said: “The ‘growing season’ records released by the Met Office today are based on warm days. While clearly vital, there is so much more to successfully growing a crop than just having warmer temperatures. Too many warm days can be a problem for many crops, particularly if the crops require a period of chilling to produce successfully, such as apples, pears, blackcurrants and raspberries.
“While warmer conditions can favour growing, they also favour the build-up of pests and diseases which attack the crops. Temperature aside, other weather factors such as rainfall and light levels also play critical roles in how well a crop will grow.
“There is no straight line relationship between a longer growing season triggered by warmer temperatures and growers being able to grow bigger or better crops as a result. Growers face weather challenges on a daily basis and will continue to make use of the latest technology to deliver great British food and plants whatever the weather. It’s vital that British farmers have access to the latest technologies in order to cope with the challenges of a changing climate.”