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
Posts relating to tomatoes
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
April: Still waiting for spring
Recent warm days (20 degrees) could encourage gardeners to start planting outdoors, hoping for an early spring. With forecasts for the next two weeks including frost and 0 degrees, this would be a mistake. The last couple of years have seen very disturbed springs with plunging temperatures. It is safer to hold off planting out …Read More about April: Still waiting for spring
Moving indoors
With temperatures falling outdoors it is convenient there is so much to do indoors. Tomatoes and chilli peppers that were dehydrated from the summer crop can now be processed into xmas gifts. This is quite a lot of work so it is good these jobs could be moved from the summer busy time of harvesting …Read More about Moving indoors
Raised bed changeover
The summer raised bed is ready to be changed over for winter planting. The remaining tomato plants have to be removed and composted and the bed fed with compost and comfrey tea. The tomatoes did well this year, despite conditions. The overhead weather protection diffused heavy rain and provided shade in the heatwaves. Plus the …Read More about Raised bed changeover