The National Trust has reported a 'abysmal' year so far that could impact the fun for children
National Trust gardeners attribute this season's "abysmal" pumpkin harvests to an "army of slugs" and dismal weather conditions.
Reflecting on the problems faced by Nostell, Paul Dibb, garden and outdoors manager, said: "The wet spring and early summer has resulted in an army of slugs attacking the young plants we grew and planted out. It's been a struggle to get any established in time to produce fruit."Rebecca Bevan, a plant health and sustainability consultant with the National Trust, has described 2024 as a tough year for vegetable growers.
Commenting on the challenging season, Andrew Hunt, the head gardener at Kingston Lacy, said: "Pumpkins need a long, hot growing season to do well. Unfortunately, we had a cold and prolonged spring, which meant that germination took place later than normal and then the cooler and wetter conditions over the summer really haven't helped."
Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent also saw a diminished pumpkin harvest within its two-acre organic vegetable plot, attributed by vegetable gardener Olivia Steed-Mundin to a decline in bumblebee numbers, crucial for pollination. The National Trust pointed out that the chilly, damp start to the summer had an adverse effect on the number of pollinating insects available to fertilize flowers.
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