ossettweather.com
A Gardener’s Weather Diary - May week 2
Saturday and overnight into Sunday morning was to be the time the heavy rain would fall. As the chart to the left shows a few short light showers gave us a damping around Saturday lunch time but we still looked forward to the main event to come. That seemed to be it though for Saturday. Then late Saturday night we had a short heavy downpour which was the heaviest of the rain we've had. I anticipated bucket fulls of rain falling through the night.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
A bit disappointing
During the night we had some steady rain which amounted to 6.4mm so it's given us about 10mm of rain over the two days. A little disappointing, not quite the bucket fulls I'd hoped for but I suppose we ought to be grateful as it will save us watering on the plot for a few days.
Monday, 9 May 2011
Recovering potatoes
Sunday was mild with a strong breeze at times but no more rain after the over night showers. Having visited the plot it's still very dry and the rain that did fall hasn't penetrated very far into the soil. However all is not lost as the forecast is for the showery weather to continue. One prediction of the rainfall for the next 7 days is below. We might just be in the green zone.
Our Duke of York potatoes that suffered from frost damage on Tuesday are recovering. Rather too late I covered the damaged shoots up on Wednesday and the fresh sprouts are already coming through.
I'm very surprised at the potatoes I planted in potato sacks. I only planted them on the 1st April just a week before I planted our potatoes directly into the plot. I did wonder at the time if it was worth the effort - just how much would be to gain from planting up my potato sacks and then leaving them to grow on in the greenhouse until the space is required for tomato plants. I think the picture below shows how much protection the plants receive in the greenhouse.
These are Winston potatoes planted on 1st April and my Winston planted directly in the plot are just coming through. The greenhouse potatoes escaped any frost damage and with any luck they will provide us with some early potatoes well before the outdoor crop.
Potatoes - Red Duke of York
Potatoes - Winston
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Sunshine and showers
We had some very welcome showers again on Monday bringing a drop more welcome rain. The showers were most frequent in the afternoon with a couple of them accompanied with thunder and lighting. Sowing and weeding on the plot in the afternoon had to be halted several times as we took shelter in our shed from the worst of the showers.
Sunny periods for most of the day
It was a matter of fitting sowing, planting and weeding around the showers. Most of the afternoon was sunny and mild but it was easy to see the showers approaching in the shape of dark clouds.
The showers didn't last long and the soil was workable as soon as the rain stopped. The showers to date in May mean that May's total rainfall is about as expected after the two previous very dry months.
Heavy showers clouds
More rain in the distance
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
A winter survivor no more!
Tuesday wasn't a bad day. Sunny spells but with the threat of heavy showers all day which we managed to avoid. That's good or bad I suppose depending on your point of view. The start to May has been reasonably mild even allowing for the frost at the beginning of the month.
One of our few cauliflowers that survived winter is no more. Despite the fact that it was only small and could have grown to twice the size had it had chance I was unable to re
Very tasty too and fortunately we have a couple more still in the plot but not ready for cutting.
Cauliflower - Mayfair
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Dahlia protection failed
Wednesday continued in a similar pattern to the last few days. Some sunny periods and the threat of showers which didn't happen.
On the plot the dahlias which had been protected over winter using straw and polythene were uncovered. It didn't make for pretty viewing.
Dahlia protection over winter
The tubers certainly hadn't survived the severe frosts of last winter. Some tubers had 300mm or more of straw cover but the tubers had been turned to mush.
I think with much sorting out it might have been possible to save a small part of some of the tubers but it would be a really messy and unpleasant job so we have decided that the whole lot can go to the compost heap and we will start afresh.
Rotten dahlia tubers
Saturday, 14 May 2011
April arrives!
At the moment it's like April and May have swapped places in the calendar. Each day seems to be showery or at least have the threat of showers with fairly blustery winds. Friday afternoon continued the pattern of the previous few days with some morning sunshine then a cloudy afternoon with plenty of light showers.
The showers started mid afternoon and lasted into the evening. The rainfall for May is still a little below the expected amount.
