The climbing French beans and mangetout which are planted out against wigwams have been eaten by slugs. They've left a little bit of leaf behind so I'm hoping that they might just cling on to life and grow, but I'm not holding my breath. The beetroot still hasn't germinated, this wet, cool weather isn't doing anything to help, and only half a dozen carrots have popped their heads above the compost in the old bath.
On a brighter note, we visited Temple Newsam, a local historic estate, over the jubilee weekend. A popular feature is the Rhododendron Walk, and we visited just at the right time as rhododendrons flower in May and June so they were providing a stunning display. I wrote about our visit on my Through The Keyhole blog if you'd like to take a look.
Oh dear Jo, this weather is just not good for us gardeners, it seems to be all topsy turvy yet again.
ReplyDeleteHope things start to improve soon.
Saw pictures of the floods at the Old George roundabout. We didn't get that much rain put the ground is very wet on the plot.Nothing seems to be growing very well due to the cold weather.
ReplyDeleteAges since we walked around Temple Newsam Rhododendron Walk.
My peas are being eaten by slugs - a world wide problem clearly. i very much hope the weather improves for you soon!
ReplyDeleteYour poor allotment. Mine has vanished under the weeds. The ground is far to wet to do anything. I am thinking of just cutting the weeds down when they dry and covering the ground in black plastic and try again next year. I'm back to where I started when I got my allotment but everyone is in the same position.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though we're having a similar time of it as I've just posted a very similar piece on my blog. Here's hoping things pick up!
ReplyDeleteRyan
There are boats in the streets here in West Sussex, the floods are so severe. Maybe a few slugs will drown.
ReplyDeleteWe have had some really issues with root veg germinating at our allotment two Jo. I always start my beetroot off in the greenhouse in paper pots but even though I put out lovely healthy plants they aren't looking so great now...I'm really hoping they pick up as I love my beetroot. As for the carrots...I think I will try sowing some seed again.
ReplyDeleteThe Met Office gave up doing Long Range Weather Forecasts, about two years ago, because they were deemed "bad for national morale". You can see why.
ReplyDeleteOh dear Jo you aren't having much luck are you - don't worry there's still plenty of time to get stuff planted - we must get some sun eventually - she says with a sigh.
ReplyDeleteit's no fun! I'm avoiding looking at the garden too much. hopefully the sun will come out and it will start to improve.
ReplyDeleteIt can't get much worse, Sharon. We just need the temperature to rise a little so it brings on our plants.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the cold weather which is holding everything back, Martyn. Apparently, what used to be The Old George was flooded too. Who'd belive it's June?
I don't think it matters where in the world you are, Liz, slugs are the gardener's enemy. They're loving the wet weather we're having.
I said nearly the same thing to my hubby last night, The Cookie Jar. I'm nearly ready to cut my losses this year. I don't think I will though, I do like a challenge and this year is certainly one.
I think we're all in the same boat this year, Ryan, in fact a boat is what we'll need if this rain continues. Hope things pick up for all of us soon.
There's definitely people worse off than us here, John. I won't mind a few slugs being washed away though.
I haven't managed to get any direct sown root crops to germinate, Tanya, apart from a handful of carrots in the old bath. I think it's just too cold for them.
It does make you sink more in to the dumps when you realise there's weeks of this to come yet, Mark. I'm hoping the forecast is wrong.
Sun? What's that, Elaine? It's been so long since I've seen it, it must put in an appearance soon.
We can but hope, Projectforty. I keep saying that things catch up eventually, but surely there's a cut off point at which it will be too late.
What a shame about the legumes, but that is slugs isn't it. You definately win and lose some when you grow your own.
ReplyDeleteBy the way the potatoes in the last post look scrummy!!
Oh dear Jo! Our back garden looked like that when we first got the house which is why we decided not to have a lawn just raised beds!
ReplyDeleteI watch our river daily Jo, although we do have pretty good flood defences..........my first year of growing veg, I must be doing something right, beetroot, spinach, carrots and potatos all doing quite well........at the moment! x
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say Jo? Horrendous weather all round really. My plot fortunately drains really well, a blessing in weather like this not so great in a drought. Have you tried sowing your beetroots in module trays, a few to a section and once they've germinated just plant the whole thing out? I've had trouble with beetroot and then I saw Charles Dowding doing beetroot this way and it has certainly improved my germination rates.
ReplyDeleteLets hope for something remotely like summer, ASAP.
Hope you managed to avoid your house being flooded! Apparently the drains couldn't cope could they? We hhad rain but not torrential like you had.
ReplyDeleteOh what a year it's proving to be Jo! Our allotment site is one big puddle when we have a lot of heavy rain so just getting to my plot is a challenge. It's that slithery underfoot that it is similar to skating. I do the same as Wellywoman when it comes to beetroot and it works well. You still have time to get more French beans - they may even do better as it is slightly warmer :) Will pop over to your other blog later for some cheering colour.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, Jo! I thought it was bad here -- we're getting a lot of rain too, and the weeds are loving it. I hope the weather improves for you soon. P. x
ReplyDeleteMy plot was rather soggy this morning but nowhere near as bad as that thankfully. Mind you more rain is forecast for the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI think that everyone is having germination and growing problems, I know that I am.
Thank goodness for the rhododendrums! Flighty xx
Shame about the slugs eating your beans. With the rain I've been going outside for a few slug hunts and have been amazed at the numbers! Oh do they multiply and cause havoc. Hopefully some better weather soon.
ReplyDeletethere has been lots of 'weather' so far hasn't there?
ReplyDeleteI hope it all calms down soon and we can all recover... good luck and dont worry, i was getting ready to over sow a fresh lot of carrot seed when it suddenly all germinated, hopefully yours will all catch up too
I've planted more French beans, Martin, so I hope I'm not without this year. The potatoes were absolutely delicious.
ReplyDeleteRaised beds are the way to go when you've got drainage problems, Anne. I'm hoping that the allotment will have dried out when I go again.
You'll be eating well this year, Lily. It sounds like you're doing something right.
I've always direct sown my beetroot, Wellywoman. I've never had a problem with germination before, I may have start sowing in modules this year.
The house is fine, thank goodness, Sue. I heard that The Old George was flooded though, what a June we're having.
I've sown more French beans, Anna, that's something I can't do without, but I don't think we'll get the harvest that we did last year.
The weeds are trying to take over my allotment, Pam. They're one thing which does love the weather we're having, if only my veg would behave in a similar way.
It's a funny year, Flighty. Things which usually do well just aren't and I'm just not on top of anything at all. It sounds like this weekend isn't going to be gardening weather either.
I think the only things this weather's good for is weeds and slugs, Kelli. Surely we must get some sunshine soon.
Perhaps if we had a little sunshine, things might recover, Sylvan, but it doesn't sound as though we're going to get any soon. At this rate we'll be in to autumn and we won't have seen a hint of the sun.
Reading all these comments about boggy plots will make me think twice before I complain about the amount of concrete paving slabs in the veg patch garden... at least I can walk around to inspect the veg! Last year I hardly saw any slugs, this year I'm regularly flinging them over onto the adjacent railway lines as they don't have a homing instinct. I don't think it's been too bad down here in London - but I hope that it cheers up for you up north soon before you get too frustrated!
ReplyDeleteThe wet weather is certainly suiting the slugs, Caro. I've never really had problems with them eating things like beans and mange tout before, but they've had every one this year. We need some better weather soon.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as if the forecast for a month more of rain was right. It's certainly been that way for us in Edinburgh. We have truly forgotten what the sun looks like.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same here, Linda. We go away on holiday soon, I'm just hoping that the weather picks up for us.
ReplyDelete