European Gardening: Winter closing in, 1 by Gunn_Marit

Gunn_Marit wrote:
I never really understand how those zones are decided. But I am totally agree that the coastal areas are quite different from the interior. I live at least 40km from the Oslo Fjord, and 130km from more open sea.

At my place we easily get 50-100cm of snow in the winter time. (Great for skiing!) That will make a nice cover for many of the plants.

I love trying out new species of vegetables and flowers to find those that can handle this short season. Gives me something to reach for. A lot of the plants in my garden should not be able to live here, but luckily the plants don't read those zone maps...

I do my best to make the growing season longer by using the greenhouse, the light that I have mounted inn the living room, cower in the spring with those white plant covers, and any other trick I can think of. But, you know, when you live on 60,14 North, then even the help from the gulf stream won't make this a hot place to be gardening in.

Picture show my kitchen window in the beginning of May. I had to repair the greenhouse after a winter storm, and were filling all windows in the house.

Gunn