Small Talk with Joseph Croke of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture

Joseph Croke

Joseph talks about why now is the time to invest in the next generation of growers

Horticulture

12 June 2025

In association with Tully Nurseries

At Growtrade, we’re running an interview series titled ‘Small Talk’, where we talk to various influential members of Ireland’s horticulture trade.

This month’s conversation is with Joseph Croke, chairperson of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH), Ireland.

How did you get your start in horticulture?

I watched a series on agriculture and horticulture, at the time we were in a recession, and I was inspired by the potential to grow crops and replace imports.

What was one of the proudest moments in your career to date?

Becoming chairperson of The Chartered Institute of Horticulture for Ireland, the professional body for horticulturists.

What was one of the greatest challenges you’ve faced in your career to date?

Not having enough help to get jobs done, not enough hours in the day and not enough support to help people enter horticulture education and careers.

Give us an example of a recent success you had in your work.

Watching our under 30 years of age representative for Ireland at the International Young Horticulturist of the Year win at Hillsborough Castle Gardens.

Horticulture in Ireland has so much potential and can compete with the best of them.

What are the greatest challenges facing the industry today?

Definitely the greatest challenge for horticulture today is the lack of people joining the industry.

What are the greatest opportunities facing the industry today?

The greatest opportunity for Irish horticulture is to attract innovative people into the industry to repair important ecosystems and replace the greater than 80% imports of fruits and vegetables into Ireland sustainably.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in horticulture?

Work hard, focus on what you can learn and look for what in your work makes you happy.

Embrace it and when you are tired or down think on those happy things and you will succeed.

What are your hopes for the future of Irish horticulture?

I hope that the powers that be as such focus on telling young people that horticulture is a great rewarding career and an industry with so much opportunity and potential

The Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH) is the professional body for horticulturists in the UK and Ireland, originally established in 1984 and granted Chartered status in 2014. Representing professionals across all areas of the horticultural industry, the CIH promotes high standards, continuous professional development, and greater recognition of horticulture as a skilled profession

Small Talk is produced in association with Tully Nurseries, one of Ireland’s wholesale nurseries supplying landscape contractors, garden centres, DIYs and supermarkets in Ireland and the UK. For more visit tullynurseries.ie