It has been a difficult year in the garden. October is the start of the winter crop season so gardeners can hope a mild winter might follow an awful summer, but it might not. Small successes in this garden are a single chilli plant, sat outside the back door all year, protected from rain by …Read More about October: Small successes
September: Empty beds
For the first time in 15 years the garden has not produced a single tomato. Welcome to climate change gardening. The conditions this year have been the worst on record. The combination of incessant rain and little sunshine or heat has made the summer seem more like fall. These damp wet conditions in a sheltered …Read More about September: Empty beds
August: Summer washout?
July was the wettest in Belgium in 40 years with more than double the average rainfall. With towns and villages flooded and a large loss of life this year will go down in history as a disaster. Farmers have lost a lot of crops and growers in general are faced with sodden water logged ground …Read More about August: Summer washout?
July: Turbulent times
The regular downpours of June look set to continue well into July. While the frequent rain is helpful for seeding out new crops, lettuce etc, it can be problematic for tomatoes. These need some protection from heavy downpours and good support. A basic overhead cover provides “weather shielding” both from heavy downpours and from heatwave …Read More about July: Turbulent times
June: Straight into summer
Finally a hint of summer, the rain has stopped. The disturbed spring may now lurch straight into summer. With caution, planting out can begin, but unfortunately the slugs and snails have done very well with the wet spring so caution is required. Still, the first days without rain are welcome. Time to turn out the …Read More about June: Straight into summer
Spring Bluebells in May
Never plant in the garden until the Bluebells are out, is an old gardener’s expression. However, as April was the coldest in 35 years, the ground this year is still cold and may take some time to warm up. The weather forecast for May is better but also prone to highs and lows. Spring planting …Read More about Spring Bluebells in May