As far as the legend of Santa Claus goes, there has been a curiosity about what he does in the off-season. After all, garden season should be the opposite of his busy season of Christmas.
Here in Southwest Ohio, there are certainly weather-related gardening challenges, but our challenges are nothing like Santa’s. months, and summer lasts three months. Spring and fall last only a few weeks. Summer temperatures average between 37 and 54 degrees. It’s warmer than I expected.
More than 1,700 plant species live in the Arctic. Yes, this number may seem very high, but this number includes lichens and mosses, which are considered plants. They grow mainly on the underside of rocks.
Also growing shrubs, grasses and broadleaf trees. Of these, only 60 species of flowering plants grow in the Arctic. Arctic plants grow very low and are protected by snow during the long winters. That’s why there are no trees. All plants have small leaves to prevent them from losing moisture in winter and require minimal light to grow.
The only plant variety that can be associated with growing in the Arctic is Salix arctica – Arctic Willow. This plant belongs to the same family as the willows and shrubs that grow in our landscape. Arctic willows grow only 1 to 5 inches tall and are a food source for Arctic animals such as caribou, musk oxen and hares.
These animals also provide a source of the meat needed to feed the elves and their families. They need a balanced diet, so what about vegetables? Vegetables are grown in the Arctic and other Arctic regions in greenhouses. It is interesting to grow vegetables in greenhouses in these regions. Conversely, there are months in the summer when the sun never sets.
Extra light is very beneficial during these months as vegetables can grow to much larger sizes. In greenhouses we grow various vegetables, pumpkins, tomatoes and potatoes. You can also grow flowers in the greenhouse and give them to Mrs. Santa Claus.
What I learned is that Santa does gardening. During the dark winter months, the elves seem to do their duty to make all the toys for the good boys and girls around the world. to grow vegetables to feed everyone in Santa’s Village.
If you’re wondering what Santa likes to do best in the garden, he likes hoes, hoes, hoes.