Climate
After listening to a very interesting programme on the radio it appears (according to an eminant scientist ) that because of global warming/climate change/ price of chips etc that the British weather is not the same !!! there's a surprise!! just ask any gardener!
Apparently from this day forth winters are going to be cold, wet and windy, summers are going to be warm , wet and windy ! Well that's settled then ! it's official !!
So what does the gardener grow and when ? sounds like watercress all your rund is the only option !
I personally sow seeds, plant out and hope to harvest whenever i think it's right, and get some good results. I think our future gardening habits will have to change and we will have to be more adaptable instead of working to a plan or planting recomendations.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on -
Anyone who tries to predict the future is doomed to be wrong. I'm still waiting for the ice age that was promised by 'scientists' 30-40 years ago. By now we should be in the thick of it but guess what?
Warm, wet and windy/cold, wet and windy....that's the weather we've been having in Cumbria for as long as anyone can remember.
I've never really worked to a plan or taken much notice of what it says on seed packets so whatever the weather does I'll just work round it.
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Permalink Reply by Debbie on -
the British weather has always been like that and that's the way we like it otherwise we'd have nothing to talk about
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Permalink Reply by Catherine on -
I have been thinking about that lately too. Our Irish weather will be the same too. So I'm thinking RICE in Paddy Fields !!!!!!!
Because....the spuds seem to be getting blight more often and we don't want another famine, do we...LOL!
Home grown rice is the way to go...!!
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Permalink Reply by Gareth Wilson on -
The great British climate certainly is changing but all we can do is be positive and grow the plants we love, fortunately mine are water lilies.
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Davies on -
'WE' are famous for our weather, as we all know, can't do anything about it, so it's just a case getting on with things and adapting if we need to. This is my second year of gardening and I have lost a few things this year, caulis, cucumbers, cabbage, potatoes, etc, mostly in the storms a couple of weeks ago. The storms blew themselves out, then we had great weather, now we have the harsh winds again here in Swansea, I dread going into my garden in the mornings.
As for planting to a 'plan', I just plant and hope for the best, most of my planting are doing very well, so I am happy.
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Permalink Reply by Lara Sunday on -
It had crossed my mind would cranberries do well here in Northern Ireland, with the rain we get my garden turns into quite a swamp : ) While our summers seem to be a lot poorer recently, the organic farm I used to work at had great crops last year. They have been investing in a small number of polytunnels to increase production and lengthen the growing seasons. I think on a small scale this is a way smaller producers can start to get around our weather conditions although I don't like it when it gets out of hand. A couple of years ago I visited my grandparents in Monmouth, South Wales and heading up the Valley the amount of tunnels was appalling. I've never seen so many. Imagination is going to be the key to solving most of the problems we are going to face over the next coming years. Society will become more aware as food prices go up but its not doom and gloom, hopefully people will be inspired to grow their own again, take an interest in their food and where it comes from.
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Permalink Reply by Catherine on
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Why do you think the amount of tunnels is appalling, Lara ? Tunnels cost a lot of money and people are investing their money in their own health and to grow vegetables throughout the whole year. I have 2 tunnels, one for seeds and seedlings and the other for growing veggies all year round. I would not be able to grow all year round otherwise. Given the weather here in western Europe, I am glad people have tunnels and grow their own vegetables instead of imported, sprayed substitutes.
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Permalink Reply by Lara Sunday on
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I don't have any problem with tunnels, i think their an amazing way to increase production and lengthen the growing season. I never said tunnels were appalling I said that i think it is unhealthy when very large areas of land..acres upon acres are taken over by them. As i mentioned the farm I used to work at and still have alot to do with has a number of them and they are an essential part to the whole, nursing of seedlings and production of crops throughout the year. I think that there has to be a happy medium. I realise that it a way of growing intensive crops such as lettuce and strawberries for the mass market but these large farms using them like this cover huge areas and still use sprays on them. Smaller producers such as yourself and my family use them in a way that works with the land rather than over taking it. They are a vital way for us to grow crops that we couldn't other wise, corn in the summer and winter purslane which is wonderful in the winter months.
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Permalink Reply by Catherine on
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I see what you mean now, Lara. Sorry I misunderstood you.
Lara Sunday said:I don't have any problem with tunnels, i think their an amazing way to increase production and lengthen the growing season. I never said tunnels were appalling I said that i think it is unhealthy when very large areas of land..acres upon acres are taken over by them. As i mentioned the farm I used to work at and still have alot to do with has a number of them and they are an essential part to the whole, nursing of seedlings and production of crops throughout the year. I think that there has to be a happy medium. I realise that it a way of growing intensive crops such as lettuce and strawberries for the mass market but these large farms using them like this cover huge areas and still use sprays on them. Smaller producers such as yourself and my family use them in a way that works with the land rather than over taking it. They are a vital way for us to grow crops that we couldn't other wise, corn in the summer and winter purslane which is wonderful in the winter months.
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Permalink Reply by Lara Sunday on
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No worries Catherine, appalling was maybe a bit strong of a word : ) It just shocked me to see so much land covered in plastic that i had remembered as being green fields and trees, it looked almost sea like in the sun light. I've just got home from a friends and popped out to check the chickens and there are so many slugs....pity the weather doesn't affect them. Any advise would be most welcome..i should maybe start that as another thread though i'm sure its been covered many times before : ) Night all, hope the weather easies up wherever you may be
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Permalink Reply by Catherine on
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Lara....try a combination of eggshells, teabags and human hair clippings, slugs don't like to tread over all that stuff! Worked for my peas in old hothouse!
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Permalink Reply by Lara Sunday on
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Ah ha! I've loads of eggs shells from my chickens...pity I couldn't set them on them but they'd destroy more than the slugs would! Right well we're all having eggs for breakfast the rest of the week and my husband may start drinking more tea than coffee..i wonder would coffee grounds work? ; ) Thanks Catherine!
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