Alaska (NorthWest Alaska) Gardening

[Rex in OTZ]

Im looking to get in a little more garden this year after breakup, any other coastal gardeners??

What works for you?

[Rex in OTZ]

Bourough and city and other groups pitching in to get something rolling.

I had built some wood frames to garden in from 2x6's but a current group is moving ahead with building boxes (9ea) they are on average 18" deep and big enough to fit on top a pallet the deep sides will cut the wind a big issue here on the coast.

Starting seed indoors in paper dixie cups, lots of cool wx stuff snap&snow peas, cabbage, raddish, Kolarabi, see how it goes.
Tomatos is next, I did try a few times but the cold west summer winds off the arctic sea can raise hell on tomatos will wilt em quick, so they may spend time indoors or the cab of a old truck.

[bearmgc]

Sounds like you could also benefit from some windbreaks around your garden. Here in Wyoming, my privacy fence really makes a difference.

[bilmac]

Yes on the windbreaks. I planted a lot of fruit trees, and because I had it laying around, I used sheets of OSB in a triangle around a lot of them to keep the deer and rabbits off. What I am noticing as they leaf out this spring is that there are many more leaves below the level of the OSB where the wind can't reach.

[Rex in OTZ]

Ive some new and old seeds Ive been going through.

Im starting seeds in 3oz dixie cups with a blend of garden/potting soil with a minor snort of water cut with a few drops of liquid plant grow. I use a sharp point marker to label whats what just below the cup rim.
I plan on tempering them in my GMC Jimmy front seat & dash board in the back yard crack opwn the side and back winders during the warmest parts the day.
Seems  my Danali brand seeds are holding out the seeds that are 3 yro, Brussels sprouts, bunch onion, snow peas, lettuce, cabbage all sprouted right up, some the older seed may be bad I'll give them a 4 more days to peek out then lance in some new seed's in the nonperforming cups.

[Rex in OTZ]

Each day is a little fun to look for green shoots, this morning I found 5 new shoots, spinich (2 cups), Collard greens a very tiny shoot of somthing green, 2 cups of brussels sprouts, little by littel they sprout.

What do you think of my photos looking out twards the mouth of the Noatak river, Anybody have a good guess what time the day I took them pictures???  

[Rex in OTZ]

Composting in the arctic will require human intervention, since living in a arid, cool environment isnt condusive to natural composting in the land lichens, we have peat that can be several feet deep, Over in Candle Ak, goldminers have dug up prehistoric fern leaves that look like they been buried last couple year's.
I would like to use willows leaves which should make a awesome mulch base if accelerated in a compost heap.
My main concern is willow seeds that would sprout.
How hot does it have to be to kill willow seeds?
Dead tundra grass undergrowth leaves behind quite a bit of veg matter that should work.
I was thinking of useing a Black Poly drum and filling with kitchen waste, fish guts and old leaves.

[Rex in OTZ]

Some my sprouts budd just fine then 4 days later they wilt off and die.
the soil is not over saturated mabe kinda on the dry side i dont want a water logged cup, seems most all the lettuce is hosed, some the brussles sprouts too.