Hardy Northern gardeners defy inhospitable climate
Jack Danylchuk
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 21/01) - A griFood Canada's updated map of the country's plant hardiness zones paints the North deep purple.
The colour choice might reflect the passion of Northern gardeners, but it's meant to show the climate's zero tolerance for everything from asparagus to zucchini.
That cold fact doesn't chill the ardour of Northern gardeners, who see the new portrayal of their ground as an improvement: the previous map coloured everything North of 60 tombstone black.
Patience is the key to success in the Northern garden. From Fort Smith to Norman Wells and Hay River to Yellowknife, the advice from veteran horticulturists is the same.
"Don't start too early," says Jacqueline Lambert.
The Yellowknife gardener has coaxed such delicacies as melons and cantaloupe by not rushing her delicate plants from her greenhouse to the cold ground.
The long Northern days make up for the absence of early warmth. Instead of following the southern ritual of planting gardens on the Victoria Day weekend, Northerners usually wait another three weeks.
At Paradise Gardens in Hay River, Francis Greenfield doesn't set out her tomatoes until mid-June -- a precaution against killing frosts that have blackened plants as late June 18.
Greenfield has managed to grow corn by starting it in the greenhouse, but this year may have to forgo the late summer treat.
"This is a very late year; it's still not warm enough at night," she said.
Rising energy costs have forced Gerry Loomis to close Canada's northern-most commercial greenhouse this year.
Loomis, with 39 years experience gardening in Norman Wells, said that this year is colder than usual.
"We're two to three weeks behind normal," he said.
Fort Smith greenhouse grower Gail Steen has created small, sheltered zones of warmth in her garden, where she is able to grow plums and southern trees like burr oak and linden.
Steen Farms' 6,000 sq. ft. commercial greenhouse produces a full range of bedding plants and delicate vegetables like zucchini and tomatoes for her own garden.
"Anything that will grow in Saskatchewan can be grown here," she said.
