Wednesday 21 December 2011

End of the Year Review

Plums - Victoria, Damsons and Greengages
As the year is coming to an end, I thought I would look back and refresh my memory as to what has been successful this year.  2011, for me, should be called 'The Year of the Soft Fruits'.
Redcurrant bush
Redcurrants



Raspberries

  

Blackcurrant

  Without exception, this year has been the best ever, for all the soft fruits - everything performed very well  and I had more fruit than I knew what to do with - I think the previous hard winter helped, and although most of the year was very dry, it doesn't seem to have affected the output of the plants.


James Grieve


The eating apple trees were overladen with fruit, most of which were undersized, they ripened before they had a chance to mature into a decent size, but there were hundreds of them, and the plum trees were dripping, to the point of breaking the branches.

On the vegetable side, my two disappointments were the potatoes and squashes, yields were low, due in part to the low rainfall and colder temperatures than we would normally have.   But the carrots and onions made up for the shortfall.




In the greenhouse I had successes and failures too.  The tomatoes romped away, ripened quickly and kept on coming right through to October.

But the cucumbers and peppers were dismal.  So my summary of the year  - on the whole crops didn't do too bad considering the weather conditions. 

It has been great looking back at the photographs throughout the year and has me fired up ready to begin all over again next year.  I have my tomato seed at the ready to sow in January and I can't wait to get cracking.

As this will be my last post for the year on A Woman of the Soil - I will take this opportunity of thanking everyone who has visited and commented and I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Successful Gardening New Year.

Three grumpy Christmas dogs via Pinterest

12 comments:

  1. I'd go along with the title year of the fruit - hope next year doesn't disappoint!
    There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with those carrots!

    Happy Christmas to you too

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  2. It looks like you've had a good year on the whole, there's usually plenty of successes which make up for the failures. All the best for Christmas and New Year, Elaine.

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  3. I agree entirely with your comments on a good year for fruit. Mine too with loads in the freezer for Christmas etc.

    Mery Christmas

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  4. Win some; lose some. C'est la vie!

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  5. Loved hearing your end of year round up. Who knows what the weather will hold for next year and what crops will be the best. I hope you have a lovely Christmas. Best wishes, Wellywoman.

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  6. What an uplifting post to end the year with!
    For me the blackberries were brilliant.
    That last picture has me laughing out loud.
    Thanks, and you too! Flighty xx

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  7. What a lovely record to look back on next year - and a celebratory post to finish the year on. I hope my fruit will eventually do as well as yours and that we all have lots of successes next year. Looking forward to it already! Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year, Caro xx

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  8. Have a wonderful Christmas! I am so very impressed with your soft fruits. Look amazing. I also had a very good red onion crop this year (had them hanging up drying on an indoors washing line for a while). Best wishes x

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  9. Very impressive fruit and veg, Elaine. It was certainly a good fruit year if not much else in the kitchen garden. Enjoy the Festive season.

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  10. Yes...Here's to a fabulous year in the garden. The Merryiest of Christmasses & Healthiest n' Happiest of New Years to you xx

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  11. Your garden was beautiful and I'll bet your successes have far outweighed your challenges. Just look at those gorgeous carrots and berries!

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  12. Each year is so different. Wishing you peace and Joy at Christmas Elaine and happy growing in 2012 :)

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