Grape and peach growers and livestock owners in Gillespie County were ready for this week’s artic blast and are hopeful that crops and livestock will not be damaged by the cold spell and will meet the required chill hours.

Grapes

Grape vines are hardy — which is why they’re in Texas. But temperatures that dip below freezing can be a death sentence, without preparation.

Andre Boada, founder of Vinocadre, a consulting and educational platform for wineries, said winter weather does “create hav...