August fruit from the Garden
A Flourishing First Year: Marketa’s Garden Comes into Its Own
Marketa’s first full year growing vegetables and cut flowers in her new garden has been nothing short of a success story. With guidance and support from the GardenAdvice team through the GardenAdvice MyGardenTeam service, what began as a garden in need of care and confidence has quickly become a productive, generous and wildlife-friendly space — brimming with colour, flavour and life.
From revitalised fruit trees to bumper crops of vegetables and flowers, the garden has rewarded thoughtful planning, good timing and plenty of enthusiasm.
Apples: A Tree Brought Back to Life
One of the real highlights of the year has been the apple harvest. The apple trees, which the GardenAdvice team helped to recover through careful pruning and aftercare, produced a fantastic crop. Healthy foliage, balanced growth and improved light levels paid off, resulting in well-formed, flavourful apples — a satisfying reminder of just how responsive fruit trees can be when given the right attention.
Figs: Sun-Warmed and Generous
The fig trees also performed beautifully, producing soft, sweet fruits that thrived in the warm conditions of the garden. Figs are often underestimated in UK gardens, but with shelter and sunshine they can be incredibly rewarding — and this year proved exactly that.
Cut Flowers: Carnations and Calendula
Cut flowers played a key role in the garden’s success. Carnations provided long-lasting blooms with excellent vase life, while calendula worked double duty — adding cheerful colour, attracting pollinators, and acting as a companion plant among the vegetables. These flowers helped knit the ornamental and productive sides of the garden together.
Sweet Corn Outdoors: A Summer Favourite
Growing sweet corn outdoors can be a gamble, but this year it paid off. Strong plants and well-filled cobs showed that good spacing, feeding and pollination made all the difference. Freshly picked sweet corn is hard to beat, and this crop was a real seasonal treat.
Tomatoes: Big and Small Winners
Both beef tomatoes and mini tomatoes thrived, producing heavy trusses and rich flavour. The larger varieties delivered satisfying, juicy fruits ideal for salads and cooking, while the mini tomatoes offered sweet, snackable harvests over a long period. Careful watering and ventilation helped keep plants healthy and productive.
Leeks, Onions and Garlic: Solid Staples
Leeks, onions and garlic formed the backbone of the vegetable garden. These dependable crops developed steadily through the season, producing robust, flavoursome harvests that will continue to be enjoyed well beyond summer. They’re a reminder that patient, steady growers often give the greatest long-term rewards.
Marrows and Melons: Space Well Used
Marrows sprawled happily, producing generous fruits that quickly became kitchen staples. Melons, grown with a bit of extra care and protection, were a real highlight — proof that even slightly more adventurous crops can succeed with the right conditions and attention.
Potatoes Under Plastic: Early and Productive
Potatoes grown under plastic delivered strong, reliable yields. The added warmth helped get them off to an early start and protected young growth, resulting in healthy plants and satisfying harvests from relatively modest space.
Sunflowers for the Birds
A few sunflowers were left to go over and set seed, providing food for wild birds through the winter months. This simple gesture kept the garden connected to nature year-round, ensuring it remained a haven not just for people, but for wildlife too.
Marketa’s first year shows just how much can be achieved with good advice, thoughtful planning and a willingness to learn along the way. It’s been a season of abundance, colour and confidence — and a strong foundation for many productive years to come.
If you’d like help bringing your own garden back to life or planning a productive growing season, the GardenAdvice team would be delighted to help.