“A nation of nature lovers… but no backyard tomatoes?” 🌱❄️ In Finland, you’ll find pristine lakes, wild blueberries, and endless forest trails—but not many vegetable gardens. Harsh winters, short summers, rocky soil, and a culture that prefers foraging over farming explain why. Dig into the real reason Finns aren’t digging in the dirt—full story in the article below 👇
Finland is known for its clean air, stunning landscapes, and deep love for nature. So, it might come as a surprise that in a country where many people own private homes, backyard vegetable gardens are actually quite rare. If you stroll through Finnish neighborhoods or rural areas, you’ll see plenty of lawns and flower beds—but hardly any patches of potatoes or tomato plants. So what’s behind this?
Let’s start with the basics: Finland’s climate isn’t very friendly to gardening. With long, harsh winters and a very short summer, the growing season typically lasts just 3 to 4 months—even in the more southern parts of the country. A sudden frost in early June or a chilly start to August can wipe out delicate plants in no time.
Even when the weather warms up, it can be unpredictable. Summers in Finland might be too wet or extremely dry, both of which make it tough to grow things like tomatoes or cucumbers without a greenhouse. And since greenhouse gardening requires a lot of work and energy, many Finns decide it’s simply not worth the trouble.
There’s also the issue of sunlight. Winter days in Finland are very short, and to grow seedlings like tomatoes or peppers indoors (which usually start sprouting in February), you need special lamps. But Finns are practical—and often frugal. Why waste electricity when it’s easier and cheaper to buy seedlings or vegetables from the store?
In fact, farming in Finland has become more commercialized. Local farms and garden centers offer everything from seedlings to fully grown plants with ripe produce. During the warmer months, roadside stands pop up, selling fresh berries, peas, honey, and dairy products. So instead of growing vegetables themselves, many Finns find it easier to buy what they need directly from these stands.
Culturally, the Finnish lifestyle leans more toward gathering than growing. Forests are everywhere, and foraging is a beloved pastime. Come summer and fall, many people head out to collect wild blueberries, lingonberries, mushrooms, and more. It’s a peaceful and rewarding tradition that takes less effort than managing a garden—and it’s deeply ingrained in Finnish life.
Another factor is the land itself. Much of Finland is rocky and hilly—perfect for building homes, but not ideal for farming. To grow anything, people often have to buy and transport good-quality soil, which adds extra cost. Even berry bushes are sometimes grown in large pots filled with purchased soil.
And with land prices being high, many homeowners have small yards, leaving little room for vegetable patches.
Lastly, Finnish summer homes, or mökkis, are built for rest—not work. When Finns escape to the countryside, they want to relax, fish, enjoy the sauna, and take in the peaceful scenery. Digging and weeding a garden isn’t exactly part of that picture.
And honestly, they seem pretty happy about it.
Have you ever visited a place where gardening wasn’t common? Or do you prefer picking wild food over growing it yourself? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your take!
