We have spoken on this topic before and it seems that global warming is here to stay. The good news is that the world of agriculture and horticulture has accepted the challenge by creating new plant varieties, capable of adapting to changing weather conditions and able to grow and produce edible food in quantity, in less ideal conditions.
Many vegetables, newly developed for commercial glasshouse production, would also seem suitable for growing appreciable crops outdoors, such as different types of tomatoes and baby cucumber varieties. New varieties of peppers also show considerable promise.
The above are just examples of crops that may well be feasible in our outdoor gardens, but if forecasts are correct, hot, dry summers are on the way. So we need to look at systems to shade our vegetable plots and perhaps more importantly to investigate new ideas on water storage in quantity – possibly underground, throughout the summer.
Fruit too will show changes, with the opportunity to grow more exotic species. Sadly, some of our favourite fruit, such as apples are under threat, as a cold weather period is needed to pollinate the fruit. Again, breeders are working hard to save our favourite fruit!
In time, we will have to re-evaluate the use of many of our favourite flowers as our summers get warmer. On the plus side though, we may be able to succeed with growing species which have until now been ‘marginal’ in some parts of the country in our unpredictable summers.
We will still be able to grow favourites such as pelargonium, gazania, verbena, nigella, calendula, helianthus and cosmos. In due course however, we can expect more success with what are now borderline plants like brachycome, mesembryanthemum, portulaca and verbena. Succulents too, such as aloe’s and drosanthemum, currently grown in the greenhouse, may be considered for outdoor growing.
So, just a glimpse of gardening in the future, but that’s no reason for us gardeners to reduce our efforts in respect of our ‘carbon footprint’ and reduce our use of plastics!
Happy Gardening!
