Horticultural Limitations and Potentials of Alaska's Arctic, Particularly the Kobuk River Region

Abstract

Horticultural background of Alaskan Eskimos is very limited as they have not traditionally cultured plant material. A decline in fish and game and increasing costs of foods shipped via air from other states to the Arctic has been taken as a challenge to grow crops to supplement their diet. Analysis of very limited climatic data indicates that growing conditions are adequate for potato production in some areas and suitable for the production of numerous other crops. The potential for producing potatoes to supply all of the food energy for the people of Alaska's Arctic seems real. Insulated storages will be necessary to hold the crop and seed supply throughout the year. Preparation of land in the Arctic for planting has been done by hand labor until very recently. Newer cultural practices, together with plastic covered family-size greenhouses, have been used to grow tomato, summer squash, cucumber and bean to market maturity. Varieties of vegetables adapted to other regions of Alaska have been observed in the Arctic for two seasons and are documented in colored photographs. Most varieties were found to be very productive of high quality produce in gardens of villages of Kiana, Ambler, Shungnak, Kobuk and Noatak.