Summer is obstinately still refusing to put in more than a fleeting appearance. No activities are planned without consulting various weather radars, models and forecasts. The problem is that most seem no wiser than we are. The forecasts seem to change quickly and an expected dryish day often turns out to be just the opposite.
Martyn looked back on our harvesting records for last June. The strawberries are on cue but, in just over a week, we should be looking towards harvesting, courgettes, peas and broad beans.
Courgette. plants still have lots of growing to do before they start producing flowers let alone fruit.
Peas have only just been given support.
Now the mesh has been removed we hope that the wood pigeons leave them alone. Both rows of peas were sown at the same time. The one on the right is an early variety but it is way behind the row on the left.
The broad beans were flowering well until we had some heavy rain on Friday.
A few small beans have set but I’m not hopeful of a good harvest.
Last week, on the allotment, I weeded the carrots and resowed the gaps where, I’m guessing, the slugs had dined. We bought some yellow carrot seeds so that we should still be able to differentiate the varieties.
There was quite a lot of seeds left so we decided to use up the seed and sowed another bed.
I also planted more cabbage and cauliflower plants. We’ll have to take good care of the cauliflowers as a friend told us that he couldn’t buy a cauliflower anywhere.
At least all the rain helped with one thing. One of our beds was very rough and had become very hard and compacted. All the rain had softened it enough for, Martyn to be able to dig it over and rotovate it.
He also dug in some well-rotted horse manure so we can now plant it up.
Last week’s harvests were mainly strawberries which we are sharing with the slugs. Nibbled strawberries are left on the plant as the theory is that the slugs will find their way back to the berries that they started rather than searching out new fruits. The gooseberries we are sharing with the wood pigeons.
The pigeons have stripped a plot neighbour’s gooseberries. We also caught them bouncing on the nets covering his brassicas so that they could weigh them down sufficiently to enable them to reach through the net to some leaves to nibble.
At least the sweet peas and sweet Williams are on cue. Their perfume fills the car on the way home.
We judged that all the barriers erected for events at Temple Newsam would have been removed. They had but the parkland had been left in a sorry state. I wonder how long it will take for the grass to recover?
It was a much more attractive sight as we wandered around the walled garden. The perennial borders have been transformed.
They must stake their delphiniums well as they showed no sign of being battered by the winds.
Ruby is always attracted to the goats when they are in the enclosure that we pass on the way to the park.
One goat seemed to be as curious of her as she was of him. Ruby wouldn’t be as brave if there wasn’t a fence separating them.
With rain forecast for the afternoon, we decided on a morning visit to Nostell. It turned out to be a good move.
All four cygnets are thriving and arrived with their parents to enjoy the food that we had taken with us.
Further round the lake, we spotted four coot chicks. We call them cootlings but no doubt that isn’t the correct name.
The heron was stalking in the water at the far edge of the lake. I hope that the young coots stay well away in case he fancies a change from a fish dinner.
That’s all for this week. Let’s hope summer arrives next week. Until then stay safe and well.
This week I am joining Harvest Monday over at Dave’s Our Happy Acres blog
We have had about the same weather as you, except for a cold wind. My garden is also behind. Between voles digging up my corn, eating my peas, and what I think were bad been seeds, I’ve had to replant my corn, peas, and beans. All I have been able to enjoy is my asparagus. I love your orange rose in the last post. Hopefully warm weather will come and we will both be able to catch up.
It is warmer now, Bonnie and the plants love it. Let’s hope it lasts
I would gladly send some of our warm weather your way. The high temps are forecast in the 90°F range all week, and while the warm season crops are loving it we still have plenty of brassicas and lettuce sizing up that would prefer it a bit cooler.
I think some has come our way, Dave but nit quite a warm as yours.
The Alchemilla Mollis seems to be doing well regardless of what the weather throws at it.
It seeds itself everywhere. Debbie