Kitchen Garden Forum

June is, apparently, the only month which hasn't shown a warming trend and, looking on the Metcheck site I see that one contributor gives this June as the coldest since his records began in 1996. My records show that June was only fractionally warmer than May and it is interesting to note the effects on the veg. Whilst the Winter Squash, Uchiki Kuri, looks fine, the Butternut Squash, Ponca, is decidedly unhappy. And the Beans - French and Runner - are definitely struggling and I am wondering whether the Runners will even make it to the top of the poles! Potatoes look very good, though the current weather looks a bit ominous as far as blight is concerned. Peas and Brussels Sprouts doing very well - Strawberries also good and most other things pretty good. Also just realised that it is only in the last week that the Roses have started to bloom!!

Hi Colin,
The plants that you are pointing out are all those who really only enjoy life above 10C.
Fist week in June we had two very cold nights both recorded at 3C just one degree off a possible ground frost.
Because of the night temperatures my Beans were only planted out at the end of the second week in June and they are far from happy. How many beans I will get is in the lap of the gods!
JB.

I agree with all of the above. My beans have been gradually going out since the 2nd week in June and are growing so very slowly. The courgettes and squash have picked up this week, but the only things that are really doing well are the turnips, swede, raspberries, blackcurrants and lettuce/salad greens.

The forecast for July isn't much better as far as I can see

Been a good year for the roses though

I would be interested to hear if anyone has got any Beans which are doing ok to find out which varieties are more cold-resistant. Mine are Butler Runners and Cobra Climbing French. My Purple Queen 'Dwarf' French Beans, which were initially raised in the greenhouse and now planted out in a more sheltered spot, look healthy enough and are starting to produce beans, but very slowly.

Hello Colin
My french climbing 'Cobra' and runner 'White Lady' still have some way to go before any picking but I've had great success with french bean 'The Prince'. We have been picking these since early June - they were started and grown on in a cold frame in late March time with the top off except in cold periods. I think the frame protection at the side from cold winds has helped a lot.

John

Thanks John. Yes - I think anything to keep the wind off will do wonders for them. What really started me off on this, and struck again very much when I went out into the garden just now, is the difference between Uchiki Kuri, which is flowering and fruiting happily, whilst the Ponca plants are sitting there shivering, with no sign of flowers. Prince is an older variety and I wonder whether old varieties of Bean like Painted Lady would come up trumps, or maybe Armstrong, which is apparently bred for the British Climate?

Dear Colin, i'm certainly not trying to sound smug, but i am very pleased with my Runner beans this year.
I have made four sowings so far this year.
The first batch are up to the top of the poles, and i'm hoping to pick a handful this Sunday.

First, Kelvedon Marvel.

Second, Wisley Magic.

Third, Enorma Elite.

Forth, Apollo White, sown four days ago.

The Kelvdon Marvel, did catch a little frost, but recovered to grow away with what seemed extra vigour.

The third lot, which were the only ones i sowed directly outside, had to be resown as about 50% of them were firstly attacked by slugs and then chomped by a deer.

Colin Miles wrote:I would be interested to hear if anyone has got any Beans which are doing ok to find out which varieties are more cold-resistant. Mine are Butler Runners and Cobra Climbing French. My Purple Queen 'Dwarf' French Beans, which were initially raised in the greenhouse and now planted out in a more sheltered spot, look healthy enough and are starting to produce beans, but very slowly.

hi colin,i planted polestar out towards the end of april and at the moment i have a few beans reaching 10".i also planted out scarlet emporer a couple of weeks ago which have just started climbing.

i am living in south wales

We only had three days in June when the temperature reached 20 degrees or more and two or three nights the temperature went almost down to freezing, so our experience certain mirrors those of most people above. French beans 'The Prince' seem to be the worst affected and I have already sown some more to replace them. Those planted in the garden which is much more sheltered than the allotment are doing much better.
At least we have now had some rain, that was our greatest concern in mid-month!

My climbing French Beans (Cobra and Blauhilde) were planted out three weeks ahead of my runner beans and were covered with fleece at night, but are still looking very sprindly. My Scarlet Emperor runner beans however have caught up and are now in danger of overtaking them. I think French Beans are more vulnerable than runners but generally beans of all sorts just don't like cold temperatures.

Dear OH,

Expecting to hear how your Kelvedon Marvel Beans pass the taste test this Sunday. But with regard to the comments about Beans not liking the cold, I just wonder whether they have become 'soft' over the past 20 years or so with the generally warmer weather, as I don't recall - since the 50's - such bad results, not just with mine, but other people I speak to.

Dear Colin, theres going to be a good handful of beans, so i'm quite excited.

Maybe the beans aren't the only one going soft. I'm so damn cold I've just put the central heating on! It'll only be on for half an hour (I hope) but I have NEVER in my life needed to put the heating on in July before

We thought about it Chantal and then draped a blanket over our knees watching tele, we look like Darby and Joan!!

CoMpO

weve had some fine dwarf french beans....in the tunnel, the outside ones are now in flower, its rained most of the afternoon and my hat blew off twice this morning