By Isle of Wight Observer
As 2023 draws to a close, it’s a good opportunity to look back at what grew well in your garden and what didn’t do quite so well.
That can help you decide what to try for next year. Of course, it doesn’t guarantee success as our wonderfully changeable weather will dictate what does well.
We’ve certainly had some weather of late. Far more rainfall than we could ever wish for plus a short cold snap. No doubt, come the spring and early summer we’ll all soon forget how wet it’s been recently.
There are, of course, jobs to be done in the garden, even at this time of year. Whether it be repairs to structures like fences, pergolas or raised beds, or cleaning the greenhouse inside and out.
There are even seeds that can be sown now such as begonias, sweet peas and onions. Keeping a greenhouse heated or even frost free can be a costly exercise. Try lining with bubble wrap and cover tender plants with garden fleece to help keep the heat in.
Now is the perfect time to purchase your seeds for next year, so pop out and visit some of the Island’s superb garden nurseries and centres and help support our local businesses. They all stock a huge range of wonderful flower and vegetable seeds along with plants, tools and sundries.
Looking ahead to next year’s Island flower shows will give you an idea of what to have a go at growing. I was inspired this year by some the Island’s vegetable growers.
I know I don’t have the time or space to grow many vegetables but I do intend on trying a few, if just to give them a little extra competition! I’m hoping to grow some carrots, shallots, large exhibition onions, tomatoes and runner beans.
It’s going to be probably our busiest year ever. We hope to be back at RHS Chelsea Flower Show with sweet peas, followed with dahlias at BBC Gardeners World Live, Blenheim Palace and Hampton Court Flower Festival, all of which rely on help from Mother Nature!
Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year!