Höststädning påbörjad

Förra veckan började verkligen vintrigt, med ett tunt snötäcke på marken, ner till -12 grader på natten och knappt så varmt på morgonen att isskorpan på vattenpölarna hann smälta. Det ostädade trädgårdslandet låg där och gav mig dåligt samvete, och jag var ut några eftermiddagar och skrapade i snön för att åtminstone hitta de flesta små trädgårdsverktygen under snön och rädda in dem.

Gardening in Northern Sweden — A Realistic Glimpse

Based on the text by Ulrika Wiss from Vibbyn, Norrbotten, we get a vivid, personal portrait of gardening life and challenges far up in northern Sweden. Ulrika’s diary-like account from October 1998 offers both practical tips and emotional insight, helping us understand what it means to tend a garden in a tough sub-arctic climate — lessons that remain relevant for today’s gardeners, especially those just starting out.

Ulrika begins her story by describing the push and pull of autumn in Norrbotten: first snow arrives, the world goes quiet and brightening under the white, and the wet, muddy labor of late fall suddenly ends. But nothing is certain this far north, and just as she settles into a pause, the snow melts away, returning her garden to puddles and indecision.

She captures a crucial gardening lesson for Norrbotten: You adapt to the climate, not the other way around. Weather swings — first snow, then rain and thaw — can dictate what gets done and when. A slightly frozen soil, Ulrika notes, can even make höststädningen (fall cleanup) easier, because the heavy clay stops sticking to your boots and tools. Timing and flexibility are everything.

Compost: Both Hope and Surprise

One of the highlights in her account is the sense of discovery and joy when her rustic, homemade compost yielded success. Modeling her bin after an idea from Swedish television, Ulrika piled up kitchen scraps, sawdust, sheep manure, and a dash of Algomin plant food all last summer. She never expected much — memories of her mother’s failed compost in frigid Kiruna made her wary — but after only a year, she found dark, rich compost ready to use. “It felt like I’d struck oil,” Ulrika exclaims. Even a couple of wheelbarrows of homemade soil can feel like a treasure trove this far north.

This compost was so valued that instead of digging it all in, she decided to sow vitlök, piplök (chives), and even carrots right into the fresh earth, covering the bed with the season’s leftover hay for insulation. The process is uncertain — nobody knows if garlic and carrots will truly thrive here over winter — but experimentation is central to gardening in tough climates. As Ulrika says: “I have no idea how this will turn out, but it was fun anyway!” To maximize germination after the snow, she plans to lift the hay cover come spring so the seeds can get light and warmth.

Plant Choices: Overwintering and Experimenting

Ulrika’s garden planning focuses on hardy, adaptable crops — garlic, carrots, chives, oregano, thyme, lemon balm, and several intriguing mints brought home from a trip to England. Winter protection is key: she covers prospective survivors with old hay and hopes for the best. Some perennials, like oregano, have proved themselves, while others (especially ambitious mints) may or may not withstand the harshest weather. But she is willing to give them a try, knowing that even in defeat there’s learning.

She also reminds us that every season is an experiment. Will the English mints, the alliums, and the rare Patientan return after months under snow? Her experience, and that of other Norrbotten gardeners, proves that with the right preparation and a bit of faith, surprising resilience (and sometimes, lush growth) is possible.

Techniques Suited to a Northern Garden

Ulrika’s practical approaches echo broader advice for northern climates:

She gardens in 5 x 1.2 meter raised beds, which not only aid in organization but can help the soil warm up faster in spring—a crucial benefit this far north.
Amending with compost is essential, especially for heavy clay, improving both structure and fertility.
Covering overwintering crops with hay or other mulch gives them a fighting chance against deep cold.
Fall cleanup, höststädningen, isn’t just cosmetic—it’s about setting up for next spring, protecting perennials, and feeding the compost pile for next year’s soil.

The Reality of Short Seasons

One of the pressing realities Ulrika outlines is the short window for outdoor work. As fall deepens, and the clocks switch to standard time, daylight shrinks. After-work gardening vanishes; weekends become precious opportunities to finish vital tasks before the ground freezes for good.

The work is hard, sometimes lonely (“…and maybe I’ll have some helpers with strong backs next weekend”), but deeply satisfying. Each autumn chore, each batch of compost, each attempt at overwintering perennials is both a small gamble and a victory when spring comes.

Harvest, Storage, and Looking Ahead

Beyond planting and cleanup, Ulrika hints at the traditional need for vinterförråd—winter stores—to get through until the next growing season. In northern Sweden, a successful garden isn’t only about summer abundance, but about careful preparation so the efforts of one year set the stage for survival and fresh growth in the next.

Her photo, “Gurkorna frodades i kompostkorgen i somras,” shows that even cucumbers, with the right microclimate (and plenty of nutrients), can thrive in unexpected places.

Conclusion

For a new gardener like myself, Ulrika’s story is both humbling and inspiring. Every success feels monumental (“like finding an oil discovery”) and every setback is simply part of the adventure. Gardening in Norrbotten demands patience, resourcefulness, and a willingness to learn from the land — but, as Ulrika’s joyful compost or the rich tangle of herbs and alliums suggests, it also offers rewards that are all the sweeter for the effort put in.

If you want to dive deeper into northern gardening rhythms, read more about höststädningen and how to build up your vinterförråd for the darker months.