Possibly the last of the spring snows is quickly melting and the Rhodiola rosea is budding in response to cool days of extended daylight hours. The plants (each is approx. 1/2 inch across) in the top picture were seeded in August 2021 and kept in ideal conditions in a shaded outdoor nursery on high tables with overhead sprinklers.
Spring at last
It’s time to explore the nursery and see how the Rhodiola came through the winter months. Snow still covers some of the plants, but the buds are swollen and growing, changing colors from dull browns to bright pinks. Once the buds turn green, they have started to bolt and make shoots.
Right now, the seedlings are in various stages of emergence from dormancy. There are tables of different strains and we can observe and compare the response of the individual strains to spring in Alberta. It is now apparent that Rhodiola rosea, true to its adaptive nature, has developed different strains which cope with different climates and growing conditions. Our job is to find the best ones for our climate, and to share our observations with those in other cold climates around the Northern Hemisphere.
Life in the Rhodiola Nursery
All Rhodiola rosea is broadcast seeded across 4 ft-wide waist-high tables into local farm soil. The picture below shows active seedling growth for a new strain. For reference, the white plastic marker is 6.5 inches long.
In the picture above, the snow has just melted off and the debris from last fall lays flat as if the weight of the snow were still present. The buds, in contrast are pushing upwards and will demonstrate daily visible growth as the plant races to take advantage of the short growing season. As the snow leaves, some of the tiny Rhodiola crowns and roots are exposed. The roots spread laterally and the iconic golden root shines in the sun.
Seedlings headed for five-year crop trials
In the next month these seedlings will be sent to various farms for crop trials. The seedlings will be compared to other strains for field performance under various growing conditions and ultimate crop yields. Rhodiola Growers of Canada will collaborate with growers over the next five years to test the suitability of this strain to Alberta’s environment.
What’s coming up next?
The next two months ahead – May and June – begin and end the active growing period for Rhodiola rosea in the Province of Alberta. For farmers, it’s time to transplant, weed, hoe, cultivate, then cultivate, weed and hoe, etc., and hope for rain.
By July the plant has set seed and the shoots are starting to die. Below ground the roots take back the energy from the shoots and preparation for winter begins.
Rhodiola Growers of Canada will be posting pictures as the growing seasons progresses. So glad that spring and the greening of Alberta is finally here!
