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World of Design: These Gardeners Dig Cold Climates

Passionate gardeners in Maine, Russia and northern Sweden know how to get the most from their short growing seasons and freezing conditions

Sara Norrman September 25, 2016

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They battle snow, wind, darkness, humidity and sometimes heat to help plants grow in a short but glorious gardening season. These three gardeners — in the United States, Russia and Sweden — enjoy the few months when their vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs come back to life. Here they share their experiences and tips on gardening in their chilly corners of the Northern Hemisphere.

We also talk with an agricultural expert who discusses why berries from northern climes taste better. And Swedish garden design expert and author Annika Zetterman offers ideas on how to make your garden a winter wonderland when it’s covered in snow.

CGD Landscape Design

Zones Explained

Gardeners rarely speak about geographical place names, but rather about what zone they are in. The U.S. system was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its USDA Hardiness Zone Map runs from Zone 1a, where the average annual minimum temperatures are a sinister minus 60 to minus 55 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 51.1 to minus 48.3 degrees Celsius), to Zone 13b, where the average annual minimum is a sultry 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 to 21.1 Celsius). Other countries have adopted these zones as well.

Юрьева Галина | Interior Design and Decorating |

In Russia, the zones are rated 1 to 8; here 1 is the coldest, with lows below minus 50.1 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 45.6 Celsius), and 8 is the warmest. The Swedish system also has eight zones, but 1 is the warmest and 8 is the coldest, and no temperatures are specified.

Let’s find out what’s growing in three very different gardens located between the latitudes of 45 degrees north and 63 degrees north in three countries.

Larkspur Design

Portland, Maine

Name: Seana Cullinan of Larkspur Design, a gardener for 13 years
Latitude: 45 degrees north
Zone: 5b (USDA)
Temperature: As cold as minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 23 Celsius) in winter and in the 90s Fahrenheit (to 35 Celsius) in midsummer
Hours of sunlight: 16 hours a day at the peak of summer

Before Photo

Larkspur Design

Where do you garden? “I work mostly in Cumberland County, which encompasses the greater Portland area in southern Maine. The entire coast of Maine is considered to be a Zone 5b, no matter how far north you go. The ocean makes for a slightly milder climate than the areas that are further inland. But in the summer, it can get pretty hot, making working conditions quite tough.”

Larkspur Design

What type of plants do you grow? “I focus on using mostly plants that are native to the northeastern U.S. They tend to be more rugged, resilient and well-behaved than many species that are brought here from other countries. They also serve vital functions in the local ecosystem that introduced species cannot. For the longest time, my main motivation in designing a garden was to create arrangements that were visually pleasing for humans. I strive now to create beauty, harmony and intrigue with plants that are also providing important ecological functions. I don’t think that gardens constructed with mostly native plants are any less visually interesting than a garden full of ‘exotic’ species.”

Larkspur Design

“My favorite native plants for a sunny garden are too numerous to mention, but the following usually make the final cut: Eupatorium maculatum (Joe Pye weed, seen in the center of the previous picture), Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed), Delphinium exaltatum (tall larkspur), Agastache foeniculum (lavender giant hyssop) and Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower). In this picture, we see Veronica and Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red Improved’. Top favorite native woodland plants for a shade garden are Iris cristata (dwarf crested iris), Phlox divaricata (wild blue phlox), Tiarella cordifolia (foamflower) and Actaea racemosa (black cohosh).”

What are the biggest challenges of gardening in Maine? “The shortness of the season. We really only have about five months of actual gardening weather.”

And the greatest pleasure of gardening in a tough climate? “The joy and ecstasy that accompany the return of spring after a long, bleak winter. It always feels miraculous.”

Novosibirsk, Russia

Name: Katerina Galkina, a gardener for nine years
Latitude: 55 degrees north
Zone: 3
Temperature: Dipping to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 43 Celsius) in winter, and reaching 98 degrees Fahrenheit (37 Celsius) in summer
Hours of sunlight: An average of 10 hours a day in July and 1.30 hours in December

Where do you garden? “In Novosibirsk, central Russia. The climate is continental, with some significant seasonal temperature gaps. In the winter, there are persistent cold winds and even storms due to our proximity to the Obsk artificial lake. It usually starts snowing on the Intercession of the Holy Virgin day [Oct. 14], sometimes a little bit later. In winter, the snow is about [3 feet] thick, and it melts by mid-April; in the lowlands, it remains until the beginning of May. A snowstorm in May is a common thing for us. It often hails in summer, so broad-leaved plants such as hostas, cannas and dahlias usually get damaged.”

What type of plants do you grow? “In the third climate zone in Russia, the most important thing is the right selection of frost-resistant plants. There are no difficulties with annual and perennial plants; I grow a significant number of flowers and ornamental foliage plants. Most annual plants and vegetables are grown from seedlings. The perennials are protected from frost through the significant layer of snow. There are some issues with growing fruit trees and ornamental shrubs.”

“As to fruit trees, I grow apples, pears, plums, cherries. There are some regional apricot and grape varieties, but not on my lot. Pine family trees do great in my garden, as they are well-adapted to the Siberian climate. Others include Siberian spruce, Siberian fir, junipers and savin junipers, bird cherry, birch, lilac, linden, rowan tree, guelder rose.”

What are the biggest challenges of gardening in Novosibirsk? “When choosing a plant, you have to pick a recognized regional variety. As to gardening difficulties, covering roses for the winter can be quite hard.”

And the greatest pleasure of gardening in a tough climate? “After six to seven months of a totally white landscape in front of you, seeing all the bright colors in my garden makes me happy. Our regional gardens can perhaps be accused of being excessively colorful, but I think that’s forgivable.”

Maries Trädgård

Östersund, Sweden

Name: Marie Gunnarsson, a full-time gardener since 2000
Latitude: 63 degrees north
Zone: 6
Temperature: On average, about 17 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 8 Celsius) in winter but can drop to minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 30 Celsius). “I remember Midsummer’s Eve two years ago; it was only [39 degrees, or 4 Celsius], but normally we have around [59 degrees Fahrenheit, or 15 Celsius] as an average.”
Hours of sunlight: “We have an average of 8.4 hours of sun in June. Compare that to 0.5 in December.”

Where do you garden? “In Krokom, near Östersund in Jämtland. I started my nursery, Maries Trädgård, in 2003. We also have cattle on our farm, but I missed growing things and getting my fingers in the dirt. The climate is slightly milder than usual on this latitude due to winds from the Atlantic coming down through a pass in the mountains. We have a lot of local producers growing ecological and sustainable foods, and Östersund has even been pronounced a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO.”

Maries Trädgård

What type of plants do you grow? “In the nursery, we start pregrowing vegetables and herbs earlier in the year, and we open our doors to the public in April. We supply local stores with herbs such as thyme, basil and oregano. But we also have tomatoes, squash, cucumber and melons. We sell trees, shrubs and perennials as well, but these we have to buy from suppliers rather than grow ourselves. We also serve as a show garden where customers come for inspiration. Although we are in Zone 6, if we can show that there are Zone 3 trees that grow with us, then we can sell them one.”

Maries Trädgård

What are the biggest challenges of gardening in Östersund? “The intensity of it. The season is so short. It’s winter for a long, long time, then a couple of days or so of spring and boom! It’s summer. As to getting plants to survive, there are tricks, without fussing around and covering them up in winter. For example, I make sure the earth around the roots is well-drained so they don’t freeze. We are also careful to not overfeed them in the autumn so they know when to start preparing for winter.”

Maries Trädgård

And the greatest pleasure of gardening in a tough climate? “Again, the intensity of it. And I dream of being able to have a peach orchard of maybe five or seven trees. I once had a locally grown peach, and it was the sweetest and crispiest peach I’ve ever had, thanks to the long days concentrating the sugar in the fruit via photosynthesis, combined with long nights.”

Why a Cold Climate Can Be an Advantage in Gardening

Gunnarsson isn’t the only one describing the great flavors of the fruits, berries and vegetables that grow in colder climes.

Einar Risvik is a senior scientist at Nofima, one of the largest institutes in Europe for applied research within the fields of fisheries, aquaculture and food research. The head office is in Tromsø, Norway. Risvik says that produce grown in northern latitudes has different qualities from its southern relatives.

“The temperatures are so much lower, but the number of daylight hours so many more. That means the growth is slowed but also that there are fewer pests. The latter means that it’s easier to grow ecologically and without pesticides.”

Laara Copley-Smith Design

The harsh winters also kill off fungi, bacteria, insects and viruses, which means there is less use for chemicals. “A plant that grows in the earth can’t escape from such damaging attacks, so that means many of them, like carrots, have developed sharp-tasting substances that the pests don’t like. They are normally quite bitter and produced as a kind of defense. That means in colder soils, where the attacking pests are fewer, the plant tastes different. When we measure the sugar content in a carrot from Finnmark, past the polar circle, it’s the same as one that has grown in southern Norway. But it tastes much sweeter. That’s because the carrot hasn’t produced the bitter-tasting defense. It’s like having the first taste of spring on your tastebuds the whole summer through!”

Putney Design

The textures of fruits and vegetables are also affected by the environment where they grow. In soil that is cold, with slow growth as a result, the texture stays crisp and crunchy rather than soft or wet.

“You can see this in apples,” Risvik says. “Summer apples reach their maximum growth early in the season, and it happens quickly since it’s hot. They become soft and almost transparent as a result, while the winter apples are firmer and contain much more acidity, aromas and sugar. The sugar preserves the fruit and gives it a richer aroma and more complex taste.”

Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, Inc.

But berries are what make Risvik’s mouth water. “All berries that grow above ground have a lot of colors in them, or antioxidants. These colors protect the berries from the sun, and as there are so many daily hours of sunlight in the summer, they improve both in color and taste. The taste of bringebær [raspberries] from Alta in Tromsø makes me lyrical.”

Le jardinet

Top 5 Ways to Make a Snowbound Garden Magical

When the summer days are at an end, winter approaches fast, and in places such as Novosibirsk and Östersund, snow will soon cover the garden and stay there for months to come. But that doesn’t mean that gardeners should think of these months as wasted. Swedish garden design expert Annika Zetterman thinks we should see the possibilities of the garden in winter. She has five top tips for making the garden look great even when it’s covered in snow.

Le jardinet

1. Vertical structures. Variation in height provides interest in a winter garden, especially when the snow depth is substantial. Consider a balance of hard and soft landscaping structures. Feature walls and retaining walls with surface structures and patterns can be architecturally interesting. Together with clipped hedges and tall ornamental grasses, these can be used to break up the space into sections and be used not just on the perimeter of the space.

2. Illumination. Lighting gives any winter garden a new dimension. Indirect light is suitable to enhance features in a garden, such as the shape of a decorative tree or tall ornamental grasses. Direct lights are practical around driveways and parking spaces, and need to be tall and clearly visible and not buried under heavy snowfalls. Always plan lighting carefully and let darkness be part of your plan. Lighting that’s too intense and frequent gets lost in the space. It may also disturb nocturnal wildlife.

David Chestnutt

3. Safety. Ensure that paths and walkways used frequently are planned with care, using materials that provide a good grip and are easy to maintain. Granite, for example, is dense and, unlike sandstone, doesn’t absorb water, which could cause it to crack. Granite can have a rough texture that provides a good grip in summer and winter.

Plan the main access to be wide enough to feel comfortable and safe. A handrail may be needed for steep stairs, and solid stone used for the majority of access places. Any water should be led away from these areas to prevent ice formation.

4. A palette of plants. Winter gardens can have an amazing array of colors, but the palette is different from what we see in summer. Using a mix of evergreen plants in dark greens, sliver grays and lime tones, combined with interesting barks and pale perennials and grasses, can make any winter garden just as glorious as in summer.

Varieties of Calamagrostis, such as C. ‘Karl Foerster’ and C. acutiflora ‘Overdam’ are wonderful grasses in winter. Perennials such as Achillea and Echinacea keep their strongly architectural flower heads for a long time. Evergreen plants Helleborus, Buxus and Pinus are worth considering.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

5. Focal points. Consider design details in less obvious elements, such as a pile of firewood or a bird feeder in the garden, since these may be as eye-catching as classic sculptures and statues. During fierce winters, wildlife needs our help. If you start helping small birds, be sure to continue putting out food until they can find their own.

Furthermore, when planning a garden, consider structures such as pergolas, arbors, trellises and greenhouses to resonate with the style of the house and garden since these are more visible and in focus during winter.

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Muskokatana

I just went to the article in the link it claims the longest day at the Siberian site is 17 hrs. This is similar to my experience in Canada.

2 Likes September 29, 2016 at 6:38PM

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spandanglylamb

this was wonderful! I gained some positive insights to my zone (6). It would be lovely if you divided this article into 3 (northern gardens, insights into northern edibles, and winter garden design) and explored each in more depth! thank you!

1 Like October 31, 2016 at 7:21AM

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Katherine

It's nice to see an effort to include cooler zones in an article on gardening. I live in zone 3 in Canada, but honestly, the main challenge where I live is the animals. Unless the fence is 8 feet tall or electric the white tailed deer will eat everything you plant. And I would love to have some fruit trees but they attract black bears in the fall, which can be so destructive.

1 Like March 10, 2017 at 12:20PM