Summer Solstice is an Optimal Day for Plants — But Climate Change Could Disrupt This Timing

Jun 12, 2025

A new study led by UBC researchers suggests that the summer solstice the longest day of the year may serve as a key cue for plant growth and reproduction. But in a changing climate, relying on this fixed signal may no longer help plants to survive or thrive.

“Plants are known to use temperature to time things like leaf growth and flowering,” says lead author Dr. Victor Van der Meersch, a postdoctoral researcher at UBC’s faculty of forestry. “This study shows that the solstice is an optimal growth period and could also be an important trigger for reproduction.”

Scientists have long known that plants use daylength to time important seasonal events. But only recently have they begun to explore whether the solstice itself typically around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere plays a specific role.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.