An Annual Reflection – Garden Successes and Failures of 2020 and Changes for 2021

Every cold January, I contemplate my garden. I think about the hard work I’ve put in and the abundance I’ve harvested. I ponder my plot’s successes and failures. I salivate when I look back on the fresh bounty it provided, tasting so much better than store-bought, and the good food I continue to prepare with it. This is especially true of my garden in 2020, when home-grown took on new meaning because we minimized our ventures to local markets. As I do every year, I evaluate what worked and what did not; what I should grow again and what changes I need to make.

I try to figure out whether a crop’s failure resulted from a variety that is ill-suited to my particular garden situation (and therefore I should not grow it again) or whether the particular conditions that year resulted in lack of success. For example, during the summer of 2019, August Ambrosia watermelon didn’t germinate when the seeds were directly sown in the garden. However, in 2020 when I gave them a head start in pots and transplanted them into a new location, I was rewarded with two delicious late August fruits. Yet Cal Sweet Bush watermelon, germinated in exactly the same way, failed to produce fruits, almost certainly because it was shaded and outcompeted by my wildly abundant butternut squash vines. Spinach, on the other hand, no matter what I do, no matter when or where I plant it, never amounts to a harvest worthy of its garden real estate.

Here is an evaluation of the new plants I grew last year:

SunSugar Hybrid Cherry Tomatoes – These orange cherries were sweet, delicious, and abundant, providing fruit until early November. A few days after we harvested a handful, another round was ready to be picked. There were enough remaining for use in the kitchen even after my wife gobbled them up as she wandered through the yard with the dog.

Long Slim Cayenne Pepper – I grew cayenne because my son had purchased seeds and wanted me to try them, and I thought I might be able to dry them to make my own crushed red peppers. They grew beautifully in pots, abundant fruit turning red and hanging like ornaments on a Christmas tree. Dried, they add a nice kick to pizza and anything else when I want to up the spice. I’ll definitely plant a few more in pots this summer.

Fiero Hybrid Radicchio – While it grew well, and radicchio is supposed to be slightly bitter, Fiero was so overly bitter that I never served it as part of a salad. I guess this is one vegetable that I will continue to have to buy at the market.

August Ambrosia Watermelon – I was unsuccessful growing August Ambrosia in 2019 (as described above). A second effort in 2020, this time starting the seeds indoors and transplanting them in a different location, met with great success. The melons, while small, were deliciously sweet and I was proud to grow them.

Cal Sweet Bush Hybrid – This short-vined watermelon was also started indoors for transplant, but it got shaded and outcompeted by butternut squash after transplanted outdoors. I will be sure to try again, in a new, less crowded location.

Space Hybrid Spinach – I’ve never been able to grow spinach worth harvesting. Yes, I always get a few leaves, but certainly not enough to serve as part of a meal. It was no different this year with Space Hybrid, even though I made sure to grow in cool, fall weather when spinach grows best.

Superpik Hybrid Squash – This yellow summer squash was prolific and abundant, and while it didn’t do much more for me than other varieties I have grown in the past, it grew perfectly well. As I have seeds remaining in the packet, it will find its way into the garden again.

Red Cloud Hybrid Beets – No better or worse than other red varieties I’ve tried in the past, they grew well and were tasty. Since I have more seeds, I will plant them again.

YaYa Hybrid Carrots – This Nantes variety, which replaced Nelson Hybrid several years ago, is sweet and crunchy, especially after a light frost in fall. However it is not quite as good as Nelson. I will continue to sow its seeds until I can find a better replacement.

Florence Fennel – I have grown Florence fennel for years, but this year was the first time it flowered in my garden. I was able to harvest fennel pollen and was blown away by the subtlety and nuance of its flavor. While I’ve thought for years about skipping fennel to leave space for other crops (I’m the only one in my family who likes the stalks), fennel pollen changed my mind, and it will always have a place in my garden.

Here is a list of new varieties I am going to try this year:

Jimmy Nardello’s Pepper – When you read a ton of different cooking magazines like I do, and they mention the same thing over and over, either someone’s doing a bang up job marketing or they’re on to something. I’m hoping the latter, and so I am planting this horn-shaped sweet pepper that can be used for frying or eaten raw. Let’s see if it lives up to the hype. Plus, there’s a great backstory about Jimmy’s parents bringing the seeds from Italy in the late 1800s, after which they were grown for years in the family garden.

Danish Ballhead Cabbage – I’ve had good luck with early cabbage that matures in late spring or early summer. However the same variety has not done well in cool, fall weather. This year I will try this late-season heirloom that should do well for fall harvest, hopefully with better luck.

Crispy Crunchy Hybrid Cucumber – I’m always on the lookout for petite vegetables that will look good on a crudités platter. This French “Cornichon” type only gets three to five inches long and promises to be crisp and sweet, perfect for a plate of raw vegetables to start a simple summer supper.

Spanish Variety Serrano Pepper – Jalapeños are standard in my garden and have been for years. But I have seen more recipes referring to serrano peppers than I have in the past, perhaps because they are three to four times as spicy as jalapeños. So this year I will give them a try.

Mortgage Lifter Tomato – I’ve been growing heirloom Brandywines as long as I can remember and for no particular reason, I thought it was time for a change. This heirloom beefsteak, which promises good flavor, looks like it may hit the mark and earn a permanent spot in the garden. Only time will tell.

Big Beef Hybrid Tomato – This past year I had a little trouble with tomato disease and want to try a variety that has more disease resistance. That’s where Big Beef comes in. This AAS winner is supposed to be large and tasty and therefore, along with its disease resistance, is worth a try.

Please like and share this post: