One of the questions asked in our Radio Leeds interview was how did we think this year's weather had affected our gardening. Our estimate is that we are probably two or three weeks behind where we would like to be.
We started to catch up during the few good weather days about a week ago. The onions and shallots took off and are now growing well. We actually planted the sets earlier this year on the 29 March. Last year the sets went in on 17 April so consequently growth is ahead of last year.
On 24 April we planted out our first sowing of Witkiem Manita broad beans which unfortunately were battered by the winds that arrived the day after planting. Last year this task was completed on 8 April.
We planted our first seed potatoes in sacks on 20 March, last year this was done on 2 March. They are through and being earthed up as they grow.
The early and trial potatoes were planted on the plot on 8 April and the first of our maincrop potatoes on 21 April. We still have another lot to plant but the ground is too wet to prepare for them.
Last year we planted the first potatoes in bags on 2 March and the earlies and trial varieties on 2 April. The first lot of maincrop went in on 9 April with the rest all being planed before the end of April - the soggy ground this year is holding us up.
Our first lot of peas were planted this week on 26 April. Last year this job was completed on 9 April.
The rain has been our real enemy this year with our clay soil being more like mud. We need some drying days in order to prepare more beds for sowing carrots and parsnips and planting the rest of the potatoes. Fortunately we have a bed ready prepared for the early brassicas that we intend to plant out this weekend.
Let's just hope that the rain stops soon and gives is a chance.
So what is nature making of this weather? I've just sampled some photos of fruit trees on the allotment and shrubs growing in our garden to compare this year with last.
The plum and greengage blossom may be late but it is making up for its tardiness by producing far more flowers than I can remember before. I just hope that the weather isn't keeping our insect friends away.
Let's hope that May is kinder to us and gives the plants and us a chance to catch up.
We started to catch up during the few good weather days about a week ago. The onions and shallots took off and are now growing well. We actually planted the sets earlier this year on the 29 March. Last year the sets went in on 17 April so consequently growth is ahead of last year.
Last year we planted the first potatoes in bags on 2 March and the earlies and trial varieties on 2 April. The first lot of maincrop went in on 9 April with the rest all being planed before the end of April - the soggy ground this year is holding us up.
Our first lot of peas were planted this week on 26 April. Last year this job was completed on 9 April.
So what is nature making of this weather? I've just sampled some photos of fruit trees on the allotment and shrubs growing in our garden to compare this year with last.
Let's hope that May is kinder to us and gives the plants and us a chance to catch up.
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Interesting to read. We have the opposite problem here in Melbourne, Australia. Everything is too dry and was too warm for many months - much longer than normal for Summer/Autumn. Still waiting for decent weather to be planting in earnest.
ReplyDeleteWe need to swap some of our weather then things would be just perfect Kathie
DeleteWe can really tell a difference with the blooms, some of them look like they are just opening now. The heavy blooms on you plums and gages are very heartening, hopefully that'll translate to more fruit. I wonder if in prior years the plum blooms had been zapped by late frosts.
ReplyDeleteThe plum blossom has been caught by late frosts in the past but usually enough blossom survives to produce fruit, Phuong
DeleteWonderful demonstration of the phenological contrast between last year and this. The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh used to publish data on "The Spring Index" but they stopped posting it to the net in 2014. See http://www.rbge.org.uk/science/plants-and-climate-change/edinburgh-weather-station/edinburgh-spring-index
ReplyDeleteSuch erudite vocabulary for my humble blog, Mal :-) I wonder why the RBGE stopped publishing their data?
DeleteAwesome update Sue thank you for sharing and blessings to both you and Martyn
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda
DeleteInteresting seeing those photos. Your Magnolia is really behind, as you said, it's all 2-3 weeks behind. My tomatoes, peppers and squash still haven't germinated, I can't recall them ever taking this long in a greenhouse.xxx
ReplyDeleteOur tomatoes have just germinated, Dina but they are in a spare bedroom under a grow light.
DeleteYes, let's hope May is kinder. So far there's been a lot of back and forth around here - a few good days followed by a few bad (rain/wind/cold).
ReplyDeleteGood days have seemed few, Margaret. Surely May will see an improvement.
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