Looking over the 2018 gardening year

I’ve been looking back over the highs and lows of the 2018 gardening year and planning for 2019.

The 2018 gardening year has been challenging – and not just because of the usual weeds, slugs and snails. Broken limbs, unusual weather and a general lack of time have made keeping up with the garden pretty hard.

There have been successes – new flowers, some bumper crops – and looking back over photos of the year, it’s obvious that the garden has for the most part, simply trundled on without me.

The weather

Unusual weather has dominated gardeners’ thoughts this year, starting with the late cold snap that saw spring bulbs struggling through snow. It didn’t seem to do them any harm though.

Less happy was the wisteria, which for the second year running was hit by frost.

Thankfully, not every bud was damaged as in 2017 and there was still a reasonable display.

Along with many others, my lawn succumbed to the summer drought. It has recovered but is still looking a bit ropey. Re-laying may be a 2019 job.

The advantage was the appearance of eryngium seedlings – now potted up and ready to go into the borders. I love getting plants for free.

Some things loved the heat – the garlic crop was good.

I was also still picking lots of raspberries well into October.

The campsis positively revelled in the heat with masses of flowers for weeks. It’s also set seed for the first time.

Flowery highlights

The ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’ had missed being pruned in 2017 – lack of time again – and so was enormous. It did mean a spectacular show though.

The tulips were particularly good this year. A favourite was ‘Ronaldo’.

I was also rather pleased with ‘Sunlover’ – a new variety in my garden. It will be interesting to see if they reappear this year.

New things in the 2018 gardening year

2018 was the year I tried growing shallots and I can only wonder why it took me so long to start. Easy, fantastic flavour and a good way of having something in the veg beds over winter, they are set to be an annual crop.

Turnips were another first in the 2018 gardening year. The first sowing was hit by the resident slugs and, thinking it was lost, I sowed more. In the end, the first plants recovered and both rows cropped. This season, I will definitely sow more – and guard against slugs and snails more carefully.

I’d never grown Dutch iris before but decided to try these ‘Symphony’. Another success, not least because they didn’t seem to be attacked by the slugs and snails as much. I’ve now planted a couple of new varieties for this summer.

This tithonia was part of my 2018 flower gardening trials and it was an absolute winner. Masses of flowers, stunning colour and the bees loved it.

Hardy chrysanthemums were another first in 2018. At the moment, this is in a pot while a border is revamped but I’m planning to plant it out in the spring. It flowered for ages and is really good for late colour.

The biggest challenge

Breaking first a wrist and then a shoulder in unbelievably quick succession meant that the second half of the year was coloured by deep frustration.

I did what I could – wouldn’t recommend one-handed weeding – but had to let a lot of things go. As a result, for the first time ever I was forced to call in professional help when it became obvious the weeds were taking over.

There is always a silver lining though and it seemed the perfect opportunity to tackle borders that were in need of a rethink. Thanks to the help of Michelle from Martyn Powell Landscapes in Cheltenham, the central flower borders were thoroughly weeded and cut back while the main one was almost completely cleared.

This is the result and I’m looking forward to planting up in the spring.

The year ahead

So much for the 2018 gardening year, what about the new season?

The big change is my new potting shed, a birthday present that I’ve been too ‘broken’ to use properly yet. Expect to hear a lot more of this in 2019.

There are already signs of life in the veg plot with onions, garlic and shallots all sprouting and the first sowing of broad beans looking good.

And the ‘Under Gardener’ is back helping me with the weeding. 2019 is going to be good.

Join me for the 2019 gardening year and sign up to get email notification of new posts.