Gardening in the Challenging Prairie Climate

A new book shows how to succeed

Gardeners in the Canadian prairies face a unique set of problems. First there is the heavy alkaline soil, which limits the available selection of plants. Add in a short growing season, winter dehydration, and a Chinook or two, and the plant range becomes even more limited. Yet prairie gardeners do succeed, and their efforts have produced some outstanding results.

Readers who have any doubts that a garden can thrive in such an inhospitable environment should pick up a copy of "The Calgary Gardener", published in 1996 by the Calgary Horticultural Society. This is a well-written and illustrated book that can be an invaluable aid for both new and long-time prairie gardeners.

The authors point out that there are actually some genuine advantages to gardening in the prairie climate. The long hours of daylight partially compensate for the short growing season.

Cool nights encourage high levels of sugar production in plants resulting in brilliant blooms and extra-sweet vegetables. And the usually moderate summer temperatures allow blooms an exceptionally long life span. Lawns thrive in the cool climate too, producing much finer, luxuriant-textured turf than can be grown in warmer climates.

Successful gardening here involves improving the soil, choosing plants that will thrive in the unique climate (including native plants), and scheduling gardening activities carefully around the sometimes unpredictable weather patterns. (Plus, of course, dealing with weeds, insects and a full list of other challenges that face gardeners everywhere).

"The Calgary Gardener" shows it can be done, and done beautifully... and it shows you how. We highly recommend it.