Phenology

An increase in the duration of the growing season is likely with spring occurring earlier.

Projections indicate the duration of the growing season will continue to increase.

Observations at the Valentia phenological garden, Co. Kerry, indicate that the beginning of the growing season is occurring approximately 10 days earlier now than when compared to the early 1970s. This has led to an extension of the growing season.

Projected changes in temperature are expected to result in a lengthening of the growing with the start of the growing season expected to start 15 and 24 days earlier for the RCP 4.5 (low-medium emissions) and RCP 8.5 (high emissions) scenario, respectively.
Temperature strongly impacts the life cycles (phenology) of plants and animals in Ireland, including the start of the growing season and the timing of bud burst. Earlier budding makes plants prone to later season frosts – a phenomenon seen increasingly across Europe and North America in fruit crops in recent years, which is projected to increase.