It seems to happen every year at this time. Everything in the garden and on the plot is planted out and settled in and looking lovely. Then as soon as the cardoons have developed flower spikes we know what comes next – gale force winds.
Everything now, both in the garden and at the allotment is being battered. Our allotment site is like a wind tunnel. It has been known for sheds to be upended which is why our shed is fastened to fence posts set firmly in the ground.
Anyone who, like me, wears contact lenses will know that the wind is not a friend.
We just hope that once the winds die down – as surely they must – things will recover.
The blueberries will soon begin to ripen. As soon as there is any hint that the berries are starting to change colour, the birds will move in, so it was time to cover the bushes with netting.
More netting was needed to cover some of our raspberries as the birds were starting to feast on the fruits. More and more fruit is needing to be covered which makes picking more difficult as the picker has to duck under the netting.
As well as deploying netting, we have also been catching up on weeding.
We are back on watering duties as, not only have we not had any more rain but now, instead of the heat, the wind is drying the soil.
At this time of year, harvesting also takes up time. I’m not complaining as the aim of growing vegetables is to have food to harvest.
The autumn planted onions were ready to be lifted. Leaving them any longer risked them sending up flower stems, which one or two had already done. After lifting the onions were put into a vacant cold frame which should keep them dry if it ever decides to rain. The autumn planted onions nicely bridge the gap until the summer planted ones are ready to harvest.
30 June: Gooseberries, a few raspberries, Peas – Early Onward, Broad beans – de Monica, Potatoes – Ulster Prince, Onions – Radar & Sturon and sweet peas
I am picking sweet peas every time I visit the plot as I don’t want them to set seed and think their job has been done. Any faded flowers that I have missed are also removed.
Malwina is the most strawberry flavoured variety that we have grown. Apparently, it is shunned by retailers as they think people will think the colour is too dark!
When we got them home the peas and broad beans were podded and placed in the freezer. We still have a few of last years peas so we managed to be self sufficient in peas last year. Here’s hoping that this year is as good.
I think that will be my last lot of sweet Williams as the flowers are going over.
It’s coming to the point where beds will be emptying rather than being planted up, so I have put together a set of photos showing the plot as it is now.
Last week, one meal that used some of our vegetables was a chicken pilaf. Into this went some frozen French beans, peas and sweet corn along with some broccoli and onion.
I’ll be using lots of courgettes for a while, some went into a stir fry that I didn’t photograph. I also used some frozen peas and sweet corn and some onion.
When we went for a walk in the grounds of Temple Newsam, we decided to pop into the walled garden to see how the perennial borders were progressing. They are now coming into flower as is the rose garden.
Sheep had been let into a scrubby area. They were very vocal as the mother sheep called to their offspring to keep tabs on them. The youngsters replied noisily.
No matter how much foodstuff is easily available there is always something that looks tastier on the other side of the fence.
At Nostell, the cygnets are growing quickly. Their budding wings have a way to go before they are impressive sails like those of their parents.
We didn’t spot any new wild flowers but we did spot the fruits of the beech tree.
That’s all for this week so as always, until next time stay safe and well.
Once again I am linking to Harvest Monday at Dave’s Our Happy Acres blog.
Interesting to read your comment about ‘Malwina’ Sue. There has been much in the way of wind here too Sue as well as quite a bit of rain. So far July has been more reminiscent of autumn. I’m intrigued to know what sort of problems does wind cause for contact lens wearers 🤔
The problem with wind and contact lenses, Anna is the dust and grit that blows into you eyes. As the lesnses move the grit scratch es the cornea which makes eyes sore.
Ugh, the wind is so frustrating! But your plot is still looking fab with amazing harvests already. It’s a great time of year to be a plotholder ☺️
It certainly is Belinda and a busy one.
Oh, I hate the wind too. Here’s to you getting some rain. That is a pretty impressive harvest, the strawberries look wonderful.Loved the plot photos and those of the walled garden.The cygnets look huge!xxx
I’d love a walled garden, Dina.
Wind is no friend to the gardeners for sure! We’ve had several storms go through with high winds, but our garden seems to have been spared the damage. And you are so right about harvesting taking time, though at least we get to reap the rewards.
It’s time well spent, Dave
My runner beans have survived well, having reached the top of their poles, but the barlotti beans were only half way up their poles and took a battering!
Surpringly our climbing beans survived too, Mal
My main crop onions were all flattened, I lost a couple of squash and we had a few trees blown over, but most things survived the wind. Quite a few of the heat lovers are complaining though! by the way, I wonder whether you ar aware that the RSS feed for your site is only showing a short excerpt, rather than the full content.
Is the RSS to the blogspot summary, Steve? Our onions have amazingly stood up well to the winds.
I know it’s no consolation to you, but we’re being battered by the winds here too Like you, we can only hope that things will recover. My teasels of which I was so proud and happy. and coming along nicely Iare really struggling to cope. At least I don’t have crops to worry about, although I’ve noticed the few raspberries I’ve got are being blown off the bushes too. I have noticed that the echium pininana that seem to be in everybody’s gardens locally. tall and spiky and vulnerable looking as they are seemed. to bounce back and the wind hardly touches them.
It’s such a shame that the wind spoils everything Debbie