That is quite a harvest for end of May! I know you depend on a greenhouse for a full season, but when is your last frost date? Is that your main challenge @Alasgun - short season, or is it also a day length issue?
We have 15 more frost free days here than where we moved from in North Dakota, typically we’re done before the frost day anyway Due to colder, wetter weather and decreasing light. Everything is usually good till mid August And usually have frost late September, early October. This is the time we lift Potatoes, Parsnips, Carrots and Beets.
I know so little about the Alaskan climate, other than the winters are very, very cold. I had heard, I thought, about a midnight sun? was it? or something in regards to long, long periods of sun in Alaska. Our days get longer here in summer, but it is still always dark at ten o'clock no matter what time of year. I had no idea that rainfall could be so significant up there.@heirloomgal , we learn to adapt! Although the season is shorter than most locals, it is intense and by the end we are really thankful it’s break time
part of the adapting is learning how to get along in an ever changing environment. Long days: are both a blessing and a curse. plants prosper under near ideal long days however, it messes with they’re metabolism some. For example; a lot of what you read on a seed package does not pertain up here. Some things seem to bolt prematurely, others will hang on and thrive long after they’re expected time.
The other side of this coin are the times of perpetual drip; during which we may be subjected to a week of gloomy, cool, cloudy wet weather. A powerful dehumidifier helps us get thru these periods without being completely overrun with various molds.
The Alaskan rule of thumb is, if your adaptable and not set in your ways and willing to accept some failure; you'll do just fine gardening up here. Not that much different than any where else really!
