The weather this year has certainly emphasised the difference in growing conditions on the plot and in the garden.
Although there are areas in the garden that have been buffeted by strong winds, the fences and buildings do offer quite a lot of protection. Not so on the plot. Our site is open plan so the only 'fences' are created by plants. Plants feel the full force of the wind and also plants on the plot don't benefit from the storage heater effect of nearly buildings.
Our site is windy at the best of times , - the angle of our plum trees testify to this - but this year has been exceptional.
Our site is windy at the best of times , - the angle of our plum trees testify to this - but this year has been exceptional.
Maybe the best place to be was underground.
All the potatoes have now been planted with the odds and ends left over planted late at the very end of May. Last year a late planting did really well so we will find out whether this will be repeated.
The first lot are just beginning to flower and so far all look healthy.
The parsnips are doing as well if not better than they have done in a long time. Germination was excellent and I may even have to do some thinning out.
The beetroot sown on 26 May has germninated.
So at the moment the roots are standing up to the unseasonal conditions - if not surviving the slimies.
So at the moment the roots are standing up to the unseasonal conditions - if not surviving the slimies.
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As you know, my little plot is all relatively sheltered, but it has still suffered a lot this year from the effects of wind. Fortunately I do not suffer unduly from slugs and snails. A bit of damage now and then, but not too serious. The nematodes have kept the root maggots at bay well too. All but one of my Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts are doing well, and even the one that was affected seems to be recovering. Likewise with beans - no casualties! I'm glad I staked my Broad Beans though, because the wind would have laid them low if I hadn't. It's odd how your Parsnips are so much better. Perhaps they actually LIKE cold dry, windy conditions??
ReplyDeleteOur nematodes are slug and snail specific, Mark but there is no way that we can apply them to the whole of the plot. We do have areas in the garden affected by the wind but screens and buildings give quite a bit of protection - it is scary in the greenhouse though when the wind is strong. We have kept the parsnips well watered but we always do,
DeleteMy parsnip patch is well really patchy. A few have come up, but not many at all. I think it has just been too dry here. Good luck with your second batch of carrots.
ReplyDeleteOur parsnips are usually patchy Daphne. Ours are sown in a shallow trench of compost, to get them started, and so I water them often.
DeleteI've still got lots of things waiting to go out, I'm so behind this year because of one thing or another, not least the wind we've had. Sorry to hear about the carrots, it's so disheartening when you see something growing well and then the next time you look they're completely gone, I hope your next batch will survive the pesky molluscs.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that things will catch up, Jo. you have had a lot to contend with this year,
DeleteYes, Sue this summer is strange here too. We have hot days and very cool nights. So my beet is similar yours, I tried to water it more but want to same water for the next week. I liked seeing your potato, is enough tall..
ReplyDeleteIt's been miserable here this weekend Nadezda - just when things seemed to be picking up,
DeleteThe slimy ones seem to be having a particularly good year. I've finally resorted to slug pellets, which I really don't like doing, but having tried pretty much everything else it seems to be the only thing that works. And I'm still having to reapply them every couple of days. They disappear overnight.
ReplyDeleteI've sprinkled a few pellets too, Jessica. They are under mesh or net so other things like birdsand hedgehogs shouldn't get at them
DeleteI always think it's quite wild at the allotment compared to at home. Not just less sheltered, but a very large selection of wildlife galloping about the place. Even things that eat onions. What on earth eats onions??? I have a feeling it's rabbits. It makes me wonder whether the rabbits are all oniony. Such a shame about the carrots, I do hope the replacement ones make it. You had such a brilliant crop last year. I've put out my replacement cucumbers at the plot, we shall see how they do. The first five died almost at once in the cold. Your parsnips look good. I really wanted to grow some this year but I fear I may have missed the boat.
ReplyDeleteI know that mice have nibbled onions in store in the garage or greenhouse CJ. They are supposed to make dogs hallucinate so maybe the mice have a high. It may be late for parsnips but what's to lose?
DeleteOh, those slugs! I had a carrotless year two years ago and I know it was because of them. The seeds germinated sort of sporadically and in the beginning, I wasn't sure if I was remembering correctly if they had come up in certain sections or not. It took me a while to realize that they were in fact disappearing, bit by bit, until there were exactly 0 left.
ReplyDeleteIf we hadn't seen that they had come up, Margaret we would havbe thought that they hadn't germinated,
DeleteMy carrots were completely wiped out last year, however this year, nothing has touched them. Swings and roundabouts in the garden huh.
ReplyDeleteNo two years or two gardens are the same are they, Kelli?
DeleteIt has been a poor start to the growing year - everything seems to have been against it so far - fingers crossed everything catches up later on.
ReplyDeleteThe weather still can't decide what to do can it, Elaine?
DeleteWe can't win sue! I think the carrots have been really slow this year, it's one veg that doesn't get eaten in my veggie patch....says I crossing my fingers! The weather has been downright odd which is certainly not helping things, I do hope you get your carrot crop!!! Everything else is looking good though....Btw....have you noticed a plague of white fly? They are simply everywhere here!xxx
ReplyDeleteNo plagues if whitefly here yet Dina. I dread checking the second batch of carrots
DeleteUnderstand completely - even in the SE I'm way behind normal growing and planting out - the pumpkins still only have two leaves, winter cabbages are about an inch tall despite being pricked out weeks ago, no parsnips despite repeated sowings and chillies only 6" tall. Getting worried that there won't be enough season left for everything to get to maturity unless the nights warm up.
ReplyDeleteThis year is ridiculous SandD
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