Grow Your Own Magazine

OMG After two weeks of sunshine and drought conditions the heavens have opened in Preston tonight, causing mayhem. Roads are flooded and the grates of road drains have been pushed out. Worst of all my allotment is now under nearly a foot of water, I can't even see some of the crops such as the pumpkins!! To make matters worse, there was a rat swimming across the flood!!!

Argh

Clareg

Clareg
What a terrible thing to happen and in June too, we've got heavy rain coming our way down south at the end of the week according to the forecast, hope it's not as damaging as this.
It's a huge blow, you must be really upset, do keep us posted on what's happening, and rats swimming, the last straw I should think.
Commiserations and kind thoughts arn't much help to you but I'll send them anyway.
Sue

Provided the water go's away within 24 hours the crops should be ok if there is some ground lower than your plot dig a few trenchs and help it on it's way the rat should not worry you it's the sewer rats that are filthy best of luck jacob

Cheers Sue and jacob marley, both our neighbours allotments aren't flooded so I guess mine must be lower down or something. On two sides I have a tarmac roadway (not a public road) which is nearly a foot higher so I'm thinking the water is running off from there.

I'm going back tomorrow after work to look at the damage, I'll try and take some photos and keep you posted.

Clareg

What a shame Clareg - especially in June. But hopefully it will drain away as fast as it came. Have a look and see if there is anywhere you can dig a mini drain for it to run away. As for the rat - urgh! hopefully it's gone.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

this happened to me too recently, Just got everything growing nicely then the heavens opened and flooded my entire back yard. 2 Water butts were filled in just one night.

I came out of it ok actually and managed to save almost everything. I lost about 40 lettuce and a few garlics which disappeared into the mud left behind by the flood.

Straight away I had a roaring bonfire on the bed where the flood had been, it certainly helped get rid of the bogginess that remained afterwards and then dug the wood ashes into the soil along with plenty of sand, compost and peat. This has improved the drainage and done something to help the nutrients in the soil which I am sure were washed away with the water.

Now the patch has strawberries, tomato, courgettes and french beans growing and they are doing fantastic.

With a little hard work you will get things back on track, good luck

J

I don't know what to say Clareg, apart for sorry. I never had such experience before, I hope you can save your babies.

Momol

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The thing to do if the water drains away quickly before the ground sets like concrete because it will if the sun bakes it is to hoe or whatever way you culivate you crops to stop the surface going hard you have got to let the air in to keep the crops growing all the best hope it's all gone now jacob

Hi

Well I'm pleased to say that the flood water has retreated and there is very little damage. The pumpkins and potatoes are a bit dirty and some of the carrots have become exposed where the finer soil has been washed away which is easily fixed.

Thanks for the advice about hoeing jacob marley, never thought of that, I've got a bit of work ahead of me, but I've never minded that.

I've attached a photo, you'd never believe that 24 hours earlier most of the allotment was under water!

Clareg

Attached Thumbnails

 

Looks good hope alls well the ground do's get a crust on it when it dries out any way all the best jacob

Glad it's not turned out to be the disaster you feared Clareg. It looks pretty good from the photo - how awful if all that work had been wasted. Bit of a tickle up and you're away again. Good luck!

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If a man is in the garden and speaks, and there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated January 3rd - Birdwatching.

Thanks Jacob and Flummery, its still raining pretty hard here in Lancashire, and the forecast says its here to stay for a while but hopefully some good will come of it, maybe my spuds will grow massive!

Clareg

We've certainly had some rain haven't we? Fortunately I didnt get caught in the floods on Leyland Road going home on Monday. Checked water container Tuesday am it was 150gallons - checked it tonight 180 gallons - thats just with water coming off my tiny little shed! Like you say Clare lots of rain around. Your photo of your lottie looks like its OK now. Best wishes Bernie

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

Well it's pelting down here - I've just had my elderly Ma on the phone worrying about whether the rain is going to come in - there's standing water on her patio. Mind you, the step from her patio door is about 8" so it's got a long way to go!
Haven't ventured out yet today but I can see from the window that my waterbutt which collects from the garage roof and was empty 2 days ago is now full!

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If a man is in the garden and speaks, and there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated January 3rd - Birdwatching.

It's still dry here, just the odd slight shower - sorry folks!! Hope those of you who have been drenched have dried out now and not had any crop damage.

I've got 4" of rain in my small greenhouse on the pathway ...... still I guess I'll not have to water !

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

I spoke too soon, the heavens have just opened!! Hope my garden is still there when I get home and it hasnt floated away ... and hope you all still have gardens and veg as well.

I've just seen all the news about the rain and floods. Hope all the grapes are OK and no damage done. No rain here.

Clareg, I hope all your crops are OK as they were looking so wonderful.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Hi,

Its still raining! Dexterdog, my brother did get caught in the flooding on Leyland road, and his passenger door leaked as he slowly drove through 2 foot of water!!

All the crops except the pumpkins seem to have benefited from the rain. Just found out that my fish pond at home as collapsed though, family managed to rescue the fish. The water table has risen so high that its forced the plastic liner out of the ground and it collapsed in on itself! More work!!

Clareg

Just been down to my allotment, or should I say paddy fields? Anyone else contemplating growing rice next year?

Clareg - If I can package them sufficiently I have a couple of spare pumkin plants if you need them - the variety is Becky, should produce football sized fruit.

PM me if you need them

Terry

Well, it's been chaos in Yorkshire today - OH said the roads were impossible (he's a rep) it took him 2 hours to get to work today (a half hour journey usually), and the road to Harrogate was competely closed due to a landslip which covered a Merc in mud & rubble with 2 unfortunate people in it. (I think they were got out ok) And there's a massive building on fire in Bradford, ppl being evacuated in 2 streets, and fireman are too busy to deal with flooded roads/houses...
On the veg front, I've lost a load of seedlings - leeks, lettuce, cabbage, kale that were left in a deep watering tray by accident, but they can easily be re-sown (except the leeks maybe). Lottie has some flooding but not where I've planted. Seems very minor compared to the horrible things that have happened to others today.
Oh, and me roof has sprung a leak next to the chimney...

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Sarah

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“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
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Strange patchy weather. After hearing that midlands where having heavy rain, I've just spent the day working around stoke on trent and seen no rain at all. Back home in North Wales, it has rained all day and our paddocks are under water. Lets hope the rain gives us a miss over the weekend.