Week 9 at the Pole

Thursday, March 14, 2013 - 12:15pm
greenhouse
Image: F. Pedreros, IceCube/NSF

What’s green and frilly and grows at the South Pole? Outside, nothing, but inside, we’re talking lettuce. Leafy greens, cucumbers, tomatoes…even cantaloupe—a variety of produce is grown in the South Pole greenhouse. These are the only fresh vegetables available from about mid-February to mid-October for the teams wintering over at the station. The sun has been getting lower, and they will soon be entrenched in their six months of darkness. Some fresh vegetables will at least brighten up their plates.

sun
Image: B. Kuo Tiong, IceCube/NSF