Well we were wanting some rain, and last week we got it. It started off showery but by the end of the week we had spells of more persistent, quite heavy rain. The garden and allotment needed it desperately, but what it didn't need was the drop in temperature that accompanied the rain, especially when more tender plants were being planted out.
As you can imagine activity on the allotment was much reduced but we did manage to complete some jobs.
You may remember from previous posts, that we have a glassless cold frame on the allotment.
We've been trying to decided how we can make best use of this and where to site it. We haven't really come up with any startling ideas as yet so we decided to leave it where it was, which is on the bed in which we plant outdoor tomatoes. We decided that we would fasten enviromesh to the frame and use it to offer some protection to newly planted young tomatoes.
The tomatoes haven't yet been planted but their home is now ready for them.
At the beginning of the week, we battled with the rain and managed to finish erecting the bean frames and plant out the remaining Runner - Firestorm and Climbing French beans - Python, Goldfield and more Cobra. Despite the rain we kept going to get everything planted and ended up dripping wet.
Although the rain kept us away from the plot for much of the week, we had to make an evening visit on Thursday to water the tomatoes in the greenhouse - one disadvantage of not growing your own in your back garden. We ended up getting wet yet again.
Sunday, just as we arrived at the allotment it started to rain, rather than turning round and going home we decided to do some work under cover in the greenhouse. We fixed up the supports to which the tomatoes would be tied as they grew.
That turned out to be a good move, as when we had finished this job the sun came out and we managed a full afternoon's work.
The first job was to plant the Crown Prince squashes.
Whilst I planted the squashes, Martyn put the pea sticks in place to support our first batch of peas which are now growing quickly/
My next job was to plant another two varieties of squash. Walnut which is a butternut squash and Uchiki Kuri which is a type of onion squash. Between the two lots of squash I planted one lot of sweet corn - Golden Bantam.
Sunday, just as we arrived at the allotment it started to rain, rather than turning round and going home we decided to do some work under cover in the greenhouse. We fixed up the supports to which the tomatoes would be tied as they grew.
The first job was to plant the Crown Prince squashes.
Martyn's next job was to prepare the bed where the next lot of brassicas would be planted. The bed had already been dug and covered with weed control fabric so the next stage was to erect the hoops that would support the enviromesh covering.
That done he decided to see whether the old strawberry bed would dig after the rain had hopefully softened the soil a little. He managed to dig over a small section but it was heavy going and will take time to dig the entire bed.
We also harvested salad leaves, radishes and herbs from the garden but as usual these didn't feature in a photo call.
This week I am linking to harvest Monday hosted on
Dave's blog Our Happy Acres
Posts
Why did you remove the top part of the old coldframe? I would have thought the sloping / pitched-roof effect would have been useful in that it would prevent sagging in the middle?
ReplyDeleteThe top part of the frame hasn't been removed. Mark. The mesh is just draped at the moment as if we do put a top on we need a larger piece of mesh.
ReplyDeleteAh, OK, it must just be the angle of the photo.
DeleteI see what you mean when I look closely at the photo, Mark
DeleteYou must be relieved that 'normal service' has been resumed rainwise!
ReplyDeleteRelieved not to be watering, Mal but not liking the low temperatures, It’s all or nothing with our weather. We were rained off again this afternoon. I was watering in the brassicas whilst hiding under an umbrella.
DeleteWe have had so much rain in the past month that the mosquitoes are insane - they are out and bothersome even midday, out in the open, on a sunny day, which is very unusual. Our strawberries were a bust last year as the bed dried out early in the season, so I am very much looking forward to them this year.
ReplyDeleteExactly the same happened to our strawberries last year, Margaret, these ones were a real treat,
DeleteIt's not only a relief not to have to water, nothing seems to do the plants half as good as a proper soak with fresh rain. Your peas look like a thicket!
ReplyDeleteWe sow plenty seeds, Deborah. The ‘thicket’ method works for us.
DeleteIt does seem to be all boom or bust with the rain sometimes. We are finally starting to dry out here so we can get some work done in the garden. It looks like the old cold frame covered with mesh should do a good job of protecting those young tomatoes. It would work also to prevent insects from getting in to a crop.
ReplyDeleteWe seem to be experiencing opposites weather wise, Dave. We do use lots of mesh as insect protection.
DeleteWhew, you two have been busy and it seems you got a lot accomplished. The soil that M. turned does look heavy. Those salad greens and reds look yummy as does the strawberries.
ReplyDeleteWe’ve had to try dodging rainfall, Lisa, at times unsuccessfully,
DeleteI first learned about "pea brush" from Jim Crockett in the Crockett's Victory Garden book. It's a more common New England method. I've never seen anyone do it in California. Here's a blog post I did on pea brush including a poem by Robert Frost, entitled Pea Brush. https://ediblegardenspointloma.tumblr.com/post/3616545776/pea-brush
ReplyDeleteI’ve just read your post, Lisa. I never knew that this was a named technique. We’ve supported peas this way for a while since e started coppicing our hazel bushes.
DeleteThat old strawberry bed looks like hard work. What about trying no dig a la Charles Dowding? Much easier on the back. I built lasagne beds on my heavy clay plot and was amazed at how it loosened the soil without me having to dig at all! I hope we get some sunshine in with all this rain!
ReplyDeleteWe would never have enough compost, Nicky and in a masochistic way it’s good exercise. Sunshine would be really welcome.
DeleteHow pretty the lettuces are! You earn the bounty with a lot of hard work.
ReplyDeleteThere are some really attractive lettuces, tpals
DeleteI'm pleased to hear you have had rain, but looking at the soil it's still very heavy, drizzle would be so much better for you guys! Good you got an afternoon to sort your endless jobs, and oh my...ripe strawberries already! Mine are huge but not ripe yet.Glad you got your squash out, i planted mine out too and it's never stopped raining since, it's even hailed here.xxx
ReplyDeleteWe have now had some quite heavy persistent rain, Dina
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