ossettweather.com
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Brrrrr er!
Sunday just got colder as the temperature just managed to creep above 0°C in the early afternoon. It was a cold grey day without any sunshine and of course the ground remained white covered by frost all day.
It certainly puts on hold any thoughts of gardening as the last few days have really seen winter start to bite.
Our spring bulbs are through the frozen ground but I don’t think they’re extra early and hopefully will come to no harm during this sudden cold snap.
These plants have been well and truly frosted over the last few days with the overnight temperature falling to minus 4.4°C below. It looks as though they will remain in their frozen state a little longer as the temperature at 09:00 Monday morning is still minus 4.4°C.
Monday, 16 January 2012
The Brrrrr Goes On
Monday was another cold day with a severe overnight frost. There were some sunny spells through the day so it did warm up just a little bit more than Sunday.
Much of our garden remains in the shade all day during the winter months giving it a frosty look all day when temperatures remain around freezing. However down our side border under the magnolia tree a hint of afternoon sunshine gives little parts of the garden a total different perspective.
These hellebores change from an early morning frost into afternoon sunshine and look much better for the change. Unfortunately it’s not long before the frost returns
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Another Brrrrry Day
Tuesday was a continuation of the cold spell with another day with an average temperature below zero. Once again we had plenty of sunshine.
The continuing cold weather had resulted in a thin ice forming over our pond. At this time of year it doesn’t get any sunshine and four nights with temperatures below minus 4°C have taken their toll.
As forecast though the weather changed overnight with the temperature starting to rise quickly late in the evening and continuing through the early hours to reach double figures by 10:00 Wednesday morning. Our first cold snap of winter has ended just as abruptly as it started.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Mild weather makes a comeback
The mild weather returned on Wednesday after 5 very frosty nights in a row.
It will take a day or so for the ground to thaw out completely. Our bird bath was still in the process of thawing out although all the obvious signs of frost had disappeared.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
What a Difference a Week Makes
Thursday produced some sunny periods, scattered showers and blustery winds with temperatures around average.
Just over a week ago it looked like January 2012 might be heading into the records as a particularly mild month. The last week of cold frosty nights has probably put an end to that possibility.
As you can see by the 13th of the month our 2012 purple line was all set to touch the record green line set in 1916 but since then the cold nights have reduced us to a near normal average temperature for the month.
I’m certainly putting any gardening activities on hold as in our un-heated greenhouse the overnight temperatures were down below minus 4°C last week. That’s survival temperatures not growing conditions. The temptation is so great though when other blogger's are getting the new season under way.
|
Description |
Quantity |
|
Apple and Blackberry Conserve 2011 |
1 Tubs |
|
Apple Conserve 2011 |
2 Tubs |
|
Blackberries 2011 |
6 Bags |
|
Blackcurrants 2011 conserve |
3 Tubs |
|
Blackcurrants 2011B |
4 Bags |
|
Broad Beans 2011 |
3 Bags |
|
Courgettes squeezed 2011 |
2 Bags |
|
Gooseberries 2011 |
3 Bags |
|
Gooseberries 2011 conserve |
2 Tubs |
|
Greengage Conserve 2011 |
8 Tubs |
|
Jostaberries 2011 |
1 Bags |
|
Peas 2011 |
2 Bags |
|
Plum conserve 2011 |
3 Tubs |
|
Raspberries 2011 |
1 Bags |
|
Redcurrant conserve 2011 |
0 Tubs |
|
Redcurrants 2011 |
4 Bags |
|
Rhubarb 2011 |
2 Tubs |
|
Rhubarb and Orange 2011 |
2 Tubs |
|
Runner beans 2011 |
2 Bags |
|
Strawberry conserve 2011 |
0 Tubs |
|
Summer fruit conserve 2011 |
2 Tubs |
|
Tayberries 2011 |
3 Bags |
|
Tomato Sauce 2011 |
8 Tubs |
Friday, 20 January 2012
What’s left in the Freezer?
Friday was back to normal for this January. The cold snap has gone and we’re back to dull, wet and windy. That just about sums up Friday and of course it was mild for with the daily high temperature making double figures once again although to be fair it didn’t manage to get there until midnight.
Robin over at The Garden of Eden posted an inventory of canned produce remaining in the cupboard. I too like to keep a list of our stocks but these are in the freezer rather than canned. I wish I could keep these records a little more accurately but I always seem to find a bag of goodies that have found their way into a forgotten corner of the freezer for a couple of years. As spot on as it ever will be our list of freezer produce remaining from last year.
We’ve also still enough potatoes in store to last another couple of months by which time they will have started to sprout and grow in any case. We have a few onions left but these haven’t stored very well this year and much of the crop has gone mouldy in store.
Down on the plot we’ve got parsnips, leeks, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale and beetroot ready to harvest.
In the greenhouse I’d left some winter squash “Crown Prince” and rather luckily they seem to have survived the recent cold spell when temperatures fell to minus 4°C even in the greenhouse. I had intended to give them a little protection but just never got round to it.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Never Ending Gale
The one thing we’ve had lots of this winter is gale force winds. Saturday was typically with strong to gale force winds blowing all day. There might be glimpses of sun and a mild temperature for January but it’s just unpleasant outside in the perpetual gales.
The latest gale started around midnight on Friday and as we approach midday Sunday it’s not relented much apart from a short spell in the early hours of Sunday morning. Those bright frosty days last week without the wind were such a pleasant change from the typical windy days this winter is producing.