Purple vegetables and “climate change foods” like figs and almonds are set to be among the top gardening trends of 2024.
Houseplants and wildflowers are also likely to be popular, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in London.
The charity's forecasts for the coming year are based on current trends and inquiries of its advisors and experts.
Purple foods are popular among health conscious people because they contain anthocyanins – antioxidants that reduce inflammation in the body.
Some studies suggest that it may reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems and enhance thinking skills in older people.
Purple foods are popular among health conscious people because they contain anthocyanins, which reduce inflammation. Pictured are piles of purple sweet potatoes at the vegetable market
People are now looking beyond super fruits like blueberries to purple vegetables, and there are new varieties that are easier to grow and avoid previous problems such as lack of fruiting and limited 'purpleness', especially after cooking.
The RHS has predicted that purple vegetables will become a gardening trend next year, saying: “Gardeners and cooks can expect purple carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, peas, radishes, French beans and lettuce.”
Britain's recent hot and dry summer is ideal for growing grapes, figs, almonds, apricots, watermelon, peaches or nectarines, according to gardening experts.
But they warn that climate change could make it difficult for growing fruits that need cooling during the winter, such as black currants, apples and pears.
However, among many of the UK's 30 million gardeners, there will be a focus on garden resilience to unusual weather and improving plant health in 2024, the RHS forecasts.
Some people adopt “survival gardens,” such as those that use seed strains adapted to local climates.
Based on the largest number of inquiries the RHS has ever received in 2023 – 115,000 – it also says there is a rise in the number of urban gardeners, often without a garden of their own, who are growing plants in pots, on balconies and indoors, for example using terrariums. animals.
Houseplants and wildflowers are likely to become more popular as people have less outdoor space for gardening
Enthusiasts want to fill every corner of their homes with tropical plants and orchids that create a 'jungle' look, indoor favorites also including succulents known as 'donkey tail', Epipremnum and old favorites such as the String of Ornate Hearts. Plant and spider plant.
Creating a Mediterranean look by growing citrus plants is increasingly popular, with inquiries made to the RHS about these plants increasing by 22 per cent.
Claire Matterson, Director General of the RHS, said: “I am excited to see the growing interest in urban gardening.
“My first ever garden was in a small flat in Brixton, London. With this small space, I was able to get my hands in the soil, connect with the seasons, and enjoy growing flowers and vegetables.
“At the RHS we want to open up gardening to everyone, anywhere.”
The RHS Gardening Advice service and website continue to see significant growth in 'grow your own' enquiries, with gardeners happy to accept lower returns to tend their plots in a more environmentally friendly way, with less irrigation, use of mulch to retain rainwater, and storage. From rainwater, and avoid fertilizers.
The most popular produce grown at home is tomatoes, followed by cucumbers, zucchini, chili peppers and beans.
There is also interest in barnyard fruit varieties, such as dwarf raspberries, blackberries and raspberries.
Meanwhile, people are still embracing wildflowers, from non-native meadows in gardens to wildflower borders with plants including alexander, meadowsweet, and Welsh poppies.
Even plants traditionally viewed as “unwanted weeds” such as Robert's wort and plantain have become popular, with parsley now a desirable border plant, and dandelions recognized as key to providing food for bees early in the spring.
Gardeners appear to be increasingly in tune with nature, with inquiries to the RHS about wildlife-friendly gardening rising by more than 28 per cent in 2023, and many people choosing to let their lawns grow long to support the pollination of insects, invertebrates and wildlife that depend on the plants. they.
There is interest in creating insect hotels, obtaining pollinator-friendly plants, leaving dead wood in the garden and introducing water features, even small ones, to benefit wildlife.
In 2024, with the ban on peat composting for amateur gardeners coming into effect, people will make the most of home composting opportunities and have access to sustainable alternatives.
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