Still no rain, so we are spending more time than we would like watering those plants that we have managed to plant out in the parched earth. The grass paths are changing from a spring green to a late summer yellow.
The cold frame, that we moved the previous week, was upended by strong winds so it didn't exactly protect the newly planted dahlias alongside it.
Fortunately the dahlias escaped with little damage and have now bounced back.
Martyn, has managed to cultivate a few more beds. These were mainly ones that had been still covered with weed control fabric so the soil still possessed a modicum of moisture. I have a feeling that some beds will remain unpopulated this year.
The crates of potatoes were moved out of the garden greenhouse. I've never seen potato tops as tall. To give you some idea I asked, Martyn to stand by them.
Martyn, is six feet tall so I'm guessing the potato tops are about five feet tall.
The carrots, that were growing in the shadow of the potatoes, must be breathing a sigh of relief!
One of the potato varieties - Casablanca - was flowering so we decided to tip out the crate in the hope that the growth wasn't all above 'ground' and that there were some tubers to harvest.
We were quite pleased with what we found. Only two seed potatoes had been planted from which we harvested 1.3 kg (2.9 lb). We're hoping that the crate containing International Kidney had done as well.
Strawberry plants, that are still living in our garden cold frames, provided us with our first strawberry harvest of the year.
In fact all last week's harvesting came from the garden rather than the allotment. The lettuce - All Year Round - was grown in a pot in the garden greenhouse and the radish were sown between the carrots in the crates. The radishes are Multi-coloured Breakfast, although all the ones picked last week were the usual red.
We did manage to plant the rest of the broad beans, although we watered the area, in which they were to be planted, twice before planting which delayed things a little.
The plants looked very sorry for themselves after being planted but seem to have cheered up. Just more to add to our watering regime. We're just hoping that we don't end up with water restrictions. I have a feeling that this season plants are going to struggle. I have even heard that it's possible that we may have a frost in June! Just what's going on?
Ruby was quite exhausted after carrying out a plot inspection and helping with the watering.
This week I am linking to harvest Monday hosted on
Dave's blog Our Happy Acres
Posts
Ahhh... your broad bean looks so healthy. I miss my broad beans, they finally died. It might our garden is not suitable for them
ReplyDeleteThey are a bit leggy, Endah due to us delaying planting but hopefully they will sort themselves out.
DeleteI'm excited to see your new potatoes. Your plants in pots are doing really well, they must like the environment in your greenhouse. But it's terrible that you've had such a dry spring, hand watering is backbreaking work.
ReplyDeleteWe've had a cold wet spring, which has made me very glad to have a greenhouse to keep the hot weather plants in.
At least got now we can use a hosepipe, Phuong. We have some rain forecast but we need quite a lot to improve the ground
DeleteYou have been too dry, and we have been very wet!
ReplyDeleteLovely to have fresh strawberries! Nice potato harvest. I've never seen potatoes grow that tall either - amazing!
And such a sweet garden helper you have! And a nice man to measure your crops!
Happy Gardening!
Pity the weather doesn’t share itself more evenly, Lea. We’ve never had potatoes grow so tall before.
DeleteRuby is go at looking sweet but she can be a handful too.
Not more frost?! We lost all the leaves from our Acer Bloodgood in that late May frost - we were hoping it would have time to recover this summer! I hope we don't lose it entirely, it was bought brand new from Harlow Carr this year!
ReplyDeleteWe're also struggling with the dry weather - although we're lucky enough to have a garden hose (unmetered!) to help us out. Haven't lost anything yet - but we can't keep the rhubarb anywhere near as wet as it likes; we have very sandy soil that drains immediately, but it's used to the heavy clays of my dad's garden!
Lovely to see pics of your Little Helper :)
We’re hoping that the frost doesn’t arrive, DQ. That’s a shame about your acre, fingers crossed for it’s recovery. We pay a yearly fee for water at the allotment and at present can use a hose. Our rhubarb is flagging too as I notice it is in the fields close by even on heavy clay.
DeleteFrost in June would be crazy. But in New York we have also been on the brink. My tomatoes are covered each night just because they don't like these chilly night temps. At least we have had sun during the day. I remember the year 2009. Tomatoes like no less than 55F at night and our averages were below that all summer.
ReplyDeleteIt would, Alex but our weather is always doing crazy things.
DeleteJudging by what I've seen on the TV, your wish for rain may possibly come true tomorrow! Down here in the SE I think we'll probably get a tiny sprinkle at best. Your new potatoes look lovely and clean - I hope I'll be able to harvest some as good as those, possibly in the next couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that we will have enough rain, Mark. We need it to rain solidly all night at least. We have a crate of International Kidney to tip out next so hope they are as good.
DeleteIt's all go for you now. Sorry about the cold frame, but nature has a way of bouncing back. I hope you, and I, get much needed rainfall, but I heard it will be hit and miss.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope your drought is broken sooner than later. It is tough to start a gardening season with a lack of rain. I hate that for you. It is now getting dry here and HOT. Sounds like the weather people are predicting a dry hot spell for us. I will be feeling your pain. Those potatoes sure look good. I haven't seen such tall potato plants before either. ha... You must be doing something right.
ReplyDeleteWinds and no rain are not a good combination for plants! That is an impressive yield for the potato. I'm tempted to try growing some in pots here next year, but our weather usually turns hot too quick for them.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are not, Dave. We had some drizzly rain today and the temperatures dropped. In total though the tiny amount of rain will have done little to help moisten the parched soil.
DeleteLove Ruby! Our potatoes are pretty tall too and are currently blowing about in the strong winds. The climate is crazy, I do hope you don't get a frost, here rain is sorely needed too. Our grass is really yellow and many plants are wilting. Lovely seeing the strawberries, you are ahead of us. That is a great potato harvest.xxx
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is crazy, Dina we now have had some rain but the winds are getting up too. Is summer over?
DeleteI hope that you have had some rain by now Sue. I'm glad to read that your dahlias perked up. It was very windy here yesterday and during the night. I was trying to prop my dahlias up yesterday afternoon in an effort to protect them. It looks as if you are working Ruby hard 😄
ReplyDeleteWe did have some rain, Anna at least enough to allow us time off watering. Unfortunately we also had the winds. Ruby has boundless energy - wish we did.
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