This page is all about our subarctic garden trials!
Some people like to grow what will will work. We like to trial and experiment with things, especially when they have very little information out there about cold climate performance. Or, perhaps we’re trying to solve a consistent garden problem and we found what works!
This is a catalog of all the various experiments that we’ve conducted. Each includes the variety grown, methods we used and the general results we received. Our goal is to maintain this page with trials, as we perform them.
Subarctic Okra Trials
Okra is not a particularly popular thing to grow up north. It does well in the south, but in northern climates, it is widely reported as unsuccessful.
Variety: Clemson Spineless
Gardening Method: Container (5 gallon bucket)- Location: Greenhouse
- Result: Produced, Highly marginal
- Status: Would not likely grow again
In our test, we grew four okra plants from seed. Two of the best garden starts were selected for further growth. They were grown in our outdoor greenhouse. Despite a relatively cool summer, we were able to get marginal production from our plants. Approximately 5 full size pieces of okra from both plants. This proved to us that it is possible to grow okra in the subarctic, but ultimately, it did not meet our production goals.
Subarctic Melon Trials
Many types of melons are quite doable in the subarctic greenhouse, especially if you’re willing to hand pollinate. It is far more difficult to get them to work outdoors, however, and no known varieties exist. (Yet!)
Variety: Minnesota Midget
- Gardening Method: Container (5 gallon bucket)
- Location: Outdoors
- Result: Failed
- Status: Needs further experimentation
The Minnesota Midget is one of the most cold-climate friendly melons out there. We had high hopes for our trial. We grew three plants from seed and selected two for further growth. Unfortunately, the summer we grew it, we experienced almost a week of low 40F degree temperatures. This proved too much for these cold sensitive plants and both did not survive. Highly seasonally dependent, but needs further research.
Litchi Tomato Trials
Litchi tomatoes are a highly interesting plant, typically found in southern latitudes. They are characteristically laden with sharp, large thorns.
Variety: Litchi Tomato
Gardening Method: Container (5 gallon bucket)- Location: Outdoors
- Result: Marginal
- Status: Needs further experimentation
We grew three litchi tomatoes from seed and selected two for further growth. The growth of the litchi tomato was incredible and certainly ranks in one of the most interesting plants we’ve ever grown. We saw 5-6 foot plants with very heavy flower growth. Our plants exhibited great cold climate tolerance and were able to fruit, despite a cool summer. However, despite this, none of our fruits were able to mature during the 3 month summer. Further experiments would involve starting them earlier (~8 weeks) and possibly sheltering them.
Subarctic Cucumber Trials
Cucumbers can do quite well in greenhouses in the subarctic. Often, in good summers, they will also heavily produce outdoors
Variety: Mexican Gherkin (Cucamelon)
- Gardening Method: Raised beds with trellis
- Location: Outdoors
- Result: Failed
- Status: Little interest in continuing trials
The logic behind trying the Mexican Gherkin was that it was a small cucumber that might produce quite prolifically. We grew about (6) plants from seed and planted all of them. Growth was fairly slow throughout the season. While both male and female flowers presented, quite prolifically, none of our cucumbers grew to any substantial size. We believe this to be climate related and not related to pollinators. We might consider trying them again, but have very little interest in doing so.
Subarctic Eggplant Trials
Eggplants aren’t the most popular thing to grow anywhere, but especially so in the subarctic.
Variety: Patio Baby Eggplant
Gardening Method: Container (5 gallon bucket)- Location: Outdoors
- Result: Success!
- Status: Regular production
We really wanted to find a container friendly, relatively small eggplant variety to test out. We tried the Patio Baby Eggplant and wanted to see how well they could do outdoors. Our initial trials have turned into a plant that is now a part of our regular production. In most years, we get a useable number of eggplants from four plants. In cold summers, production is quite low. Although every year isn’t the success we hope, there has been enough successes to continue production of this plant. We are also looking at trying these in our subarctic greenhouse.
