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How to Become a Greenhouse Worker in Ontario (Work in Greenhouses: Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Flowers): Salary, Training, and Career Outlook

by Occupations.ca Team
9 min read

Are you looking for steady, hands-on work with plants in Ontario—especially in greenhouses that grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and Flowers? If you enjoy physical work, want year‑round opportunities, and like seeing the direct results of your effort, becoming a Greenhouse Worker could be a great fit for you.

Job Description

Greenhouse Workers in Ontario help plant, grow, care for, and harvest crops in controlled environments. You typically work for greenhouse vegetable producers (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers) in areas like Leamington–Kingsville (Essex County), Niagara, Norfolk, and the Holland Marsh, or for ornamental growers producing bedding plants, potted flowers, and nursery stock.

You’ll Support daily crop care, follow Safety and hygiene procedures, monitor plant health, and use tools and equipment to keep plants thriving. Many roles are entry-level and offer on‑the‑job Training, with clear paths to more skilled positions such as IPM (Integrated Pest Management) scout, irrigation/fertigation technician, or assistant grower.

Daily work activities

Your day often starts with a brief meeting on crop priorities, safety updates, and production targets. Depending on the crop and season, you may:

  • Prepare and sanitize work areas to prevent pests and diseases.
  • Plant seedlings and transplant young plants into growing systems (e.g., rockwool slabs, pots).
  • Train, prune, and clip vines (especially in tomatoes and cucumbers).
  • Harvest and grade produce, maintain quality standards, and record output.
  • Scout for pests and diseases, report issues to supervisors, and follow IPM procedures.
  • Mix and apply fertilizers (under Supervision), check irrigation, and monitor pH/EC.
  • Move carts, pallets, and crates; load product for shipping.
  • Clean tools, benches, and aisles; maintain strict biosecurity rules.
  • Use handheld devices or tags for traceability and production data.

Shifts can be early morning to mid‑afternoon in vegetable operations, and longer or staggered in peak seasons for flowers.

Main tasks

  • Planting, transplanting, spacing, and staking plants.
  • Pruning, training, clipping, deleafing, and twisting vines.
  • Harvesting, sorting, trimming, and packing produce or flowers.
  • Monitoring crop health and reporting pests/diseases.
  • Cleaning, sanitizing, and following biosecurity protocols.
  • Setting up irrigation lines, checking drippers, and basic fertigation support.
  • Operating simple greenhouse tools and carts; safe Material Handling.
  • Keeping production and quality records.
  • Following WHMIS and health and safety procedures.
  • Supporting supervisors and working in a team to meet daily targets.
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Required Education

Many employers hire without formal Post-Secondary Education and provide on‑the‑job training. However, education can speed up your advancement and increase your earning potential.

Diplomas and credentials

  • Certificate (short programs, 8–16 weeks up to 1 year)

    • WHMIS and agricultural safety training.
    • Pesticide safety (Grower Pesticide Safety Course) if you plan to handle pesticides under supervision.
    • Short horticulture or greenhouse courses (plant ID, IPM basics, irrigation basics).

  • College Diploma (1–2 years)

    • Horticultural Technician or Horticulture diploma with greenhouse courses.
    • Food and Farming or Agriculture diplomas with greenhouse components.
    • Valuable for moving into lead hand, IPM, or irrigation technician roles.

  • Bachelor’s Degree (3–4 years)

    • Agriculture, Plant Science, or Horticulture-related degree.
    • Helpful if you aim for roles like assistant grower, grower, or greenhouse supervisor/manager.

Length of studies

  • Certificates: weeks to 1 year.
  • College diplomas: usually 2 years.
  • Bachelor’s degrees: typically 4 years.

You can start as a worker while studying part-time or take micro‑credentials to upgrade skills quickly.

Where to study? (Ontario)

Industry and government resources (Ontario):

Salary and Working Conditions

Salary in Ontario

Wages vary by region, crop, and your experience. Ontario greenhouse worker roles (NOC 85103 – Nursery and greenhouse labourers) commonly offer:

  • Entry‑level: typically near the provincial minimum wage to about $18/hour.
  • Experienced/lead hands: often $20–$24/hour, sometimes higher with bonuses, night shift premiums, or specialized skills (IPM, irrigation).

Check current wages and outlook on Job Bank:

Minimum wage (Ontario): https://www.ontario.ca/page/minimum-wage-ontario

Note: Some employers offer productivity bonuses during harvest, paid breaks, or overtime in peak periods. Benefits (such as extended health or RRSP matching) are more common at larger greenhouse operations.

Working conditions

  • Environment: warm to hot, humid, and bright with supplemental lighting; you may work at heights on rolling trolleys for vine crops.
  • Physical demands: standing and walking for most of the day, bending, reaching, lifting crates (often 15–25 kg), and repetitive tasks.
  • Schedule: early start times are common. Peak season (spring for flowers; year‑round for many vegetables) can mean longer hours or weekend shifts.
  • Safety: strict hygiene and biosecurity; personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, masks or respirators when required); labelled chemical storage and WHMIS Compliance.
  • Location: many greenhouses are in rural areas with limited public transit. Some employers arrange shuttles or provide Parking.
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Job outlook

Ontario is a North American leader in greenhouse vegetable production, with large clusters in Essex County (Leamington–Kingsville) and significant operations in Niagara and Norfolk. Demand for greenhouse labour is steady due to year‑round production in high‑tech facilities.

Overall, if you are reliable, safety‑minded, and comfortable with physical work, your employment prospects are good, especially in major greenhouse regions.

Key Skills

Soft skills

  • Reliability and punctuality: greenhouse schedules run on tight timelines.
  • Attention to detail: noticing early signs of pests, diseases, or plant stress.
  • Teamwork: coordinating tasks and sharing equipment in busy environments.
  • Communication: following instructions and reporting issues clearly.
  • Adaptability: shifting tasks quickly based on crop needs.
  • Work ethic and stamina: staying productive in hot, humid conditions.

Hard skills

  • Crop care techniques: pruning, training, clipping, deleafing, thinning, and harvesting for tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and flowers.
  • IPM basics: identifying common pests (e.g., whiteflies, thrips), sticky card monitoring, and sanitation.
  • Irrigation and fertigation support: checking drippers, mixing nutrients under supervision, and measuring pH/EC.
  • Quality Control and grading: consistent sizing, trimming, and packaging standards.
  • Sanitation and biosecurity: tool sterilization, footbaths, clean‑in/clean‑out procedures.
  • Material handling: safe lifting, using rolling benches, carts, pallet jacks, and occasionally forklifts (with training).
  • Recordkeeping: using labels, handheld devices, or simple logs for traceability and yields.
  • Health and safety: WHMIS knowledge, PPE use, and basic first aid awareness.

Helpful certifications:

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

  • Strong demand in Ontario’s greenhouse hubs; many entry-level openings.
  • Year‑round work in controlled environments (especially vegetables).
  • Clear advancement to lead hand, IPM scout, irrigation/fertigation tech, or assistant grower.
  • Skill-building in food production and plant care, useful across agriculture and horticulture.
  • Satisfying, tangible results—you see the plants grow and harvest the final product.
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Disadvantages

  • Physical demands: repetitive tasks, standing for long periods, and lifting.
  • Heat and humidity: working conditions can be uncomfortable, especially in summer.
  • Shifts and weekends: peak seasons and harvest schedules can affect work–life balance.
  • Wage ceilings: higher pay usually requires specialized skills or supervisory roles.
  • Rural commute: limited public transit near major greenhouse hubs.

Expert Opinion

If you’re starting out, focus on being consistently reliable, safe, and quick to learn. Supervisors in Ontario greenhouses look for workers who show initiative—asking questions, noticing plant issues early, and maintaining quality even when the pace is fast.

To move up, target these steps:

  1. Get your WHMIS right away and learn your employer’s sanitation and biosecurity rules.
  2. Ask to shadow experienced staff during IPM scouting and irrigation checks.
  3. Take the Grower Pesticide Safety Course through the Ontario Pesticide Education Program (https://www.opep.ca/) to prepare for more technical duties.
  4. Keep simple but accurate records—this is essential for food safety and helps you stand out.
  5. Consider a college horticulture diploma part‑time or full‑time if you want to move toward technician or assistant grower roles.

Pace yourself physically, stay hydrated, and use proper lifting techniques. In larger Ontario operations, strong performers can become lead hands within 12–24 months, and with targeted training, move into technical or supervisory roles where wages and responsibilities are higher. If you’re interested in long-term growth, build plant science knowledge and basic computer literacy—modern greenhouses use climate and irrigation control systems that reward tech‑savvy workers.

FAQ

Do I need formal education to get hired as a Greenhouse Worker in Ontario?

No. Many Ontario employers hire for entry-level roles without post-secondary education and provide on-the-job training. However, having a horticulture diploma or pesticide safety certification can help you secure better-paying roles faster and position you for advancement.

Are greenhouse jobs in Ontario seasonal or year‑round?

Both exist. Ornamental and flower operations have heavy spring seasons, while many vegetable greenhouses in Ontario operate year‑round with staggered peak periods for planting and harvesting. In major hubs like Leamington–Kingsville, year‑round work is common.

What safety training will my employer expect?

At minimum, you’ll follow WHMIS and site‑specific safety and biosecurity procedures. If you support pesticide applications, you’ll need training and supervision, and employers often prefer candidates who have completed the Grower Pesticide Safety Course (https://www.opep.ca/). First Aid/CPR and safe material handling training are also useful.

How can I move from general labour to a better-paid role?

Focus on specialized skills: IPM scouting, irrigation/fertigation, and quality control. Ask to learn pH/EC testing, nutrient mixing (under supervision), and basic climate/irrigation Controls. Consider a Horticulture Technician diploma (e.g., Humber, Fleming, Durham) and keep excellent production and safety records to demonstrate reliability.

Where can I find greenhouse jobs in Ontario?

Start with Job Bank and filter for Ontario:

You can also check employer websites in major greenhouse regions (Leamington–Kingsville, Niagara) and look at local employment service providers. Industry sites like OGVG (https://www.ogvg.com/) offer sector information that can point you toward large producers.

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