End of the month view – June 2012
Well June 2012 has officially been declared the wettest ever since records began in 1910. Who would have guessed! The continuous rain has brought out more slugs and snails than I have seen for a long while and this has done serious damage to the vegetable gardens. The Digger complains that on his allotment the Brassicas are being eaten and the cool temperatures have brought his Sweetcorn and Squashes to a standstill – not good for vegetables that like a long growing season. All his Peas have failed to appear. On the upside the Potatoes are flourishing, on the surface at least. Lets hope there is not a rain loving pest burrowing underground.
On my allotment I have already lost one of my outdoor Cucumbers, another looks very sick and the third is sulking and refusing to grow. I do not think I am going to see a yellow Cucumber this year. I have not grown this variety before so I am a tad annoyed.
Cucumber ‘Crystal Lemon’
The poor Courgettes are being nibbled to death. This plant is the worst affected out of the three. There may even be a Courgette shortage this year (I never thought I would ever write those words).
Courgette ‘Partenon F1′
The French Beans are looking short on foliage while some plants were eaten before they started to climb up the canes. ‘Mr Fearn’s Purple Flowered’ (Heritage variety) on the left has suffered the worst, three plants have died. ‘Canadian’ (Heritage) in the centre is relatively unaffected and ‘Cosse Violette’ on the right has lost a single plant. None of them are growing with their usual vigour.
French Beans
Surprisingly the Lettuce I planted out as large seedlings seems to have repelled all invaders. I like this variety – it is tough and stands for a long time without bolting.
Lettuce ‘Bronze Arrowhead’
Next to it is an Italian Chicory that we have not grown before. The plants were given to the Digger by an allotmenting neighbour who is Italian. Apparently the leaves can be eaten as usual but we are awaiting the central flowering stem which is picked in bud and lightly cooked or eaten raw in salads. Must check out some suitable recipes as they will have a bitter taste. I expect the slugs and snails were not too keen on the bitterness which is why the plants look pristine.
Chicory Puntarelle (Catalogna)
Luckily my climbing Snap Peas did come up and I have had the first flowers. Can’t wait for those tasty pea pods.
Snap peas
While the weather has caused mixed results in the allotment the garden borders are thriving – too bad it is too wet to sit outside and admire them :-)
Centre border
Bottom border
Visit the Patient Gardener to see more end of the month views from other bloggers.
8 comments
We had similarly wet weather in Maine this June. (I think the 8″ we had one weekend may have broken the record all by itself without even counting the other 28 days of the month!) …And for the first time ever, I’m struggling with slugs in the garden.
Everyone is writing about huge numbers of slugs and snails this year; at least you can console each other!
Puntarelle is a winter salad here in Italy. You thinly slice the ‘buds’ and put them in ice cold water so that they curl (a bit like bean spouts). The usual dressing is garlic and anchovies crushed together with some lemon juice and good olive oil. I have to admit mine weren’t a great success last year, but yours look good, they’ll need more space when they fill out. Christina
What a sad post. Earlier in the year it was so dry I assumed most slugs would dessicate and die. Either they didn’t or they are making up for lost time by breeding and eating like mad now! I hope not too many are on the inside of your potatoes, hollowing them out. How odd, though, that they don’t like lettuce. Too full of everything else I suppose. The only way I’ve ever liked chicory is wrapped in ham in a white sauce. It seemed less bitter that way. The flower garden looks brilliant though – lush and pretty.
Oh hasn’t it been so miserable? It’s chucking it down here again. I’m sure I’m going to develop trench foot!! This was my first year of trying Crystal Lemon cucumbers as well.Out of 4 seeds 2 germinated, I lost one to slugs early on and only had one to plant out. It has been savaged by slugs but is clinging on. I was fortunately given 2 other cucumber plants from a neighbouring plot holder but the weather is just so flipping grim I wouldn’t blame them if they gave up the ghost too. My uchiki kuri squash just aren’t growing (my first year for them too) my zinnias are rotting. I’m going to stop there before I start to weep. Really fancy trying chicory. I’m told bitter leaves are very good for you.
I’m sorry to hear of your vegetable garden woes. I find it more difficult to grow vegetables than flowers in general. But your borders look wonderful! What is that gorgeous rose in the second picture?
Slugs and snails and too much rain!
Borders are looking really good though!
Thanks for your visit and comment on my blog.
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
Much the same woeful state of of affairs in this neck of the woods. Not sure what happened to my ‘Crystal Lemon’ cues but at least I sampled them last year. Beans nibbled and in suspended animation along with courgettes and squashes. Strawberries turning mouldy :( Some pluses though – can’t remember when I last used the watering can and the raspberries are prolific :)
This article on the BBC is not very encouraging… http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18672728
Frustratingly I can see several slugs cruising across my patio in the rain but I’ll get soaked if I go out after them. Dilemmas!
Leave a Comment