What is one way climate change disrupts seasonal cycles in horticulture?

Climate change significantly affects seasonal cycles in horticulture, particularly by causing earlier flowering and harvest timings. As global temperatures rise, plants may receive cues, such as warmer temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, that signal them to begin blooming and fruiting earlier in the year than they traditionally would. This shift in timing can disrupt the synchronization between plant life cycles and the availability of pollinators, as well as affect the overall yield and quality of crops.

For instance, if a plant flowers earlier due to warm temperatures but pollinators are not yet active, there may be insufficient pollination, leading to reduced fruit set and yields. Additionally, such changes can also lead to misalignments in the timing of pest and disease cycles, further impacting horticultural practices.

While other aspects of climate change, such as longer growing seasons or stabilized temperatures, can have positive effects, they are not direct disruptions to the established seasonal cycles like the earlier flowering and harvest timings can be.