Zone 1-3 gardeners?

[alaskaberry]

This will be my third attempt. I have tried to start seedlings in trays, but I started too late and nothing bloomed. The second year, we put actual mature plants in raised beds with sawdust over everything to keep it warm, but then in July we had a cold snap and everything died. Last year, one of my friends gave me tomatoes and she told me they were full sun, but they weren't, because they also died.

I'm in Zone 1 (Interior Alaska), with midnight sun. This year I will be doing a raised bed with carrots, peas, beets, lettuce, basil and possibly some other veggies (like those purple potatoes!). I also want to do heirloom tomatoes, herbs, and some flowers in combination pots.

So when are you starting your seeds? Do you have a greenhouse? Do you think it is necessary for seedlings? Do you think I could get away with some Zone 2 or 3 plants if I planted them in the next few weeks?

[limette]

I'm not in your zone (3b) but I just wanted to point out that all tomatoes are full sun so it wasn't the sun that killed them.

You should have better luck with the cold season stuff that you listed (root crops, lettuce etc) as they won't be affected as much by a sudden cold snap.

For anything that requires a lot of heat, like tomatoes, peppers, basil etc you're best off growing them in a greenhouse or a hoophouse. If not then be ready with blankets if cold weather is in the forecast.

I wouldn't bother with anything with a longer growing season (for warmer zones) because the days to maturity (on the packet) is based on when you put it in the ground not when you start your seedlings inside. Even here in my zone with short season varieties I still find it difficult to get some things to mature before a September frost.