SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Despite the cooler temperatures of late, there is someone who believes Yellowknife gets too much sun, especially when he's trying to grow vegetables.

Horticulturist Christian Frenette sits beside an eggplant in the Arctic Farmer's green house. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

Yes, the Arctic Farmer's horticulturist, Christian Frenette, sees the sun as his biggest foe when it comes to produce.

"Everything dries out, it burns everything because the sun is so aggressive in the North. The sun is very bad," said Frenette.

However Frenette, who came to Yellowknife from Quebec five months ago, said if the right provisions are made, such as greenhouse shade cloths, a good many greens can be produced.

"The fruit enjoys 24 hours of sun and they mature two times faster," he said.

"When you're well set up you can grow so many vegetables, that's why next year I'm going to grow a lot of tomatoes – oh yeah."

Frenette said this summer has been a season of experiments as he worked out what can and cannot be grown in the North.

He said corn has proved the most difficult to grow, saying he will try a new variety next year, and he also intends to grow some rice and bring in plants and berries native to the North.

Despite some difficulties, Frenette believes with the aid of shade cloths and some care and attention, most plants and vegetables can be cultivated in the North.

"It's not that bad. The nights are not too cold, there's not too much you can't grow here," he said.

It makes sense that Frenette makes the most of Yellowknife's limited summer – for most of the year his duties as horticulturist are stalled.

"You can't grow anything in the winter. It costs to much and is too hard to keep the greenhouse warm," he said.

And as the bitter Northern winter approaches, Frenette busily goes about his work amongst the plants, all the while knowing what awaits him just around the corner.

"I will be shovelling snow," he said, smiling.

But what is it about Yellowknifers which brings them back to garden supply stores to replenish their entire gardens year after year, only to have their beloved botanics buried in snow only a few months later?

"It's uplifting, you know. You have to have some beauty for a few months," said Colleen Birkas, a decorator at Arctic Farmer.

She said this season has seen a bumper crop, with trees and bushes being particularly popular.

"This year people have gone crazy for bushes. The city is really starting to come alive," she said.

"Pretty well everything can grow here. I mean, look at those Geraniums!"