Growing reflections for the 2024 year that was

As we look forward to the growing year ahead, it's always wise to reflect on the year just past, noting the successes, along with what didn't work, and what we learned from both. From our point of view with gardening, there is much to reflect on, from our containers of colour and interest in the courtyard, to the grow tunnels goings on, and of course any fruit, vegetables and other edibles. So pull up a chair, and join me in a 2024 recap, on some of the highlights and challenges, and plenty in between! 

From a 2024 gardening perspective, cool, wet or damp weather proved to be the almost constant, not that we can do much about it, however trying to weather proof our garden practices is the key, and each place or garden site is so unique - as one leading horticulturist used to say, "the first 20 years are the hardest". Finding or creating those sheltered corners and areas, being able to predict the micro climate of a patch close to the house, or even the acquisition or purchase of a covered grow area can be a game changer! Geoff Hamilton, a well known organic gardener some decades ago, always spoke about his cardboard box cold frame and covering sections of soil in some plastic, to get a head start on the growing season ahead!

As one leading horticulturist used to say, "the first 20 years are the hardest".

On the garden site here, there has been so much going on in the courtyard in 2024, it's hard to focus on one or two highlights. However what does come most to mind of enjoyment, are the Alstromeria lilies, that started producing buds and colour in the grow tunnel as early as April, and have kept going right to the end of autumn, and even then they still had flowers as we placed the plants into the glasshouse for over the winter and into the early spring months. Before these, the grouping we shall call 'spring bulbs', provided months and months of colour and interest, from those early precious snow drops and crocus, through to the last of the Tulips, Alliums and Camassia, and everything in between! Each year our spring bulb collection comprises of fifty or so pots and containers, of different heights, sizes and volume, carefully selected (and sometimes not... Lol) to match the bulbs that will be planted there. Over the five month period, from January to May, these pots were rotated in (as flowering was starting) and then out (as flowering came to an end) of the courtyard, allowing us to enjoy them as they came to their fullest. Of course once the bulbs were finished their show, some tlc was provided through dead heading and some liquid feeds, to reward the plants for the show they had provided, and to build their strength for the following year. Unfortunately for some of the pots of bulbs, that have been with us for three or four years, their shows were much depleted from previous years, so we relocated some of them to more permanent planting positions where we could, and others went for composting. These were replaced by further bulb purchases in the autumn, always a pleasure to do! 

From a food and edibles perspective, a good comparison for us was our 2023 tomato harvest, about 28kg, compared to the harvest of 2024, less than 10kg, that sums things up really. Maskotka are meant to be a good early variety but have rarely done well here, I suspect the seed strain I have is not great so our earlies from a tomato perspective didn't work out. However, the small variety tomatoes we grew worked out the best given the temperatures we had, with the first of the tomato fruits ripening in June. In total, we probably grew about 15 different varieties of tomatoes in all, about 40 to 45 plants in total. Some from seed, a good amount purchased as young plants, and then some from cuttings as plants were establishing. 'Gardeners Delight' were exactly as the name describes, tasty tasty, although not many made it to the kitchen ... Lol; and Dad's favourite variety, 'Tumbler' motored along reasonably nicely, as did 'Golden Sunrise' and the small - mid sized variety 'Totem'. For the bigger varieties, ripening in later summer, 'John Baer' proved successful, grown as a one truss plant (with 2-3 fruits), in 5lt pots. They were late to ripen, but had some good sized fruits. There was other utilitarian varieties such as 'Shirley', 'Money Maker' and the Scottish bred 'Ailsa Craig', etc that came on - not prolific, but a reasonable amount of fruits given the cooler year. A friend of mine recommended trying the variety 'Dorinia', so will keep an eye for the seeds. 

Ripening in later summer, 'John Baer' proved successful, grown as a one truss plant... 

The one surprise we did have here was the smaller size cucumbers, they were a success. We sowed the seed as usual in later April, did one transplant to a 2lt pot, and there they stayed quite happily growing and fruiting through the summer.

We did a small amount of onions from sets in spring, which grew very nicely in small 7cm pots, and developed well, albethem small, but nice, we might try bunching some in 2lt pots this year. 

Beetroots are always interesting to try, although I find the the weather really has to be reasonably even over the season for them to grow, otherwise they will bolt, ie not mature into nice roots; hence the variety 'bolt hardy', which just seems to be tougher and more resilient to weather changes. Plenty of strawberries grew well here, although we do have to thin out some of the older plants at this point; and, we have to acquire more raspberry plants, probably an autumn variety for our pot based setting, as the ones we had did not successfully transplant from the potager.

We did try some pot grown carrots again this year, but to be honest it's far better to stick with the miniature varieties where growing space is limited to pots. 

From the structure and grow-houses point of view, what comes to mind for me in 2024 is the further loss of glass in the glasshouse. Over the years, the various moves of the house from site to site, glass panels have broken and been replaced, and then further broken due to weather and winds, to such a point that the 'glasshouse' evolved into something resembling a growhouses version of a patch work quilt, with glass panels, plastic panels, broken polycarbonate, and even polythene - making for quite a mixed effect! This was remedied somewhat earlier in the year, when one of my gardening friends, offered some replacement polycarbonate panels, for the collapsing roof, which look fantastic! 

There was so much going on here gardening wise over 2024, it is hard to capture in a blog post such as this, however it has been enjoyable to take time to write about the year that has passed. 

Finally, if you have the itch to try starting something, grow food wise this time of year, growing some garlic is great for some winter interest, as are broad beans, and of course a few winter sweet pea for that early flower and scent. 

We're also trying some very early 'Charlotte' potatoes, from some tubers I have already harvested, à-la-Nicky Kyle technique as featured in the Irish Times some years ago: in addition, we also did an already sprouting random variety we had in one of the flower rose pots, which was seperated out and placed into a pot of their own in the grow tunnel - again a novelty to try during the winter season. 

Whatever 2025 growing year brings, very best of luck with your gardening journey, with the work being done, with the joys, the highs and the lows. Embrace the successes, learn from the mistakes, and where you can share the fun and produce! 

Happy gardening, 

Hugh