We still haven’t had any significant rain. We have had some very light drizzle that dried before it hit the ground and some that dampened the ground for a few minutes before drying up without leaving a trace.
On the rain radar map, we are located just above the inverted rainbow. Showers were forecast for the time shown, but you can see how they were skirting around us, and the colours show that the showers that did occur were virtually non-existent.
Click on the image for a slightly larger view.
It’s
almost as though any rain is purposefully avoiding us.As well as a lack of moisture, the plants had a day of scorching heat followed by drying winds to contend with.
Anything we manage to harvest is a miracle.
We managed a bit of planting and filled a long bed with more brassicas, namely sprouts, calabrese, cabbage, and cauliflowers.
More peas that had been grown in modules were planted out. The first lot, on the left, was attacked by wood pigeons, so more enviromesh had to be deployed.
Another teepee of climbing beans was also planted.
We had intended to plant the leeks, but we concluded that they were better off where they were until the temperature cooled.
We’re still being kept busy watering, but we spend as much time waiting for the watering cans to fill as emptying them.
The photo is only a slight exaggeration. Last week, we were fortunate in that we were watering when no one else was on site, so we managed to give everything a good watering, except for the potatoes. I’m afraid they have to manage. There is no way we could spend the time needed to give them enough water to penetrate to the roots.
The problem with watering is that the weeds take full advantage of the areas that have been watered. Time needs to be spent weeding to prevent the weeds from smothering the plants that the water was meant for; however, after all the watering, little time is left for weeding.
Each time that we have left the allotment we have taken a small harvest home with us.
Small doesn’t only describe the quantity. Most of the cailiflowers are diminutive/
The first sweet peas usually have long stems, but not this year.
As for the berries, they are also much smaller but delicious nontheless.
Some of the broccoli, an onion and some of our frozen peas were used in a turkey risotto.
To make up for Ruby’s enforced easy week, we decided to head for Fountains Abbey last Monday. Despite the drought conditions, the stream, that flows from the abbey ruins towards the lake at Studley Royal, was babbling along over the rocks, and the lakes were still topped up.
We saw that a couple of pairs of swans had cygnets. One pair only had just one cygnet, whereas the other pair had three.
The swans at Nostell still have five remaining offspring, although last week we could only count them at a distance. The lake at Nostell is maybe a safer environment, as there is much more cover, and parts of the lake are not accessible to would-be land-based assassins.
The Canada geese seemed gosling free but we came across some grey lag goslings with very protective parents.
The goslings look to have feet that are too big for them, but they will grow into them.
The stream that flows from the lower lake at Studly Royal and on through the deer park gradually dried up completely.
We had intended to have another day out on Thursday, but with temperatures forecast to rise, we decided on a morning walk at Nostell.
The meadow grass at Nostell is yellowing. The verges alongside the path and the lawn in front of the house look green in comparison.
The view from a distance is deceptive; up close, the picture is very different.
Although the temperature hadn’t risen at that point, we decided that Ruby would benefit from a walk in the shady woodland area.
That’s all for this week, so as always, stay safe and stay well.
Again, I am joining Harvest Monday over at Dave’s Our Happy Acres blog.
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Oh, I’m pleased to see that you’ve just planted some brassica, I thought we’d left it a bit late, though your plants look healthier than ours.
We keep an eye on the rain radar and also feel cheated! Sometimes it’s only possible to know it’s raining when we see droplets on our phones!! That dried-up stream is very sad but the cygnets are cute
I wonder whether the cygnets at Nostell will grow up to be as feisty as those last year, Belinda
I enjoy following your blog. I have learned a lot about what it is like to garden in your area. Hope you get rain soon.
So do I Bonnie.
We also have no rain but no heat. Very cool for summer, Sue. Delicious berries! I don’t know when mine will ripen in this weather.
It’s dry and at times hot here 30C today, Nadezda
I bought some sweet peas as seedlings but I haven’t got any flowers on them yet. We’ve been walking on an evening in the warm weather, it’s just been far too hot during the day.
The sweet peas have very short stems this year Jo which is disappointing
The cauliflower and broccoli look good to me. Our plants got drowned out. The berries look good too, and bigger is not always more tasty!
No chance of drowning here Dave