Full blown Spring Bits and Bobs. - 2017

[Primrose]

Eureka! Non stop rain today and my water butts are full again. That should reduce the amount of time I have to spend watering and hopefully the water will drain down to a reasonable depth.
It was interesting the other day in one of the national papers to see a recent photo of a completely dry shingle river bed and compare it with the now flowing river that had taken its place a week later. At least the slugs will be happy again !

[Pa Snip]

Slight variance a few miles up the road Primrose. Rain virtually all morning, butts refilling nicely.
Not so much rain this afternoon.

NOT the sort of day one would expect to be a blight risk as per my post of this morning
I always thought the big risk was later in the year hence many people now only growing First Earlies.

[Geoff]

I think Hutton criteria are just a combination of high humidity and a threshold temperature, nothing to do with spores being about.

[Westi]

How long has it been called a Hutton period? Used to be called a Smith period (I think), but also thought the temperature to be higher for a Smith period, my warning said 2 days >10 degrees.

Is there different tiers of warning now, which one do you panic about? Too late now though as it's rained constantly so if spores are about they've had plenty of opportunity.

[Westi]

Just looked it up, more accurate research by the Hutton institute has changed the criteria and it now called a Hutton period. Fingers crossed then, hope my plastic cover saves the toms if this turns out to be real! Damn might be 2 years in a row I've been hit, but got no warning last year.

[Monika]

Well, we had 16mm altogether the last two days and just some drizzle this afternoon, but the allotment looks so much better with the soil all damp (at least on the top). I planted some peas today from roottrainers and further down the soil is still pretty dry. No more rain forecast. The brassicas have all survived, thank goodness, and standing up straight.
Luckily, we have never been plagued with blight on the tomatoes and rarely on the potatoes, so I am hoping for the best.
We went on a trip to the Myerscough Agricultural and Horticultural College (just north of Preston) yesterday which always used to have a really good and well-kept vegetable garden, but it's all been turned into a sort of decorative fruit garden with lawns and raised beds. Such a shame but I suppose they don't have the resources any more.

[Primrose]

Yes Monika, I think a lot of these places are really struggling with labour costs and looking for alternative ways to keep the structure going but I think it,s such a shame to lose vegetable gardens because whilst flower borders are still everywhere, few people have the opportunity to see how the food they eat starts its life and how it's grown . You look at the big country houses in the olden days and wonder at the number of gardening staff they employed. The living wage is obviously good thing thing for those at the lower end of the income scale but its effect is obviously being felt in many different environments and many of the old traditions are now just too labour intensive to be affordable however educational they may be.

[PLUMPUDDING]

Isn't our weather variable. Our walking group has had a day out walking in the dales around Hawes. We've not had any rain all day and had a most enjoyable trip. We drove into rain on the way home and they said it had been pouring all day at home so we were very lucky.

[oldherbaceous]

The rain has finally stopped, now the amount we have had has really helped and everything will move forward at a rate. And not a cloud in the sky now, so hopefully a nice sunny day!

[Pa Snip]

Mixture of blue sky to the west, layers of grey clouds with almost white edges closer to us.
According to online forecasts that I looked at yesterday this area is due varying levels of rainfall each day including Saturday.

Looks more and more as if we will need to re-sow carrots yet again. Virtually none germinating. Even new seed purchased this year and sown by Mrs S has failed.

[Geoff]

Are the carrots protected from slugs? They can germinate and disappear within hours.

[Pa Snip]

Hi Geoff.

Apart from 'Growing Success' pellets the answer is no. They are in two different raised beds, both of which were used last year for the first time. One is 9inch high the other is 2ft.
The lower one had a very successful crop of parsnips last year so no manure has been added. This is the bed Mrs S has sown a brand new packet of carrots in

The tall one was originally used for strawberries which have since been removed. I confess the St Valery seeds I sowed in this bed were definitely past their use by date.

[peter]

Tipped it down in both North London and Hertfordshire & Essex yesterday.
Led to a vile commute home, standing water, pouring tain, accidents...

[Pa Snip]

All those things happening Peter

Just goes to prove, Never rains but it pours.

[Primrose]

Well, for better or worse, the plastic "bottle cloches" have had to come off the outdoor tomatoe plants today. A close inspection revealed that the tips of the plants were trying to grow through the mouths of the bottles. They're against a south facing fence so will just have to take their chance.

My carrots germination has been very low, not growing many so will just sow fresh seed in the gaps and see what happens. None of the first sowing of beetroot appeared. I don,t think it liked the dry weather despite watering so have resown.
11 out of 12 sweet corn kernels have germinated and they were 2014 so you can never tell how things are going to turn out!