Cold Storage of Seedlings

Winter in Michigan used to be quite predictable. It typically wasn't uncommon to have bitter-cold temperatures and tons of snow. However, lately we are observing winters with well below average snowfall and thawing events followed by an extreme frost. Without the insulating protection of snow, this ever increasingly erratic weather can wreak havoc on seedlings entering or exiting dormancy.

At Vans Pines Nursery, our cold storage facility has become an incredible ally in dealing with these shifting, extreme weather patterns. By harvesting plants at the right point in time, we can capture the trees in full dormancy and move them into our cooler that is purposely built to keep plants at an ideal temperature and humidity in order to shelter them from fluctuating temperatures. Ultimately, this helps ensure the health, quality, and durability of the seedlings.

Some growers and nurseries still retain the mentality that placing seedlings in cold storage facilities is harmful to the plants. This has some basis, but only when the duration of storage exceeds 6-7 months do you see any appreciable cellular degradation. In our many years of utilizing cold storage units, there is seldom any loss of crop vitality when shipped within this time frame.

Put our quality to the test. Test out one of our seedlings for free!

To see the quality of our seedlings first-hand, we will provide you with a free seedling sample of your tree of choice. Click here to request a free seedling sample!

To learn more about how Vans Pines can help you grow your business faster, click here.