Summer bits and bobs.

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retropants
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Fab Westi! Did you get any of the storm last night? I was up at 3.45 watching the lightning and absolute monsoon-like rain. It was spectacular. Feeling a little tired now though!

Everything got a thorough soaking, which is good. The tomato house also survived. Thanks to the giant ground pegs!
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oldherbaceous
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We had the unexpected rain too, Retropants, made the first couple of hours at work a lot fresher but, it’s exceedingly hot and very humid now…..but the rain certainly will help the plants make it through the next three days, of intense heat!
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.

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retropants
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It will indeed OH. I also watered all my houseplants with the condensate produced by the air con unit in the bedroom. We have a portable one to use when it’s unbearable. The bedroom can get up to 33 degrees.
Westi
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We didn't get any of the thunder & lightning as it stayed just north of Bournemouth unfortunately retropants.

They are lifting the warnings Friday & temp back to normal so I can get down & see how everything fared. I know they will be affected with the extreme heat but hoping they just have a sulk & will perk up with a water as I was very diligent giving them a 'proper long water' in prep. I hope the squash & pumpkins reacted more positively to the heat as they have been slow growing & this temp it is what they like best. They look fine but just not interested, but I will give them a feed. Wish I had access to a manure pile as that is really what they like. When in OZ we let out neighbours build up 2 manure piles on our back land with their racing horses manure & we grew direct in that....huge pumpkins with absolutely no watering & very little rain.
Westi
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Cider Boys
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Very hot here to-day, far too hot for me. I understand we had the hottest day here in Somerset at Merryfield (36.7 C that broke some record). All I know is that it was over 100 F in my greenhouse to-night.

Maybe getting more thunder and rain later, when I'm in bed, hope it does not wake me as I need to catch up on my sleep.

Keep cool

Barney
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retropants
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Absolutely unbearable the last couple of days, and today & tomorrow will be the same. The house has not had a chance to cool even a little.

Some of my lettuce plantlets have shrivelled up, even though i am watering and have put some shade netting over the whole patch. I think this has saved the tomatoes and cucumbers in their little plastic house, as they were wilting badly every day (there's no front on it!). I've had 2 mini cucumbers already this week. Everything else looks pretty good, I am so pleased the worm compost has made everything really healthy & strong - fingers crossed.

I will have broccoli to pick this weekend. Any ideas how best to freeze it? I don't fancy hot food atm!
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oldherbaceous
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Two days to go and things should feel a lot cooler, hopefully!
I haven’t watered the allotments at all this week…just felt too washed out after work, so will go over early tomorrow, and give the things that are desperate, a good soaking…..
Cook will probably do a good Stew for tonight.🤭
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.

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Geoff
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My wife divides broccoli into florets, blanches for 2 to 3 minutes, tray freezes then bags up when frozen.
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retropants
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Thankyou Geoff, will try that at the weekend.
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I was a bit uneasy going down to the plot this morning wondering how many plants I lost in the heat. Very relieved that my ultra watering & bag drippers seemed to have worked quite well & everything looking pretty good. Only observation was the growth of the plants was smaller than I would expect at this tine, especially the squash & pumpkins growth but at least they have all survived & have time, but will probably perk up when a bit cooler. Still no lettuce showing save the 3 Tom Thumb that knew how to behave. All in all you have to describe them as a work in progress but think I will just order some more seeds, but not from our supplier.

One excellent find today was the Plum Beauty fruit has started ripening, even picked a few that were ready, late this year. My next job done there is to weed under the trees, & I've done all the beds but have some sows & plants to fill the gaps - which also luckily survived. Another good show was the leeks that have really grown, so I will be able to weed & space them. I will be way more productive when this heatwave is over though!
Westi
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