[Self-grown Branches] The average temperature in February is about 1°C. The winter in Nakanojo Town is busy with planting and cold weather preparations. | February 2026

I'm Hita, and I'm cultivating cut branches in Nakanojo Town, Gunma Prefecture.

In mid-November 2025, I planted 220 sweet pepperbush (Clethra barbinervis) plants, which I received from the Nakamura Flower Growers' Association.

Sweet pepperbush, also known as dwarf fothergilla, is a vigorous grower, so care must be taken not to damage its roots during transplanting.

In February and March, I plan to plant about 130 more in another field.

One month after planting, in December, I was relieved to see them thriving, still with their leaves, perhaps due to the warm weather. I hear this variety can adapt to temperature changes in Nakanojo, so I hope they can withstand the frost and snow.

As preparation for winter, we also implemented cold weather measures in the eucalyptus field in early December.

I laid straw, which I received from a farmer, around the base of the plants, but the strong winds hitting the slope scattered it, so I stacked bamboo to mitigate the problem.

From spring onwards, until around late June, we plan to further expand the fields and plant mainly eucalyptus.

The first half of 2026 looks to be quite busy, but I find great fulfillment in learning about agriculture every day. I'll do my best to make a living from cultivating cut branches.

Written by
Yukio Hida

As a member of a regional revitalisation programme, he works on branch cultivation in Nakanojo, Gunma. After experience in the flower wholesale industry, he now handles shipping and delivery for the branch subscription and began his current activities in February 2025.