Depressed Myself

[Westi]

Went onto one of those long range weather sites - June, July & August looked well below average temp although lots of little suns by the side of these temps. I'm hoping they are wrong of course but last few seasons have me wondering

More challenges maybe - like I say hoping they are wrong but if right will put off so many new growers!

Westi

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Westi, don't forget this time last year they were predicting drought and hosepipe bans. So maybe it looks quite promising.

[alan refail]

Yesterday the dear old Express was trumpeting drought on its frontpage

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/395810 ... -on-record

[Motherwoman]

If they haven't managed to retain enough water after this winter then something is very wrong! The Isle of Wight was a trial meter area many years ago and everyone was predicting dirty children, can't afford bath water etc etc but the reality is that everyone did what they normally did but ceased to waste it... and bills went down. Certainly single and/or elderly people were much better off with a meter than being charged on rateable value. Southern Water didn't much like the lower bills though!

I'm not going to feel guilty about enjoying the sun, we've waited long enough for it. Besides my septic tank is finally draining!

MW

[Primrose]

Well I'm wondering whether it's worth setting up my automatic irrigation system again this year. It's been packed away all winter in the garage. No doubt as soon as it's set up and operating we'll have the same thing as happened last year and a hosepipe ban will be introduced. I can't be doing with all this lugging of heavy watering cans around the garden.

I!m hoping that if the weather is disappointing that my strategy this year of growing extra bush/tumbling tomatoes as well as taller varieties will ensure a reasonable crop as they seem to ripen much earlier and miss the blight.

[FelixLeiter]

Weather forecasting has advanced tremendously over recent years, but predictions do not extend beyond just a few days. The Met Office used to publish a prediction for the summer ahead. These have been so wide of the target that they no longer do this.

This time last year hosepipe bans were not being predicted but presented as a reality, since many reservoirs were nearly empty. Already this year has been drier than average. Unfortunately for most of us, December 2012 was not. Who knows, though, we made still need every drop.

[Monika]

Yes, Felix, when talking to people about the weather, many say what a wet winter it has been - well, it hasn't been for us. My records show that up to now, this year has been drier than usual. Not particularly pleasant, but wet, no.

[Johnboy]

Hi Monika,
We have a series of long ponds a mile or so down the road and they are at least 15" below their normal water level.
If you are wondering what a long ponds are they are where gravel has been extracted to make ancient roads. The road I live on is a Roman road.
The ponds are now very good for bird watching with an amazing bird count each year. Notables are Bittern, Purple Heron, Slavonian Grebe,
Wood Duck and many more over the last thirty odd years.
JB.

[richard p]

id almost take a bet that were going to have a dry may.... all the farmers will be moaning the grass aint grown for their silage cuts in mid to late may, then itll start raining in june , and the rest of the farmers will be moaning that its too wet to make hay
mind you i could be totally wrong...it has happened before(according to the mrs)

[Westi]

I've had to water the garden - dry as a bone! (not advocating the clothing range ) Just when my little self sown babies are popping up. Doesn't look like there is any coming for a bit either down here. Lottie will get the same tomorrow as it is sandy so know will be dry also. Have next week off so lots of TLC for everything home & lottie.

Plants in greenhouse are watered every evening but they appear to be wilting in the heat in there so have had to shade part of it - unfortunately broke the thermometer (well dogs did) so can't confirm whether this is the cause for their unhappiness!

Westi

[retropants]

i just noticed the tulip buds have dried up this week

I watered them copiously last night, but I suspect it will be too late. I have been concentrating on the greenhouse watering and ignoring the main garden (as is normal this time of year) but I fear the ground is so dry, I may lose these bulbs

[Colin Miles]

Rainfall here in wet Wales so far this year 13.85 ins, which is 1.76 ins down on the 'dry' period last year. Nothing unusual for us to get 10ins in one month!

So yes, dry and cold following on very wet Oct to Dec - 25.6 ins with 10.64 in Dec alone. And because there isn't much evaporation in winter(!) hence the impression that the weather has been wet.

Even the warmth of the past few days is purely relative - 3C below the 'normal' May mean so far. But nice to see the sun.