Winter is here folks, whether you like it or not. Yes, the cold and snow can be a nuisance, but these wintery conditions have a lot of benefits that we tend not to think about while we are scraping snow and ice off our windshields in subfreezing temperatures. It is important though, that we acknowledge the benefits that winter provides, especially as they relate to soil health, insect and disease cycles and plant physiology.

Cold temperatures, while unliked by many, are critical to allow fruit trees to be productive. Fruit trees require a certain number of chill hours. Chill hours are described as the number of hours with temperatures below 45°F. The number of chill hours required varies by type of fruit and variety. In Ohio, we average between 1400 and 1600 chill hours during the winter. When selecting a variety of fruit tree to plant, the two most important factors to consider are the hardiness zone of your area and chilling hour requirements. A fruit tree requires a certain amount of these chilling hours, followed by warmer temperatures, to come out of dormancy. If chilling hour requirements are not met, the tree may be delayed in budding, the flower buds may not open, or open unevenly, and leaf production can be delayed. Big challenges can arise when weather varies too much between warm and cold. When we experience warmups between cold spells, plants can come out of dormancy to early as they “think” that it is spring. This can result in major risks associated with cold injury occurring.

Cold temperatures can also improve soil conditions, especially if we experience a freeze/thaw cycle. Granted, freeze/thaw cycles can cause some issues such as heaving in alfalfa fields, but there are some benefits too. When we have substantial freezing in the ground, the water in the soil expands. When this occurs, compacted soils can begin to soften. In years with repeated freeze/thaw cycles, you may see some significant improvements in areas that may have had shallow hardpans or compacted soils. Soils experiencing freeze/thaw cycles may also see an increase in macropore space, allowing for an increase in water infiltration.

In some instances, insects and pathogens may also be affected by extreme cold temperatures. Powdery mildew, for example, is not able to overwinter in our area. Fall armyworm experiences the same issues. What benefits our area even more in terms of limiting insect and pathogen overwintering is when the cold pushes into the southern half of the country. Many of the diseases and insects that affect our crops have to be blown up or migrate up from the south. Reducing their presence and survival rates can reduce or delay their arrival to northern states. Cold winters can significantly influence pest or disease presence in a region.  

In years with snow cover, we typically see less cold related damage to crops such as winter wheat and alfalfa. The snow can act as an insulating layer and protect crops from injury and prevent the ground from becoming as frozen as it would be if there was no snow cover. All of these factors are important things to keep an eye on as we navigate through the winter months. Understanding how winter affects our crops and soils can help us make better management decisions for the future. Cold and snow aren’t for everyone, but remember, if you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life, but still the same amount of snow.

 Frank Becker is the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator with Ohio State University Extension – Wayne County, and a Certified Crop Adviser, and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or becker.587@osu.edu
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This article was previously published in The Daily Record.