Despite its small size, Liechtenstein has two distinct hardiness zones, spanning from 6a in the higher elevations to 6b in the lowland areas.
Though modest, this variation in climate conditions has a significant impact on the principality's gardening practices.
Nestled between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein's compact geography and altitude differences create an interesting landscape of growing environments that affect plant selection and cultivation methods.
In this article, you will learn:
- Characteristics of Liechtenstein’s Planting Regions
- Challenges of Growing in Liechtenstein
- The Benefits of Using a Greenhouse in Liechtenstein
- Why Planta Greenhouses?
Liechtenstein's weather patterns are pretty particular. In winter, temperatures can dip to -5°C, particularly in the higher regions.
When summer comes around, the country basks in comfortable warmth, with average highs hovering between 18°C and 23°C - ideal for tending to your garden or enjoying outdoor activities
Gardeners and farmers must be clever and flexible to make the best of each season.
Image from Plant Maps
Characteristics of Liechtenstein’s Planting Region
Liechtenstein's climate shapes its gardening and farming practices in interesting ways:
- Alpine-influenced climate with variations due to elevation changes.
- Winter temperatures typically hover between -2°C and 4°C, cooler at higher altitudes.
- Summer brings mild weather, with averages ranging from 15°C to 19°C, slightly warmer in the Rhine Valley.
- Occasional hot spells can push temperatures above 30°C, particularly in lower-lying areas.
- Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, with slightly more in summer.
These patterns create unique challenges, like early autumn frosts in upland areas and potential water stress in the valley during dry spells.
The growing season generally extends from early March to late October in the lowlands. Still, it's notably shorter in the mountainous regions where cold temperatures linger longer in spring and return earlier in fall.
Challenges of Growing in Liechtenstein
Altitude-Based Growing Conditions
Liechtenstein's dramatic elevation changes create significant temperature differences between the Rhine Valley and mountain areas, challenging gardeners to select plants suited to their specific location.
Limited Growing Space
The principality's small size and mountainous terrain mean there’s limited land suitable for growing. This scarcity encourages innovative gardening techniques and careful crop selection to maximize smallholder productivity.
Alpine Weather Unpredictability
Liechtenstein's position in the Alps can lead to sudden weather shifts, including unexpected frosts or summer storms. Gardeners must be prepared to protect their plants at short notice and choose resilient varieties.
The Benefits of Using a Greenhouse in Liechtenstein
Have you ever thought about how Liechtenstein's gardeners manage to grow a variety of plants in their alpine climate?
Many turn to greenhouses, which help them overcome the challenges of short growing seasons and unpredictable mountain weather.
Let's dive into the advantages of greenhouse gardening in this small but mighty principality.
1. Extend your growing season.
- Without a greenhouse:
In Liechtenstein, the typical growing season lasts about 5 to 6 months, usually from late March to early September. This brief window limits plant choices and leaves gardeners vulnerable to late spring or early autumn frosts.
- With a greenhouse:
Using a greenhouse, Liechtenstein's gardeners can extend their growing season to 9-10 months in many areas. This protected environment allows for cultivating warm-season crops like peppers and eggplants well into October and starting cool-season vegetables as early as late January.
2. Grow a Wider Variety of Vegetables
- Without a greenhouse:
In Liechtenstein, the alpine climate demands careful crop selection for open-air cultivation. Here are some resilient plants that flourish in the principality's cooler conditions:
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- With a Greenhouse:
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Why Planta Greenhouses?
- Wind resistant up to 100 km/h (learn more about how our greenhouses hold up in high-altitude climates).
- Withstands a snow load of up to 480kg per square meter.
- Made with a heavy-duty galvanized steel frame.
- Polycarbonate panels provide 100% protection against UV rays.
- The Sungrow greenhouse is bell-shaped - allowing the wind, snow, and hail to slide off the sides.
- Extendable (Sungrow, Sigma, and Farmer models can be extended beyond 30 metres)
- Made in Europe and exclusively imported
- Maintenance-free
