While growers certainly enjoy the change of pace in the winter, they are still up quite a bit!
When winter settles in and orchards fall quiet, it’s tempting to imagine fruit growers enjoying a long seasonal break. But while trees rest, growers certainly don’t. The colder months are some of the busiest behind-the-scenes weeks of the entire year—packed with essential work that sets the stage for the next harvest.
Here’s a look at what really happens in orchards once the leaves drop and the temperatures dip.
1. Winter Pruning: Sculpting Next Year’s Crop
Pruning is the anchor task of winter orchard management. Growers spend hours—sometimes months—removing old, crowded, or damaged branches. Why?
- To let in sunlight (which improves fruit color and sweetness)
- To control tree size and shape
- To encourage new fruiting wood for next season
Pruning is meticulous work, often done in cold, quiet orchards with nothing but the sound of shears or saws. It’s equal parts art and science.
2. Monitoring for Pests and Diseases
Even in winter, some insects overwinter in bark, soil, or leaf litter. Growers:
- Inspect trees for egg masses and larvae
- Remove mummified fruit (“mummies”) that can harbor disease
- Plan integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for spring
Preventing problems now eliminates bigger issues later.
3. Repairing, Replacing & Improving Orchard Infrastructure
Winter is the time to fix what the busy season didn’t allow. You’ll often find growers:
- Repairing irrigation systems
- Mending trellis wires or posts
- Servicing farm machinery, sprayers, and tractors
- Replacing weather-damaged tree guards and mulch
A well-maintained orchard goes into spring stronger and more efficient.
4. Planting Preparations & Tree Orders
Though new trees typically get planted in early spring, the planning happens now.
Growers spend winter:
- Analyzing tree losses and planning replant blocks
- Ordering new varieties or rootstocks
- Preparing soil maps and site assessments
- Scheduling labor and equipment for planting
It’s like laying the blueprint for the orchard’s long-term future.
5. Soil Health & Orchard Floor Management
Healthy trees start with healthy soil. Winter tasks may include:
- Applying compost or organic matter
- Conducting soil tests and adjusting pH
- Managing cover crops or winter ground cover
- Mulching to protect young trees
Even when the soil is frozen, the planning and prep continues.
6. Winter Workshops, Training & Certification
Growers use this quieter season for learning and compliance:
- Attending agricultural conferences
- Studying new varieties, pest pressures, or technology
- Renewing pesticide applicator licenses
- Evaluating new orchard systems (trellising, high-density plantings, etc.)
This is when innovation takes root.
7. Planning the Entire Growing Season
From bloom to harvest, the orchard year is complex. Winter is the strategic season:
- Reviewing the past year’s yield and quality
- Forecasting labor needs
- Updating spray programs
- Budgeting and securing supplies
Success in July and August begins with planning in December and January.
8. Selling, Packing & Marketing Fruit
For growers who store apples, pears, or other long-keeping crops, winter is a major business period:
- Fruit is graded, packed, and shipped
- Sales contracts are filled
- Direct-to-consumer marketing continues
While the orchard sleeps, the business stays very much awake.
In Winter, Trees Rest. Growers Don’t.
The cold months are a critical, hardworking time that ensures orchards stay healthy, productive, and profitable. While the branches may be bare, the effort happening behind the scenes is what makes each juicy summer peach or crisp autumn apple possible.