It ought to be easier to grow corn near Fairbanks than here in Anchorage. I can't image why anyone would knowingly disturb permafrost when all you would have to do is build a raised bed.

Cold soil=rasied beds. I pretty much just do raised beds anyway, since all I have on this lot is rocks and tree roots.

I saw a house this summer where the gardner was using a red plastic over the soil in a raised bed. She said it was keeping the soil warmer. Those plants were huge, even by our standards.

Gloria

When I gardened in Fairbanks, made hot beds (my term) with new manure with soil on top. This really worked. Many people in FAIR havelovely big greenhouses for tomatoes. I neverhad a greenhouse but would start corn early in 1quart milk containers, lots and lots of seeds started under lights. Lots of setosa iris. Veggies grew very well. Lots of lilium too.
Inanda

Corn grew in Sterling this year. Never heard of that before but I hate some of that baby corn. It was great. I grew artichokes outdoors in Kenai (colder than airbanks, Sterling or Anchorage in the summer) and we ate them a few years ago. The trick to all of this is try, try and try again. I seen green peppers growing right outside in Anchorage and doing better than my greenhouse ones. I will remember the new manure thing and tell my Sterling friend as he lives near a fresh manure source.

Tyshee, what variety of artichokes did you grow? How early did you start them? I saw them in various flower beds (the plants are strikingly beautiful, all spiky and grey-green) here in Anchorage and at the state fair, and would love to give them a try.

I bought them at the nurserey, Kenai River. They have them every year for about 4.95 a package. I started them in the greenhouse early and then planted them in a sunny sheltered area. They are big plants for the small yield you get but fun to try. If you want I can call them and see if they will be available so I can pick them up for you. I will also find out the company name, if I can, that distributes them. They might not tell me on the phone though. NOTICE THIS COLD WEATHER AND NO SNOW! I am glad I mulched.

Tyshee, thanks so much for the offer! We have a weekend place on the Kenai, so I'll just stop by the nursery myself on one of our trips down. The plants do get large, but like rhubarb, are dramatic enough that it'd be worth putting them into the flower bed. And even a few artichokes would be such a treat!

Yes this weather is awful -- this bitter cold with no snow cover can't be good for those baby plants I got in the ground last September!

Tyshee, I took a look at your homepage, and your gardens sound wonderful -- and your family story is amazing!

Actually I did that web site when I was taking care of my Mom. I was very house bound so I spent a lot of time making that site. I have gathered many more stories and old photographs but saving them for something, future generations I guess.