Vegetable All-Stars
Growing vegetables in Alaska has its challenges for gardeners from cold soils to a short three-month growing season. Yet there are plenty of opportunities to produce a successful harvest. Armed with long summer days, Alaska gardeners can grow vegetables faster and bigger than what's found in Lower 48 gardens. (Think 14-inch heads of broccoli, 80-pound cabbages and zucchini the size of baseball bats.) Another key to success is choosing the right varieties that are known to grow best for the region. Here are some of the top picks for vegetable all-stars, recommended by master gardeners and agriculture and horticulture specialists from across the state.
Top picks for the Interior region
By Michele Hébert and Taylor Maida, University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service
Beets
Variety: Detroit Dark Red (1)
Broccoli
Variety: Waltham; Green Comet; Premium Crop; Marathon
Cabbage
Variety: O-S Cross (2)(These are the champions seen at the Alaska State Fair.)
Carrots
Variety: Scarlet Nantes
Cauliflower
Variety: Snow Crown (3)
Kale
Variety: Toscano Kohlrabi Early Purple Vienna; Early White Vienna; Green Duke; Superschmelz
Peas
Variety: Oregon Giant
Rhubarb
Variety: Canada Red
Snap Beans
Variety: Provider (4)
Swiss Chard
Variety: Bright Lights (6)
Tomato
Variety: Oregon Spring (5) (These really ripen outside.)
Zucchini
Variety: Black Knight
Top picks for Mat-Su Valley region
By Pat Tremaine, master gardener
Broccoli
Variety: Veronica "brocco-flower" (1) or Romanesco (A cross between broccoli and cauliflower, it's great to roast with onions, add in soups, or eat as is.)
Carrot
Variety: Nantes
Collard
Variety: Georgia (Very delicious.)
Kohlrabi
Variety: Grand Duke (Very crunchy and delicious.)
Leek
Variety: King Richard
Lettuce
Variety: Buttercrunch (2) ; Red or Green Oakleaf
Onion
Variety: Candy (3) (Very sweet variety.)
Peas
Variety: Sugar snap (Very sweet variety); Oregon Sugar (4)
Tomato
Variety: Tumbling Tom
Top picks for Southeastern region
By Darren Snyder of UAF CES
Beets
Variety: Formanova; Little Egypt; Early Wonder; Little Ball
Carrots
Variety: Nantes Coreless and Half Long; Scarlet Nantes (1) ; Red Cord Chantenay
Garlic
Variety: Hardneck (Grown in clusters with no central stems. They grow really well and have great flavor.)
Kale
Variety: Nearly all varieties do well. (These are reliable, harvestable into the fall, and very nutritious. People are always trying out different ways of preparing it.) Tuscan or Dinosaur (4)
Parsnips
Variety: Hollow Crown Improved; All American
Potatoes
Variety: Kennebec (3) ; Green Mountain; Red Pontiac; Netted Gem; and Alaska 114 (These generally grow in great production all throughout Alaska. They grow really well in the cool and wet southeast region.)
Turnips
Variety: Tokyo Cross; Purple Top White Globe (2)
Top picks for the Southwestern region
By Leif Albertson of UAF CES
Beets
Variety: Red Ace (3)
Broccoli
Variety: Marathon (2)
Cabbage
Variety: Farao
Carrots
Variety: Napoli
Cauliflower
Variety: Early Snowball
Kale
Variety: Winterbor
Lettuce
Variety: Deer Tongue
Potatoes
Variety: German Butterball
Spinach
Variety: Tyee (1)
Turnips*
Variety: Hakurei (4)