Do we really need winter?

The groundhog failed us again. So here we are… deep into the “six more weeks” that feel like six decades.

Most plants are not able to grow during the frigid days of winter. Their seeds must lie dormant beneath the ground until spring. It’s easy to imagine that plants (and people for that matter) would be better without this dismal season, but that just isn’t the case.

Countless plants rely on a process called "cold stratification" in order to germinate. This means that plant embryos hidden inside seeds need moist, cold conditions to break dormancy and grow. Without the winter, plants germinate at the wrong times or remain humble seeds.

Why do so many plants need the cold? Well, not even scientists fully understand. Damp conditions and weathering can help weaken the seed coat and allow seedlings to break out and grow. But beyond this, the molecular mechanisms are a mystery.

So this February, take comfort in the knowledge that the world is still full of delightful questions just waiting to be discovered... and that the cold of winter actually causes the beauty of spring.

Brian Rutter, PhD, is the cofounder of Hundredfold Video and plant biologist working for 2Blades at the University of Minnesota. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our “Sower Stories – Odd Facts About Plants” and video production tips in your inbox every month!