Last Updated on January 8, 2025 by Homegrown Florida
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We’re diving into a garden year in review of how 2024 went in the Homegrown Florida garden. I had six major goals this year, and I’ll walk you through what worked, what didn’t, and everything I learned along the way.
From growing a year’s supply of food to expanding my fruit production, focusing on flowers, and experimenting with preserving and medicinal herbs, I’m excited to share what this garden year in review has taught me. So, let’s get into it!
Goal 1: Growing a Year’s Supply of Food
One of my biggest goals for 2024 was to grow a year’s supply of certain vegetables—specifically potatoes, onions, peas, roselle, and hot peppers. While I didn’t fully achieve this goal, it was a valuable learning experience.
Successes & Failures
- Peas & Potatoes: I realized early in the season that I planted these too late, which meant I didn’t get the production I wanted. I managed to get a good harvests but not enough for a year’s supply. That said, I learned a lot about the timing and the best varieties for my garden. For potatoes, Yukon Gold doesn’t perform well in my Florida garden, but Cal White and Golden Nugget did great. For peas, Tall Telephone was the standout variety, and I’m confident that next year I can hit that year-supply goal.
- Roselle: I almost hit my Roselle goal this year! The plants were thriving, and I had enough space dedicated to them. But Florida weather had other plans, and a hurricane wiped them out just as they were about to reach peak production. This was disappointing, but I know the potential for next year is there.
- Sweet Potatoes & Tomatoes: Sweet potatoes were a surprising success, especially in a smaller growing area. I had a fantastic spring tomato season as well, although fall was more challenging due to soil nutrient issues and those pesky hurricanes.
What I Learned
In past years, I was so focused on growing specific crops for an entire year’s supply that I left my garden with long gaps where nothing was producing fresh food. This year, I shifted my strategy and grew a more diverse mix of vegetables, which kept fresh produce on our table throughout most of the year. Aside from the storm-related pause, we were able to enjoy fresh food nearly year-round, which was a huge win.
Next year, I’ll try again for that year’s supply of specific veggies, but with the focus on ensuring we always have something fresh to eat in the garden.
Goal 2: Increase Fruit Production
In 2023, I planted a lot of fruit trees with the goal of producing more of the fruit we eat. Patience is key with fruit trees since they take time to mature, but this year, I saw some great progress!
What Worked
- Avocados: My avocado tree blew me away this year! It’s only in its second year, and I harvested between 20-30 avocados. I didn’t expect to see that kind of production so soon, so I’m thrilled.
- Blackberries, Plums, & Mulberries: The blackberry bushes produced well this year, and I’m optimistic about an even better harvest next year. Plums are still in their early stages, but they gave me a few fruits. The real star this year, though, was mulberries—I couldn’t believe how much fruit I got from young trees! They produced an immense amount of berries.
- Peach Tree: My peach tree is the oldest fruit tree in the garden, and I experimented with less aggressive pruning and thinning this year. As a result, I got nearly 300 peaches! It was such a rewarding experience, and I realized that I don’t need to thin or prune as heavily to get great fruit.
- Strawberries & Watermelons: Strawberries were another high point this year, particularly the Brilliance variety, which outperformed others. Watermelons, which I’ve struggled with in the past, finally did well! I harvested multiple watermelons over 20 pounds each, with the biggest one at 35 pounds.
Room for Improvement
- Blueberries struggled due to soil issues, so next year I’ll be working to acidify the soil more to give them what they need to thrive. I’ll also focus more on pruning the blueberries more appropriately.
- Fruit Trees in Pots: Some trees did better than others in pots. My plum tree, for example, wasn’t happy in its pot, while my Jabuticaba thrived. I’ll continue experimenting to see which fruit trees are happiest in containers.
Goal 3: Growing More Flowers
I’ve been focusing on adding more flowers to the garden, both for their beauty and for their practical benefits to the ecosystem. This year, I expanded my flower game, especially with medicinal flowers and those that attract pollinators.
Highlights
- Medicinal Flowers: I grew a variety of medicinal flowers, including calendula and chamomile, which I used for making homemade medicinal products.
- Sunflowers and zinnias were the stars of the summer garden, attracting bees and beneficial insects. I’m especially fond of multi-branching sunflowers for their long-lasting blooms and ability to draw pollinators.
- Bulbs & Perennials: I experimented with perennial flowers like calla lilies and ranunculus, and while some did well, others struggled to come back after summer.
Flowers are a huge part of the garden’s health, and I’ll continue to expand this area as I work towards an even more diverse and vibrant garden.
Goal 4: Preserving Food
Preserving is something I’ve done for years, but this year, I took it to the next level by expanding my canning, dehydrating, and introducing freeze-drying.
Canning
I focused on canning only the foods we absolutely love, cutting back on things that end up sitting on the shelf. For example, I canned honey carrots, and while we liked them, I’ll adjust the recipe next time by skipping the broth and salt. I also made jams and jellies, but we don’t go through them as fast as whole canned fruits, so I’ll switch up my strategy next year.
Freeze-Drying
My Harvest Right freeze dryer has become a game-changer. I’ve freeze-dried everything from fruits and veggies to full meals, and the results have been incredible. Freeze-dried foods maintain 90% of their nutritional value and can last up to 25 years if stored properly. I’m excited to take some freeze-dried meals on our upcoming camping trip to see how they rehydrate and taste.
Goal 5: Exploring Medicinals
I’ve always been intrigued by making my own herbal remedies, and this year, I went big on medicinal recipes. From elderberry syrups and gummies to skin care products like calendula salves, I dove into creating my own natural medicine cabinet.
While I had success with many products, I still have more to learn. For example, I tried making honey cough drops, but I burned the honey, so that’s a recipe I’ll need to refine. Overall, though, this journey into herbalism has been one of the most rewarding parts of my year.
Goal 6: Fun Garden Experiments
I love experimenting, and this year I tried several fun garden projects:
- Bananas in Pots: I tried growing bananas in a container to see if I could protect them from the cold. 20 months in, still no fruit—but I’ll keep trying!
- Warm-Season Crops in Winter: I experimented with growing warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers in a Greenstalk over winter. The tomatoes did surprisingly well with limited sunlight, but the peppers and cucumbers struggled.
- Soil Experiments: I tested three different soils—ProMix, Miracle-Gro Organic, and FoxFarm Happy Frog—in a Greenstalk to see which grew the best lettuce. To my surprise, ProMix was the clear winner, and I’ve now switched to using it for most of my container gardening.
That’s my 2024 garden year in review! While I didn’t meet every goal perfectly, I learned so much and had some major wins along the way. Next week, we’ll dive into the 2025 gardening goals and how you can set your own.