Growing culinary herbs in Alaska has to be one of the most challenging things for gardener. The area is very cold in winter and, unlike other parts of America, has very little daylight during the cold months. The extreme temperatures can wreak havoc for growing herbs as the earth freezes up to five feet underground.
It isn't only the soil that has a rough time from Alaskan winters, it is the plants too. Therefore, natives have to start preparing their seeds indoors for when the last of the frost finally dissipates, usually around May 31.
The growing season in the region is very short which means they need to prepare the land throughout the whole of winter so it is ready for the growing season in spring. They often do this well before the first frost of winter touches the land. Among the techniques they utilize is to test the soil. They do this by either going to the local university or buying a test kit. As the kit is cheaper most people go with that.
They normally check out the soil on two occasions, when fall comes and when spring has sprung. The fall testing is crucial to the overall process because it gives them the only chance to improve the land before winter arrives. These improvements will bear fruit during the spring thaw and allow them to grow without worrying about the quality of their land. If this is neglected they may have to import soil from outside sources to improve the composition of the soil.
Some gardeners use horse manure to improve the soil, but care should be taken when doing this. They can contain chickweed seeds and cause no end of difficulties if they are not composted properly. Organic manure can also be used, but beware of anything that is high in nitrogen as it has the capacity to burn mature plants and seedlings. Over the whole of the winter this is then worked into the land.
The emphasis in Alaska is usually on winter because this dictates what can be done during the other seasons. That is why tending the earth hardly ever stops. People have been known to use wood ash to improve the soil and even coffee grounds. It is said the coffee grounds prevent flies from laying eggs that produce root maggots.
It is vital to protect the land against the extreme weather as temperatures can plummet to below freezing and stay there for a while. The dark winters do not promote much growth so steps have to be taken to protect the land. Therefore, some gardeners will put down clear plastic mulch or black plastic mulch to protect from the cold. Another way is to start seedling in a greenhouse, transferring them to land when the thaw comes.
Creating land fit enough for growing culinary herbs in Alaska is a challenge. As long as the gardener can remember to start preparing early for the cold weather and lack of daylight they should be up to the challenge.
It isn't only the soil that has a rough time from Alaskan winters, it is the plants too. Therefore, natives have to start preparing their seeds indoors for when the last of the frost finally dissipates, usually around May 31.
The growing season in the region is very short which means they need to prepare the land throughout the whole of winter so it is ready for the growing season in spring. They often do this well before the first frost of winter touches the land. Among the techniques they utilize is to test the soil. They do this by either going to the local university or buying a test kit. As the kit is cheaper most people go with that.
They normally check out the soil on two occasions, when fall comes and when spring has sprung. The fall testing is crucial to the overall process because it gives them the only chance to improve the land before winter arrives. These improvements will bear fruit during the spring thaw and allow them to grow without worrying about the quality of their land. If this is neglected they may have to import soil from outside sources to improve the composition of the soil.
Some gardeners use horse manure to improve the soil, but care should be taken when doing this. They can contain chickweed seeds and cause no end of difficulties if they are not composted properly. Organic manure can also be used, but beware of anything that is high in nitrogen as it has the capacity to burn mature plants and seedlings. Over the whole of the winter this is then worked into the land.
The emphasis in Alaska is usually on winter because this dictates what can be done during the other seasons. That is why tending the earth hardly ever stops. People have been known to use wood ash to improve the soil and even coffee grounds. It is said the coffee grounds prevent flies from laying eggs that produce root maggots.
It is vital to protect the land against the extreme weather as temperatures can plummet to below freezing and stay there for a while. The dark winters do not promote much growth so steps have to be taken to protect the land. Therefore, some gardeners will put down clear plastic mulch or black plastic mulch to protect from the cold. Another way is to start seedling in a greenhouse, transferring them to land when the thaw comes.
Creating land fit enough for growing culinary herbs in Alaska is a challenge. As long as the gardener can remember to start preparing early for the cold weather and lack of daylight they should be up to the challenge.
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