Home » Travel » Alaska » Monster Veggies!

Monster Veggies!

© James Soos

Summer Solstice has passed and the days are slowly becoming shorter. But there are many summer days still ahead before the leaves change to pastel colors and winter blankets us with a fresh layer of snow. The warmer months draw gardeners out to till the soil and plant seeds which will bear fresh vegetables for the dinner table. Gardening is a favorite hobby to many, and a way of life to others. As American Independence Day draws nearer, gardens throughout the land show evidence of a good year's crop. Smiles break out on sun-tanned faces because the corn has grown to its expected height: "Knee high by the 4th of July."

Gardening holds a special place in the hearts of Alaskans. We tenderly care for the fruits of our labor just like anyone else so we may enjoy a salad, its ingredients freshly picked just before tossing. Or maybe we are looking forward to that special pumpkin to carve into a jack-o-lantern on Halloween Night. The reasons for gardening are the same for all, but there is one more for many here in The Last Frontier: Monster Veggies.

Alaska is a unique location for those who possess a green thumb. The extended summer daylight hours we are blessed with allow vegetables to grow to giant proportions. As a matter of fact, since we have no real "nighttime" in The Land of The Midnight Sun, gardens never stop growing. This has spawned tradition and, of course, competition amongst Alaskan growers. Each year, the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off lures gardeners to the Alaska State Fair, held in Palmer, Ak. with dreams of claiming the largest cabbage in the land. Even though the event is held for fun, there are prizes awarded to the top twenty contenders. First place captures $2000.00 ... quite a motivational factor for growing a head of cabbage.

Competitors begin growing early in the season, nurturing seeds in a controlled greenhouse environment, before transplanting their hopeful entries in the ground by the end of May. Alaskan sunshine and a grower's loving care take over from there. Each gardener has their own special formula of fertilizer and plant food, but these are heavily guarded secrets not to be released to the masses. Mother Nature may supply the essential daylight needed to grow a monster cabbage, but she also throws in an occasional obstacle that may crush a grower's dream. High winds, hailstorms, frosts and moose are natural enemies to any Alaskan garden, so not only does a grower need talent in producing a winning entry, but also a small dose of luck.

The copyright of the article Monster Veggies! in Alaska is owned by . Permission to republish Monster Veggies! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.