Best Practices for Navigating Winter Production Challenges
When the fields are quiet and temperatures start to fall, it can feel like the growing season has come to a close. However, for many growers, winter is anything but idle. Behind greenhouse doors, heaters hum, hoses drain, plants are graded, and acres of inventory are moved and prepped with quiet precision. The work isn’t loud, but it makes a huge difference come spring. Winter isn’t downtime; it’s the season that determines how successful spring will be.
Real Winter Challenges
Growing in winter comes with curveballs: unpredictable temperature swings, sudden warm spells, power outages, labor constraints, the list goes on. Any one of those can impact plant health and throw production timelines off track. So, how do you keep plants healthy, systems ready, and spring programs on course when winter won’t follow the rules? We asked propagation leaders across Minnesota, Oregon, and Georgia what winter looks like in their regions and how the work they do now supports customer success later.
Minnesota: Overwintering
In Minnesota, overwintering is both craft and science. Midwest greenhouses are lined with Panda Poly, a black-and-white insulating film that helps prevent overheating, manage condensation, and maintain steady temperatures. Plants are also assigned a winter code, one of more than forty, so every variety has a clear plan for where it belongs, how it’s stored, and when it’s needed again.
And then there’s the biggest risk most people don’t think about. “Condensation, not cold, is usually what kills plants,” says Mike Hoffman, Department Head of Midwest Propagation. That’s why growers walk the houses weekly, often with flashlights during short winter days, checking vents, heaters, humidity, moisture, rodents, airflow, and anything else that could quietly become a problem. It’s not glamorous work, but it helps plants come out of winter healthy, uniform, and ready to move, ensuring spring programs have fewer hiccups.
Oregon: Harvest Season and Rain
In Oregon, winter is harvest time. Teams of more than 60 work through mud, rain, and cold, digging, grading, bundling, and storing millions of plants for the upcoming season. It’s physical, fast-moving work, and what’s harvested and handled well now is what customers can count on later. “It’s muddy, it’s cold, and it’s a lot of work,” says Jeff Stoven, Propagation Production Manager. “But this is when we build the foundation for spring production. Every clean bin, every graded seedling is a promise of quality.”
Georgia: Inconsistent Winter Weather
In Georgia, winter has a different personality. “We can have a hard freeze one night and 70 degrees two days later,” says Vickie Waters, Department Head of Georgia Propagation. That kind of swing means the strategy is all about flexibility and fast response. Teams need to be ready to roll up shade cloths, cover sensitive crops, and adjust quickly as conditions change. “Winter’s short, but we use it to prepare, clean, and reposition,” Vickie says. “Expect the unexpected and always be ready for it.”
For additional information on overcoming winter production challenges, including steps for preparing for spring and adjusting practices for different climates and temperature fluctuations, please read the original article hosted on the Bailey Nurseries website.
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