After the short-lived respite from the previous week’s heat, temperatures soon began climbing again, meaning any outdoor activity had to be confined to mornings and evenings. The afternoons became all about staying cool and keeping hydrated.
The hoped-for rain has still not arrived, and, at the moment, there is no sign of it paying us a visit any time soon.
On the plus side, the wind has finally eased, at least for now.
It seems our weather just can’t find a happy medium. It’s either too cold or too hot, too wet or too dry and, just to keep us on our toes, occasionally far too windy.
Gardening often feels like a constant battle against the elements, with an entire battalion of pests waiting to join the fight.
At times, you have to wonder why we keep going.
Home and Garden
There hasn’t been much activity in the garden this week beyond watering.
We did, however, harvest a few radishes, which made a welcome addition to lunch.
As were the mini cucumbers from the garden greenhouse.
At the Allotment
At the beginning of the week, while the temperatures were still reasonably comfortable, we managed to get some weeding done.
The weeds seem to benefit just as much from our watering cans as the vegetables do, happily growing shoulder to shoulder with the crops we’re trying to nurture. Left unchecked, they would soon outcompete them, so they had to be evicted.
Martyn tackled the leek bed while I concentrated on one of the onion beds, trying my best not to uproot the onions along with the weeds.
Apart from that, it’s been a case of early morning visits to water everything and collect a few goodies.
We try to give the crops a thorough soaking every other day. It’s time-consuming and hard work, but it feels worthwhile.
The potatoes, however, largely have to fend for themselves. Martyn has decided to carry out a small experiment by watering just one of the two rows in a bed.
Can you guess which row is receiving the extra water?
More importantly, I wonder what difference it will make below ground?
Potatoes thrive in cooler weather. Once temperatures climb above about 25°C, the plants devote more energy to keeping their leaves and stems alive than producing tubers. Photosynthesis becomes less efficient, so there is less energy available to bulk up the potatoes. Tubers can still develop, but they are often fewer in number and smaller than usual.
Martyn lifted the early potatoes and they seemed to confirm our suspicions. The crop was rather disappointing, but until we eventually lift the main crop, we won’t know exactly what lies beneath the soil.
The runner beans are now flowering, but hot, dry conditions can prevent the flowers from setting. We’ve been giving the plants plenty of water and I’ve even been wetting the flowers in the hope it might improve our chances of a good crop.
Despite the heat and lack of rain, the courgettes are defying conditions. They’ve sprung into full production mode and are beginning to keep us well supplied.
We also picked our first blackberries of the year. They’re much smaller than usual and I’m sure they’re ripening earlier than they normally would.
We managed to pick a small punnet of cherries too. Not many, I know, but they’re certainly better than none!
Out and About
Nostell
We made an early start so we could take Ruby for a walk around Nostell before the day became too hot. We arrived at the almost-empty car park at around 8.00 a.m., leaving the car beneath the trees and hoping it would still be shaded when we returned.
Most of the people we met were walking their dogs, although there were a few early joggers and walkers too.
There was a sense of early morning camaraderie, with everyone greeting each other with a cheerful “Good morning”.
The swan family had gathered right in the middle of the path. They seemed to have found a particularly good food source and were making the most of it while the parents stood guard.
We gave them a wide berth, mainly for Ruby’s sake. She has no interest in chasing wildlife, but she does enjoy watching it, and I suspect the adult swans wouldn’t have appreciated her curiosity.
As we passed, one of them kept a close eye on us, slowly twisting its neck to follow our every move.
Seeing the cygnets up close, I was struck by how much they had grown in just a few weeks. Their colouring has darkened considerably too.
Most of our walk was spent in the welcome shade of the trees.
Even so, the effects of the weather were clear to see. The grass is struggling through the heat and lack of moisture, with patches already turning brown.
By the time we headed back to the car, the temperature was climbing steadily, so we were relieved to find it still shaded beneath the trees
With the air conditioning on full, we headed home to spend the rest of the day keeping cool.
Finally
So another week passes with blue skies, watering cans and early starts. The rain may still be missing, but we’ll keep doing what gardeners have always done—making the best of the conditions, celebrating the small harvests and looking forward to kinder weather.
As always until next time stay safe and stay well.
